League One club Charlton Athletic has teamed up with the English Football League (EFL) to launch an initiative aimed at increasing accessibility and inclusion at matches.
The year-long project will aim to explore better ways to engage with the southeast London community and ensure more fans attend matches at The Valley.
Charlton, the EFL Community Club of the Year, noted that the current matchday attendance at The Valley does not fully reflect the diversity of the local community.
The initiative will encompass a comprehensive research phase, followed by the implementation of the findings.
Paul Elliott, a former player and current vice-chair of the Charlton board, said: “Football is a much more welcoming place than it was when I first began in the game many years ago. However, live matchday attendances are still rarely reflective of the demographic of a club’s local population. We must acknowledge that many individuals from diverse backgrounds don’t see watching live football in a stadium as an option.
“At Charlton we believe football is for everyone and our message is clear – ‘All Different, All Together, All Charlton’ – which is why we are delighted to collaborate with the EFL for this ground-breaking project. Our proud history as leaders in fighting discrimination and promoting inclusivity, combined with our wonderfully multicultural location, makes us the perfect club for this pilot initiative.”
David McArdle, the EFL’s director of equality, diversity and inclusion, added: “EFL clubs are proud to represent the communities they serve and work hard through various initiatives to create a welcoming environment for all. Our ambition is for the EFL to be truly reflective and inclusive of the diverse communities they represent across 72 towns and cities.
“The Diverse Fans Project with Charlton Athletic enables us to listen first-hand to the needs of the local community to drive positive change, with the aim of making football even more accessible to communities.”
