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“Irish League Football Clubs and their supporters deserve praise for the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to promote positive community relations,” said Michael.

“Clubs and supporters have been working together all season to help create a more family orientated atmosphere at games and our research suggests they are making a real difference. They have been at the heart of positive changes and we are working in partnership with them at a variety of levels to help improve the local game.

“This includes the high profile Pass the Passion marketing campaign and community relations support to help clubs implement UEFA’s Ten Point Plan to tackle sectarianism and racism. The key is we are working together to strengthen the clubs’ links with the community to create a more family orientated atmosphere at games.

“However the credit has to go to the people at the clubs and the supporters who ultimately are the people who are making the difference. Groups like the Irish League Forums Supporters Group and websites like www.irishleagueforums.net are playing a crucial role in these developments and they deserve praise and recognition”.

The IFA’s Community Relations department is currently working with a number of Irish League Clubs, volunteers, community groups and supporters to develop community relations working groups and action plans.

Research commissioned by the IFA’s Community Relations department to monitor the atmosphere at games in the Carnegie Premier League, in the initial interim findings, suggest more families are coming back to support Irish League Football.