Chesterfield FC has been awarded bronze status under the EFL Equality Code of Practice, recognising the Club’s ongoing commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, both on and off the pitch.
As part of the Equality Code of Practice, Clubs are encouraged to understand their local communities better and focus on addressing areas of under‑representation that are most relevant to their area.
Supporter & disability liaison, Peter Whiteley, commented on the club’s work to achieve the standard, saying: “I am proud of the steps we have made to work towards making the SMH Group Stadium the most accessible sporting venue in the country.
“Making our accessible toilets stoma-friendly is just part of making everyone comfortable at our matches, events, and projects. Making facilities accessible to all, whether for medical or social reasons, is essential if everyone is going to be comfortable at Chesterfield FC or when visiting our Community Trust.”
Head of people, compliance & safeguarding, Toby Fawcett‑Greaves, added: “Since Chesterfield Football Club climbed back into League Two, we have become subject to a raft of new standards and expectations across everything we do, an experience we didn’t have in the National League.
“Whilst we have always held ourselves to a high standard, we are now subject to in-depth scrutiny from our regulatory body, the EFL. Specifically, the club must comply with defined EFL standards in Safeguarding and Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion.
“Following our successful safeguarding audit in the 2024/25 season, we set about achieving our goal of becoming universally recognised as a safe, inclusive, and welcoming venue regardless of a visitor’s background or status.
“Throughout the 2025/26 season, we have worked closely with the EFL to understand how we can improve our facilities, staff training, communication and a host of other areas of our business to legitimately become a venue for all.
“Having now completed our assessment season, I am delighted to announce that Chesterfield Football Club has been awarded the EFL Equality Code of Practice Bronze Standard. This is a fantastic achievement, which demonstrates our continued commitment to improving, growing, and learning season after season.”
EFL Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, David McArdle, said: “The EFL has a proud and diverse fan base, and it is important that our Clubs reflect the communities they represent, both on and off the pitch.
“The Equality Code of Practice is about helping Clubs make meaningful, long‑term progress on equality, diversity and inclusion. It provides a clear framework while allowing each Club to focus on the needs of their own communities. Each Club’s result is a reflection of the commitment, hard work and impact they deliver every season and they should be proud of the progress they have made.”
First introduced in 2012, the Equality Code of Practice became a multi‑level accreditation scheme in the 2022/23 season and is now mandatory for all EFL Clubs. The framework helps Clubs track their progress and continue improving year on year, with assessments taking place every other season and a dedicated development year in between.
