Leicester City, Carlisle United and Stockport County have been named the 2023/24 Grounds Teams of the Season in the EFL.
The award celebrates the staff who work tirelessly throughout the season, and in all weathers, to ensure that pitch surfaces are of the highest quality.
Pitches are assessed by the referee for all EFL League matches. 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), where further assessments are carried out, which cover pitch quality, environmental conditions and usage, resources, management and sustainability.
Despite a difficult campaign for Carlisle United, their home ground, Brunton Park, has been kept in exceptional condition. League One winners Portsmouth and Exeter City were also highly commended.
League Two winners Stockport County won Grounds Team of the Season for League Two after being highly commended in 2022/23 for their Edgeley Park surface. Harrogate Town and Notts County were also highly commended in League Two.
Championship
Winner – Leicester City
Highly Commended – Leeds United
Highly Commended – Watford
League One
Winner – Carlisle United
Highly Commended – Portsmouth
Highly Commended – Exeter City
League Two
Winner – Stockport County
Highly Commended – Harrogate Town
Highly Commended – Notts County
