Newport County AFC has been awarded a Family Excellence Silver Award for the 2025/26 season, recognising the Club’s continued commitment to delivering a welcoming, enjoyable and memorable matchday experience for families.
This season represents another milestone for the EFL’s Family Excellence Scheme, with a record number of Clubs achieving Gold and Silver recognition. Last season set a new benchmark, with 18 Clubs awarded Gold and 22 securing Silver status. Building on that progress, the 2025/26 campaign has seen even more success, with 22 Clubs now achieving Gold and an impressive 32 recognised with Silver, highlighting the continued commitment of Clubs to enhancing the matchday experience for families.
The EFL’s Family Excellence Scheme assesses the matchday experience Clubs provide for families and awards them with Gold, Silver or Bronze status based on the quality of that matchday experience. Throughout the season, Clubs receive two visits from family assessors who evaluate every stage of the matchday journey, from purchasing tickets to how they feel when they leave the stadium. The family assessors consider a range of factors including matchday activations, stadium accessibility and facilities, and how effectively Clubs engage and communicate with families.
Club Secretary, Shaun Bowden said: "Newport County has been delivering outstanding family experiences for several seasons now, and this campaign has continued that tradition. Our matchdays are built around creating a welcoming, memorable environment for supporters of all ages, driven by dedicated club representatives and unforgettable magic moments.
One particularly special experience for visiting children is the opportunity to meet first-team players before matches in the marquee at Rodney Parade. The club is proud to provide this unique opportunity for our young supporters, with very few clubs offering such close and personal access to players. Experiences like these help create lifelong memories and make attending a Newport County match truly unforgettable.
As a proud community-driven club, Newport County places huge importance on the connection between the team and its supporters. We are committed to ensuring every fan feels valued, welcomed, and part of the club’s journey, with the supporter experience at the heart of everything we do both on and off the pitch."
EFL Chief Executive Officer, Trevor Birch said: “We are incredibly proud to see Clubs excelling in the EFL’s Family Excellence Scheme this season. Their success reflects their dedication to creating welcoming, inclusive, and enjoyable matchday experiences for families across the country. The scheme is designed to support Clubs as they grow their family offer, enabling them to inspire lifelong connections with supporters and engage the next generation of fans.”