Sheffield United are the first Championship club and one of only eleven in the country to be awarded the intermediate level of Kick It Out's Equality Standard.

The Standard has been designed to assist professional clubs deal with all strands of discrimination across all areas of the club.

In December 2007 United become the first Championship club and the first in South Yorkshire to obtain the preliminary level of the Standard.

The latest achievement marks the club's progression in expanding measures to tackle issues such as racism and equal opportunities. Blades legend Brian Deane and chief executive Trevor Birch received the accreditation on behalf of the club from Professor Jonathan Long of Kick it Out.

Richard Caborn MP, Howard Holmes from Football Unites Racism Divides (FURD) and United's head of community Sue Beeley also attended the presentation during United's recent Championship game against Derby County at Bramall Lane.

The Standard for professional football clubs, which is supported by the Premier League, encourages teams to deliver a range of equality policies across all areas of their operation, from stewarding to the recruitment of young players.

Clubs are judged on three activity areas - stadium and outreach, policy and planning, and administration and management.

Trevor Birch, chief executive of Sheffield United, said: "We delighted to have been awarded the intermediate level of the Equality Standard. Everyone at the club is committed to engaging closely with all sectors of our local community irrespective of their race, ethnic background, gender, physical ability or sexual orientation.

"Through the work of our community outreach division, The United Initiative, we have been able to establish a number of successful activities and initiatives associated with the social themes of education and community inclusion.

"There is no room for any form of discrimination in football and we believe the sport can act as a catalyst for eradicating discriminatory behaviour and beliefs from the wider society. We will continue to support initiatives around equality and diversity and create an atmosphere of social inclusivity for all members of our local community."

Lord Herman Ouseley, chair of Kick It Out, added: "Professional football clubs, players and supporters have been striving to play their part in campaigning to tackle discrimination in football for a decade. Our achievements so far should make us proud but they also provide stimulus for tackling exclusion and inequality.

"We believe the Standard could herald a new era in encouraging clubs to ensure that off the field of play equality of opportunity, inclusion and fair treatment are at the heart of what they do."

For further detail about Kick It Out's Equality Standard, please contact Danny Lynch on 020 7684 4884 or danny@kickitout.org