EFL Awards Night Honors Promotion Heroes and Season's Best
The annual EFL Awards ceremony recognized the standout performers and managers across the Championship, League One, and League Two. Frank Lampard's remarkable achievement in guiding Coventry City back to the Premier League earned him the top managerial honor, while Middlesbrough's Hayden Hackney was crowned the Championship's best player.
Celebrating Success Across the Divisions
The awards serve as a capstone to the season, highlighting individuals whose contributions were pivotal. In the Championship, Frank Lampard's emotional journey with Coventry culminated in automatic promotion after a 25-year wait. His leadership transformed a team that was 17th when he arrived into a force capable of securing a top-two finish. Middlesbrough's Hayden Hackney, despite his team missing out on automatic promotion, was acknowledged for his commanding midfield presence and direct contributions of five goals and eight assists.
League One's accolades went to Leyton Orient's prolific striker Dom Ballard, who won both the Player and Young Player of the Season awards after a dramatic scoring surge. Lincoln City's manager Michael Skubala was honored for masterminding a historic promotion, built on a formidable defensive record and an incredible 26-game unbeaten run.
In League Two, Bromley's rise to a historic first-ever League One place was mirrored by their manager Andy Woodman winning the Manager of the Season award. Swindon Town's Aaron Drinan, with 22 goals, took the Player of the Season honor.
Key individual achievements from the night:
- Frank Lampard (Coventry) – Championship Manager of the Season.
- Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) – Championship Player of the Season.
- Dom Ballard (Leyton Orient) – League One Player & Young Player of the Season.
- Michael Skubala (Lincoln City) – League One Manager of the Season.
- Andy Woodman (Bromley) – League Two Manager of the Season.
- Aaron Drinan (Swindon Town) – League Two Player of the Season.
The Teams of the Season
The awards also produced official Teams of the Season for each division, showcasing the collective talent.
Championship Team of the Season:
- Carl Rushworth (Coventry City) – Goalkeeper
- Tristan Crama (Millwall) – Defender
- Callum Doyle (Wrexham) – Defender
- Josh Tymon (Swansea City) – Defender
- Milan van Ewijk (Coventry City) – Defender
- Matt Grimes (Coventry City) – Midfielder
- Sorba Thomas (Stoke City) – Midfielder
- Femi Azeez (Millwall) – Midfielder
- Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) – Midfielder
- Haji Wright (Coventry City) – Forward
- Zan Vipotnik (Swansea City) – Forward
League One Team of the Season:
- George Wickens (Lincoln City) – Goalkeeper
- Tendayi Darikwa (Lincoln City) – Defender
- Charlie Goode (Stevenage) – Defender
- Sonny Bradley (Lincoln City) – Defender
- Joel Bagan (Cardiff City) – Defender
- Ollie Norwood (Stockport County) – Midfielder
- Owen Bailey (Doncaster Rovers) – Midfielder
- Jack Moylan (Lincoln City) – Midfielder
- Amario Cozier-Duberry (Bolton Wanderers) – Midfielder
- Kyle Wootton (Stockport County) – Forward
- Dom Ballard (Leyton Orient) – Forward
League Two Team of the Season:
- Mathew Hudson (Oldham Athletic) – Goalkeeper
- Kelland Watts (Cambridge United) – Defender
- Jack Sanders (Milton Keynes Dons) – Defender
- Omar Sowunmi (Bromley) – Defender
- Harvey Rodgers (Grimsby Town) – Defender
- Mitch Pinnock (Bromley) – Midfielder
- Liam Kelly (Milton Keynes Dons) – Midfielder
- Isaac Hutchinson (Cheltenham Town) – Midfielder
- Sammy Braybrooke (Chesterfield) – Midfielder
- Aaron Drinan (Swindon Town) – Forward
- Callum Paterson (Milton Keynes Dons) – Forward
Key Takeaways
- The awards strongly reflect successful promotion campaigns, with managers like Lampard, Skubala, and Woodman all honored for leading their clubs to a higher division.
- Young talent shone brightly, with players like Hackney, Ballard, and Jordan James (Leicester's Championship Young Player) receiving recognition.
- The Teams of the Season are dominated by players from clubs that achieved their seasonal objectives, whether promotion or a strong playoff push.
- Community and broader club contributions were also celebrated, with awards for Plymouth Argyle, Blackburn Rovers, and Bristol City among others.
- The event marks the formal conclusion of the EFL season's narrative, setting the stage for the challenges of the next campaign in new divisions.
— Editorial Team
