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.
In League One, Bolton Wanderers were crowned winners, edging out Stockport County, who were highly commended alongside Blackpool.
Accrington Stanley won the award in League Two ahead of MK Dons, Notts County and Chesterfield, who were all highly commended.
🏆 Proud to announce we have been awarded EFL Championship Grounds team of the season 2024/25!
Our busiest season yet due to the success of @WatfordFCAcad 👏🏼
But probably the most consistent surface we’ve produced in the last 10 seasons!Thank you to my team 👊🏼 pic.twitter.com/b6OguQtfSM
— Scott Tingley (@tingers_123) May 1, 2025
EFL CHAMPIONSHIP GROUNDS TEAM OF THE YEAR 24/25 🏆
I’ve learnt from the very best, everything he does us boys look up too @tingers_123 we’ve all worked hard all year for this 🙌🏽 so well done lads. pic.twitter.com/3mPi9iDcsZ
— george starling (@GeorgeStars29) May 1, 2025
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
Scott Tingley (@tingers_123) tweeted: “🏆 Proud to announce we have been awarded EFL Championship Grounds team of the season 2024/25! Our busiest season yet due to the success of @WatfordFCAcad 👏🏼 But probably the most consistent surface we’ve produced in the last 10 seasons! Thank you to my team 👊🏼”
George Starling (@GeorgeStars29): “EFL CHAMPIONSHIP GROUNDS TEAM OF THE YEAR 24/25 🏆 I’ve learnt from the very best, everything he does us boys look up too @tingers_123 we’ve all worked hard all year for this 🙌🏽 so well done lads.”
Jonathan Blakie: “A very long hard season full of ups and downs but it’s great to get the recognition our hard work deserves! Huge well done to the team 🏆”
Fans reacted as the EFL reveal winners for Best Grounds Teams of the 2024/25 Season…
@KrisBrearley: No surprise, it’s Premier League standard, well done 👏 #watfordfc
@HJClarke95: Never in doubt. We are so lucky as #WatfordFC fans to watch football on this incredible pitch, with our squads using it week in week out who are just as lucky. Congrats Scott and team.
@ncrabb1: It’s an unbelievably good surface. It looks amazing every week. #watfordfc
@yellowBRoad18: It has to be said @tingers_123 you are certainly the best in the business. Well done #Watford
@James_Warren7: Really well deserved boys. Best pitch in England. I hope they are paying you enough to stay for years to come, love seeing that carpet every other Saturday #watfordfc
@SeanF8: Very well done and fully deserved . Let’s hope the quality on the pitch is a step up next season . Great Job. COYH #Watfordfc
@ThomasH72556970: Surprised Newport aren’t on there
@twhinks10: Derby robbed
@adam_major1: Highly commended groundsman of the season, you’ll never sing that
@woodford_simon: Fantastic achievement for @ben_kay8 @worthy1107 👏👏🏆 #asfc
@FrankieHolliday: Yep, fully deserved. Our pitch has been nothing short of incredible ever since we were back in the prem. #watfordfc
@Iandowden: @_LiamCash and team well done again @StockportCounty
@Alex_Jordan85: Justice for Mitch! #CUFC
PREVIOUS WINNERS:
2022/23 – Championship
Winner – Burnley
Highly Commended – Watford
Highly Commended – Stoke City
2022/23 – League One
Winner – Derby County
Highly Commended – Portsmouth
Highly Commended – Ipswich Town
2022/23 – League Two
Winner – Newport County
Highly Commended – Carlisle United
Highly Commended – Stockport County
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
