LFC wins 'warm welcome' award
Liverpool are one of four Barclays Premier League clubs to receive an award for the quality of their customer care as part of a national scheme that is improving standards of fan experience at football stadia.
VisitFootball, a joint venture between the Premier League and the national tourism board VisitEngland, has been assessing the care that customers receive at football grounds since August 2010 and for the first time has handed out awards, with this year's beneficiaries being Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and Fulham.
A panel of industry experts from the tourism, football and customer service industries voted Arsenal the VisitFootball Club of the Year for their "simply outstanding service". City received the Best Fan Innovation for their City Square and Family Stand projects, while Liverpool's stewards won the club the Warmest Welcome award. The fourth award, Unsung Hero, went to Fulham's Supporter Liaison Officer Tommy Guthrie for his detailed dedication to supporters.
On Liverpool, the judges commented: "First impressions count and there is no reason why that should be any different for football clubs from any other attraction. It costs nothing to be friendly but it can be very rewarding for all parties.
"We loved the stewarding at Liverpool because they clearly enjoy their job. There is a great rapport with the people they know but also an engagement for those who it might be their one and only Liverpool game of the season. Without doubt the warmest welcome we found in the Premier League was at Anfield."
Richard Scudamore, Premier League chief executive, said: "The one thing that you cannot guarantee at a Premier League match is the result but one thing we should be striving for is that every fan who comes into our grounds is receiving a high standard of experience.
"As the VisitFootball Awards show, not only are clubs like Arsenal, Fulham, Liverpool and Manchester City providing that, but they are going above and beyond."