Bolton Wanderers have been named 2021/22 Grounds Team of the Season for Sky Bet League One with AFC Bournemouth and Newport County the top award winners for the two other divisions in the EFL.
Grounds Teams up and down the country have worked tirelessly this campaign to maintain pitches across all 72 of the EFL’s clubs and the Grounds Teams of the Season awards recognise the staff who have produced the best quality playing surfaces in each division.
Pitch marks are provided by the referee and away team manager for all EFL League matches. The top Clubs from each division with the highest divisional average are then visited by Neil Rodger, from STRI (Sports Turf Research Institute), where further assessments are carried out, which cover pitch quality, environmental conditions and usage, resources, management and sustainability.
Once all club visits have taken place, in-depth reports and recommendations are submitted to the Playing Surfaces Committee, at which point winners are determined.
The winners of each division will receive a trophy and certificate.
Highly Commended Clubs will receive a certificate.
Here are this season’s winners:
Sky Bet Championship
Grounds Team of the Season - AFC Bournemouth
Highly Commended - Middlesbrough
Highly Commended - Nottingham Forest
Sky Bet League One
Grounds Team of the Season - Bolton Wanderers
Highly Commended - Ipswich Town
Highly Commended - Lincoln City
Sky Bet League Two
Grounds Team of the Season - Newport County
Highly Commended - Bradford City
Highly Commended - Exeter City
Highly Commended - Tranmere Rovers