Watford, Bolton Wanderers and Accrington Stanley have been named 2024/25 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.

The award for the Grounds Teams of the Season celebrates the staff who have produced the best quality pitches in each division across the course of the campaign.

Pitches are assessed by the referee and a visiting team official for all EFL League matches, and awarded scores based on three criteria (Grass Coverage, Traction and Debris).

The top Clubs from each division with the highest divisional average are then visited by members of the team from STRI (Sports Turf Research Institute) who carry out further assessments.

In the Championship, Watford were named winners for the playing surface at Vicarage Road, with Burnley and Middlesbrough highly commended. Watford FC’s Grounds Manager Scott Tingley said “For me personally I’ve had a great start to the year combining this accolade with the Turf Business Top Turf Influencer award, but the real joy comes from seeing my staff rewarded for what has been a very tough season, a season in which they have worked incredibly hard, showed real dedication and helped me to produce what has probably been our most consistent surface in my 10 seasons at the club”

In League One, Bolton Wanderers were crowned winners, edging out Stockport County, who were highly commended alongside Blackpool. On receiving the award, Bolton Wanderers Head Groundsman Chris commented: “It’s been a long season with what is now an 18-year-old Desso pitch giving us the usual challenges to face. But we have a great team who work so hard both at the stadium and the training ground. Our goal is to produce the best possible playing surface for the team to play on and the award is a fitting reward for everyone’s efforts.”

Accrington Stanley won the award in League Two ahead of MK Dons, Notts County and Chesterfield, who were all highly commended.

“As a club we are over the moon to win league 2 pitch of the season. A lot of long hours have gone into the Wham this season as we’ve hosted Accrington games for the women, u23s and 18s along with 5 Blackburn Rovers u23s European games which saw the like of Benfica and Lyon play at the stadium to name a few. To be recognised as the best pitch makes me and my deputy proud, as it wasn’t too long ago we arguably had the worst pitch, but investment from the club has meant we now have a pitch to be proud of” says Ben Kay, Accrington Stanley’s Head Groundsman

Winners

Championship – Watford

League One – Bolton Wanderers

League Two – Accrington Stanley

Highly Commended

Championship – Burnley & Middlesbrough

League One – Stockport County & Blackpool

League Two – MK Dons, Notts County & Chesterfield