STRI would like to congratulate all winners and shortlisted clubs recognised in the EFL Grounds Team of the Season Awards for the 2025/26 season.

The Grounds Team of the Season Awards play an important role in recognising the expertise, professionalism and dedication required to maintain high-performing playing surfaces throughout one of the most demanding football calendars in world sport. While the quality of a pitch is often taken for granted by players and supporters, grounds teams operate at the centre of matchday performance, player safety and fixture delivery. These awards acknowledge the increasingly complex work carried out behind the scenes by these teams, who must balance intensive usage, unpredictable weather conditions and sustainability targets while consistently delivering surfaces fit for elite football.

On behalf of the EFL Playing Surfaces Committee, STRI carried out end-of-season assessments across the shortlisted clubs in the Championship, League One and League Two, evaluating pitch quality, usage, environmental conditions, resources and overall management practices.

Following a highly competitive assessment process, the recommended winners were:

  • Championship – Leicester City
  • League One – Blackpool FC
  • League Two – Swindon Town

Alongside the winners, STRI would also like to recognise the outstanding efforts of all shortlisted clubs, whose grounds teams continue to deliver high-quality playing surfaces under increasingly demanding conditions.

The 2025/26 season presented significant challenges for grounds staff across the country. England experienced one of its wettest winters on record, placing considerable pressure on pitch performance, particularly at older stadiums and venues with intensive fixture schedules.

Despite these conditions, the overall standard of pitches throughout the EFL remained exceptionally high, a reflection of the expertise, adaptability and commitment of grounds teams working behind the scenes every day.

The assessment process considers far more than visual presentation alone. Alongside referee and manager pitch marks, the awards framework evaluates pitch usage, environmental challenges, infrastructure limitations, sustainability initiatives, staffing, equipment resources and maintenance practices.

This season once again highlighted the increasing complexity of modern pitch management. Leicester City’s recognition in the Championship was particularly notable given the exceptional demands placed on the playing surface at the King Power Stadium. The club hosted all women’s first-team fixtures at the main stadium alongside the men’s schedule, resulting in one of the highest usage levels in the division. Despite this, the pitch was maintained to an outstanding standard throughout the season, while also achieving reported reductions in nitrogen and water inputs.

Across League One and League Two, the shortlisted venues demonstrated how experienced grounds teams continue to maximise performance from a wide range of pitch constructions, budgets and operational environments.

Blackpool FC’s playing surface stood out for its consistency and turf quality, while Swindon Town’s grounds team were recognised for maintaining strong pitch performance despite challenging weather conditions and infrastructure constraints.

STRI’s assessment visits, undertaken by Michael Boyes and Stella Rixon, were completed across a condensed timeframe to ensure consistency in seasonal conditions and to provide the most accurate comparison possible between venues.

As expectations around pitch performance continue to rise, the role of grounds teams has never been more important. The knowledge, planning and dedication required to maintain elite playing surfaces throughout a demanding football calendar is significant, and these awards remain an important opportunity to recognise the individuals and teams delivering excellence across the EFL.

Congratulations once again to all clubs recognised in this year’s awards.