Bristol Rovers is 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.
Bristol Rovers is proud of the part we have played by enhancing the family experience at the Memorial Stadium.
This year we achieved Bronze status, reflecting the steps we have taken to improve the matchday experience for families at Bristol Rovers. This included the launch of the Pirate Deck, a dedicated area within the Fanzone for U14s with inflatable games and entertainment, run by the Community Trust on matchdays.
The Community Trust also run mascot and matchday experiences which give kids the opportunity to go behind the scenes at the Mem and lead the players out onto the pitch before kick-off.
The Club made changes to ticketing, offering free Season Tickets for U7s, cheaper rates for U14s and new age categories to make tickets more affordable for families and young people. We launched a First Time Fans scheme providing new young fans with a goodie bag containing a certificate and official merchandise, and welcome them to the game on the Big Screen. We look forward to reintroducing this scheme for the 2026/27 season soon.
At Bristol Rovers we have also introduced Kids Meal Deals allowing parents to purchase smaller portions for children, and our Retail Team have expanded our selection of 'pocket-money items' to ensure our Club Shop is affordable for more people.
Outside of matchdays, the Club introduced Pirates' Crew Memberships for young fans of Bristol Rovers, incorporating official Club Kit, free match tickets, exclusive events and more.
All of these initiatives were recognised through being shortlisted for the Fan Engagement Award at the EFL Awards in 2026.
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.