EVERTON'S stewarding team has been named the best in the Premier League and supporters have given a comprehensive thumbs-up for the way the club is run and interacts with its fans.

Of the 20 clubs in the Premier League, Everton received the most positive responses for their 480 stewarding staff from supporters in the Premier League Fan Survey.

According to the survey of 33,640 football fans taking part in the research nationwide – including 1,260 Evertonians - 99pc of Blues supporterd said they felt positive towards the club, exceeding the average across the top-flight and recording a marked increase on the score of 55pc last season.

Everton-StewardTake a bow: an Everton stewardSome 75pc felt ‘very positive’ towards the Club, compared to a 54pc average across the Premier League.

For season ticket prices it came second in the Premier League.

Goodison Park was rated as one of the top four most welcoming stadiums in the top-flight with the people working in and around EFC highly rated by match attendees.

Supporters also identified the four factors that were most important to the effective running of the football club as being: youth development; having a long-term vision; maintaining ethos and traditions; and a sustainable financial policy.

Robert Elstone, Everton chief executive said: “Our nil satis approach and quest for continued improvement is integrated into every department within the club and I’m delighted that this is recognised by such a significant section of our fanbase and the wider footballing family.

“It’s fantastic that our stewarding team specifically have been justly recognised for their continued efforts to be the best in the business. Their professionalism and positive attitude is noticed by the thousands of supporters who are welcomed to Goodison Park every matchday and this exemplifies the commitment shown by every member of staff who serves this great club.”

Evertonians who took part in the survey had been attending matches at Goodison for an average of 20 years, and were likely to have started supporting the club as a result of the influence of parents, family or friends.

In ticketing, the club was recognised for offering value for money and an easy-to-buy-from approach.