The Football League have this afternoon announced the divisional winners and runners up in this season’s Ground Team of the Season awards.
Recognising the quality of the playing surfaces across the EFL, the award goes to a team in each division adjudged to have consistently produced the best pitch across the 2016/17 campaign.
In the Championship Aston Villa took the winners prize with Derby County and Newcastle United both being recognised as ‘highly commended’.
For League One, Sheffield United took the winners award with Bolton Wanderers and Charlton Athletic receiving commendations.
And for League Two, Carlisle United took the winners position, with Doncaster Rovers, Plymouth Argyle and Portsmouth receiving commendation.
The seasonal award for each division are based initially on marks awarded for the quality of the pitch by referees and opposition managers when they visit and those initial marks are then followed by a detailed pitch inspection which include a review of management operations and they are conducted by Dr Stephen Baker, Head of Sports Surface Technology at the Sports Turf Research Institute.
