The EFL has announced the winners of the Grounds Team of the Season award for 2018/19 in each of the three divisions.
The awards recognise the importance of the quality of pitches for professional football and acknowledge the clubs and their ground staff who consistently produce the best playing surfaces in the EFL.
In the Sky Bet Championship, Swansea City win the award for producing a perfect pitch at the Liberty Stadium this season. Aston Villa and Middlesbrough are both highly commended.
In Sky Bet League One, Bristol Rovers' ground staff take top honours for the excellent surface at the Memorial Stadium. Doncaster Rovers, Sunderland and Wycombe Wanderers are highly commended.
The award for Grounds Team of the Season in Sky Bet League Two this year goes to Swindon Town, while the ground staff of Carlisle United and MK Dons are highly commended.
Championship
Winner – Swansea City
Highly Commended – Aston Villa
Highly Commended - Middlesbrough
League One
Winner – Bristol Rovers
Highly Commended – Doncaster Rovers
Highly Commended - Sunderland
Highly Commended - Wycombe Wanderers
League Two
Winner – Swindon Town
Highly Commended – Carlisle United
Highly Commended - MK Dons
The EFL's Grounds Team of the Season Awards are determined initially using marks from referees and away managers for each Sky Bet EFL game and are then followed by detailed pitch inspections and a review of management operations.
These visits were carried out by Dr Stephen Baker, Head of Sports Surface Technology at the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI).