The finalists have been announced for the prestigious Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) Industry Awards 2015.

Now in its seventh year, the awards event – which enjoys headline sponsorship by Rigby Taylor and Top Green – acknowledge the high standards achieved by volunteer and professional teams as well as individuals at facilities ranging from grassroots to professional stadia level.

The awards’ judging process recognises achievement, innovation and fresh thinking as well as examples of best practice from the leaders in the world of groundsmanship.

Independent judging at each venue will now take place and the winners will be announced Oscar-style at the IOG Industry Awards dinner by host Mark Saggers from talkSPORT radio at the Birmingham Metropole Hotel on Wednesday 4 November.

The finalists are:

Campey/Imants Football Grounds Team of the Year

Leicester City FC and Manchester United FC.

Headland Amenity Cricket Grounds Team of the Year

Essex CCC and Sussex CCC.

John Deere Horse Racing Grounds Team of the Year

Hamilton Racecourse, south Lanarkshire, Scotland and Nottingham Racecourse.

Rugby Union Grounds Team of the Year

Murrayfield, Edinburgh and Yorkshire Carnegie (Leeds Rugby).

Mansfield Sand Rugby League Grounds Team of the Year

Castleford Tigers, West Yorks, Leeds Rhinos (Leeds Rugby) and Wigan Warriors.

Tennis Grounds Team of the Year

Edgbaston Priory Club, Birmingham, and The Queen’s Club, London.

National Governing Bodies Professional Sports Ground of the Year St George’s Park, Burton upon Trent, Staffs, and the University of Surrey.

This category co-sponsored by the AELTC (All England Lawn Tennis Club), ECB (the England and Wales Cricket Board), The FA (Football Association), the Football Foundation, The LTA (Lawn Tennis Association), the Premier League, the RFL (Rugby Football League) and the RFU (Rugby Football Union).

Rigby Taylor/Top Green Young Groundsman of the Year

Anthony Facey, Whitgift School, Croydon; Stuart Facey, New Hall School, Essex; John Lawrence, Edgbaston Priory Club, Birmingham; Lewis Pattinson, Leeds Rugby and Ryan Powell, Everton FC.

Toro Most Promising Sports Turf Student of the Year 

Michael Crew, The Hurlingham Club, London, and Lewis Pattinson, Leeds Rugby.

Briggs & Stratton Unsung Hero

Ian Darler, Cambridge United and Adam Witchell, Beversbrook Sports Facility, Calne, Wiltshire.

Ransomes Jacobsen Environmental Project/Innovation of the Year

University of Leeds and St George’s Park, Burton upon Trent, Staffs.

Charterhouse/Kubota Best Maintained Artificial Pitch of the Year

Manchester City FC and St George’s Park, Burton upon Trent, Staffs.

Souters Sports Independent School/University Sports Ground Team of the Year

University of Leeds, St Peter’s School, York, and Whitgift School, Croydon.

Bowling Green Groundsman/Team of the Year

St Ives Bowls Club, Cambridge, and Martin Stephenson, Sunderland Bowls Club.

International Ambassador of the Year

Philip Sharples, Azerbaijan and Pam Sherrat, USA.

National Governing Bodies Grassroots Sports Grounds Team of the Year

Beversbrook Sports Facility, Calne; The Pavillion, Louth, Lincolnshire; and Rainford Rangers FC, St Helens, Merseyside.

The category co-sponsored by the AELTC (All England Lawn Tennis Club), ECB (the England and Wales Cricket Board), The FA (Football Association), the Football Foundation, The LTA (Lawn Tennis Association), the Premier League, the RFL (Rugby Football League) and the RFU (Rugby Football Union).

IOG Volunteer Groundsman of the Year

Loucas Xenophontos, Hertford Town FC, Herts and Ian Sellers, Endon Cricket Club, Stoke.

Two awards will be announced on the night; the Alex R Millar DLF/Ransomes Jacobsen Groundsman’s Groundsman of the Year Award and the Everris Syngenta Lifetime Achievement Award.

The 2015 IOG Industry Awards are sponsored by the AELTC, Briggs & Stratton, Campey Turf Care Systems, DLF Trifolium, ECB, Everris, The FA, the Football Foundation, Headland Amenity, Imants BV, John Deere, Johnsons Seeds, Kubota, the LTA, Mansfield Sand, the Premier League, Ransomes Jacobsen, Redexim Charterhouse, Rigby Taylor, the RFL, the RFU, Souters Sports, Sport England, Syngenta, Top Green and Toro.

Visit www.iogawards.com NOW for details of how you can attend the most exciting annual Awards ceremony ever staged for the groundscare industry.