Cambridge United are proud to join clubs across the EFL in celebrating 20 Seasons of the EFL Family Excellence Scheme…
This marks two decades of work to create welcoming, inclusive and memorable matchday experiences for families and young supporters. Launched in 2006/07, the Scheme has played a central role in helping clubs inspire the next generation of fans, bring families and generations together, strengthen community connections and support the continued growth of junior attendances across the league.
Every club plays its own part in the story of Family Excellence and Cambridge United are proud of the way the family experience at the Cledara Abbey Stadium has improved in recent years.
Over the course of the past five seasons, Cambridge United has transformed its family matchday experience, consistently building momentum to ensure every supporter feels connected to the club. That sustained commitment culminated in being awarded Gold status in the EFL Family Excellence Scheme for the first time in 2025/26.
Receiving an outstanding 9/10 rating across mystery visits, the club ranked second in League Two and 10th across the entire 72-club EFL. Assessors praised the club's long-term vision, noting "yet another year of excellent family experiences, with abundant evidence of a club intrinsically designing the matchday experience to create lasting advocacy."
This milestone reflects years of continuous investment across facilities, fan engagement, and matchday culture. Key developments in recent years include the growth of the Mead Family Stand - which averaged 1,131 supporters per game last season - alongside stadium upgrades such as covered fan zones with live music, new food bars, pop-up retail, and a new flagship Club Store on Newmarket Road. Matchday traditions have expanded to include two dedicated Kids’ Zones, Junior U’s Passports, First Visit Certificates, scoreboard celebrations, and regular appearances from mascots Marvin and Amber.
“The Family Excellence Scheme has provided a fantastic framework for us over the years as we’ve worked to continually raise the bar for matchdays at the Cledara Abbey Stadium,” said Supporter Engagement Manager, Amelia Edwards.
“As the EFL celebrates 20 seasons of this initiative, achieving Gold status for the first time is a proud milestone for everyone at Cambridge United. It reflects years of dedication to making young supporters and families feel truly welcome, valued, and part of our club. To be recognised among the top ten family experiences across the entire EFL is a testament to the hard work of our staff and volunteers, and we’re excited to keep building on that progress for seasons to come.”
As part of this landmark anniversary season, the EFL will celebrate 20 Seasons of Family Excellence by showcasing further stories from clubs, supporters, families and staff who have all helped shape the Scheme’s success and continue to make matchdays welcoming for the next generation.
