Following on from Sunday night’s successful awards ceremony, the EFL has announced the winners of the first ever Away Fan Experience Campaign.
Brighton & Hove Albion, Sheffield United and Crewe Alexandra are the confirmed divisional victors, with the campaign’s aim to uncover examples of positive away days amongst loyal supporters.Regular away fans across the 72 clubs have played their part by sharing their experiences when travelling to watch their team play at an opposition’s stadium. The supporters’ feedback offers clubs a unique insight into the quality of experience supporters have when visiting their stadiums.
Having tasted success at the EFL Awards, Brighton & Hove Albion continued their winning run, being crowned Championship Away Fan Experience winners, with their excellent Away Fans’ Guide being recognised alongside their efforts to make away supporters feel at home.
The away concourse at the AMEX is decorated in the visiting team’s colour, the staff working are donning the club’s shirt and the kiosks are branded with the club’s crest.
Tom Gorringe, Head of Marketing at Brighton explained how the Seagulls ensure away supporters have a memorable experience when visiting the AMEX Stadium.
“We aim to ensure that anyone attending the stadium has a good time no matter where they are sitting in the stadium,” said Gorringe.
“We attempt to make the away area feel like a home away from home branding it in the away teams’ colours and added extras put in place that suit the needs of visiting supporters.
“Specifically in the away end we have a regular team of staff that are great at engaging with the visiting fans, and at the start of the season, we reached out to all club Supporter Liaison Officers asking for details on delicacies that we could serve or any other details that they could offer to help make the away experience as bespoke as possible for travelling supporters.”
Like Brighton, another team that were in the limelight last weekend at the EFL Awards were Sheffield United after Billy Sharp collected the League One Player of the Season Award.
The Blades are the League One Away Fan Experience Campaign winners, receiving high praise for the friendliness of club staff and stewards towards away fans at Bramall Lane. The club welcomed and engaged with away fans on matchday, with United providing their opposition with a detailed Visitor Guide weeks before the game.
In League Two, Crewe Alexandra were praised for their consistency of approach, making it a priority that all fans, whether home or away, were welcomed and treated with the same respect.
The club prides itself on friendly and helpful stewarding, ensuring visiting supporters are always met with a friendly face. Information is relayed to supporters on the coaches when they pull up at the ground and stewards are outside to help with any further enquiries.
The Football Supporters Federation has supported the EFL in researching and supporting the work around the Away Fan Experience Campaign.
The EFL is proud to support the many football fans who follow their clubs on the road each season and would like to congratulate all of the clubs who have been recognised through these Awards.