The EFL reveal the winners for Best Grounds Teams of the 2022/23 Season with clubs playing their final matches home and away.
The EFL Grounds Teams work hard to ensure that pitch surfaces are of high quality in all weather conditions. Grounds Teams of the Season Awards recognise staff who have created the best playing surfaces for each division.
Referees and away team managers provide pitch marks for all EFL League games. Neil Rodger from STRI (Sports Turf Research Institute) visits the top clubs in each division, based on their divisional average, to conduct further assessments. These include pitch quality, environmental conditions, usage, management, and sustainability.
After all visits to clubs are complete, detailed reports and recommendations are submitted to the Playing Surfaces Committee. At this point, winners are then determined. Each division’s winners will receive a certificate and trophy.
Right, time to see who EFL reveal as the winners for Best Grounds Teams of the 2022/23 Season…
The Grounds Teams of the Season winners in the @EFL have been announced.@BurnleyOfficial, @dcfcofficial
and @NewportCounty take the top awards.Read more: ➡️ https://t.co/6jvhI8rQUj#EFL
— EFL (@EFL) April 27, 2023
EFL STATEMENT:
Burnley, Derby County and Newport County have been named 2022/23 Grounds Teams of the Season in the EFL.
Grounds Teams throughout the EFL work tirelessly to make sure pitch surfaces are of a high quality through all weather and conditions, and the Grounds Teams of the Season awards celebrate staff who have produced the best quality playing surfaces in each division.
Burnley have only suffered one league defeat on their Turf Moor pitch this season, and the Clarets will be lifting the Sky Bet Championship title there on Monday, 8 May in their final game of the campaign.
Watford and Stoke City were also highly commended in the Championship.
Saturday’s visit of Portsmouth will be the 29th game to be held at Derby’s Pride Park this season and they will be hoping for a 30th by finishing in the Sky Bet League One Play-Offs.
Portsmouth and Ipswich Town were also highly commended in League One.
And Newport County deserve a special mention, with their Grounds Team having won the Sky Bet League Two award in back-to-back seasons for their Rodney Parade surface.
Carlisle United and Stockport County were also highly commended in League Two.
To inform the decision-making, 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, while highly Commended Clubs will receive a certificate.
Championship
Winner – Burnley
Highly Commended – Watford
Highly Commended – Stoke City
League One
Winner – Derby County
Highly Commended – Portsmouth
Highly Commended – Ipswich Town
League Two
Winner – Newport County
Highly Commended – Carlisle United
Highly Commended – Stockport County
Commenting on the news, Derby County’s Chief Executive Officer Stephen Pearce said: “This news is fantastic recognition for the excellent work of Paul Thompson and his dedicated support staff.
“Paul and his team put in a large number of hours, which at times can be extremely unsociable, across both Pride Park and Moor Farm and we are delighted to see them rewarded with the Grounds Team of the Season accolade in League One.”
He added: “Our playing surface at Pride Park has been excellent all season and we are proud of this achievement.
“It is actually a greater achievement when you consider that Paul and his team didn’t have a normal summer to get everything prepared for the start of this season. The takeover of the club didn’t go through until the start of July last year and the league campaign started at the end of the very same month, which was a very tight timeframe.”
PREVIOUS WINNERS:
2021/22 – Championship
Grounds Team of the Season – AFC Bournemouth
Highly Commended – Middlesbrough
Highly Commended – Nottingham Forest
2021/22 – League One
Grounds Team of the Season – Bolton Wanderers
Highly Commended – Ipswich Town
Highly Commended – Lincoln City
2021/22 – League Two
Grounds Team of the Season – Newport County
Highly Commended – Bradford City
Highly Commended – Exeter City
Highly Commended – Tranmere Rovers
2020/21 – Championship
Grounds Team of the Season – Watford
Highly Commended – AFC Bournemouth
Highly Commended- Stoke City
2020/21 – League One
Grounds Team of the Season – Doncaster Rovers
Highly Commended – Plymouth Argyle
Highly Commended – Portsmouth
Highly Commended – Shrewsbury Town
2020/21 – League Two
Grounds Team of the Season – Forest Green Rovers
Highly Commended – Carlisle United
Highly Commended – Cheltenham Town
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