Championship: Sky Blues Honoured
Frank Lampard has successfully led Coventry City back to the Premier League for the first time in 25 years, earning him the Championship manager of the season award at the EFL Awards. Lampard took charge of Coventry in November 2024 when the club was 17th in the Championship. Under his leadership, the Sky Blues reached the play-offs that season but were narrowly defeated by Sunderland in the semi-finals. This setback motivated the team, culminating in automatic promotion secured with a 1-1 draw at Blackburn on Friday.
Coventry goalkeeper Carl Rushworth, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion, was one of four players from Lampard's squad named in the Championship team of the season, alongside wing-back Milan van Ewijk, captain Matt Grimes, and striker Haji Wright.
Lampard was selected over Millwall's Alex Neil, Hull City's Sergej Jakirovic, and Middlesbrough's Kim Hellberg for the manager of the season award.
"I got emotional in the moment for sure [after sealing promotion at Blackburn]," Lampard told BBC Football Daily's 72+ EFL podcast. "I think sometimes when you work so hard for something, when you manage to achieve it, you think about the players that you work with and you think about the fanbase and what they've gone through. I'm very proud."
Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney, 23, was named Championship player of the season. Hackney has been a key figure in Boro's promotion campaign, contributing five goals and eight assists, while providing a commanding presence in midfield. Swansea City's Zan Vipotnik, the Championship's leading scorer, was also nominated but the award went to Hackney.
Jordan James of Leicester City received the young player of the season award, while Louis Page, also from Leicester City, was named apprentice of the season.
The Championship team of the season includes: Carl Rushworth (Coventry City), Tristan Crama (Millwall), Callum Doyle (Wrexham), Josh Tymon (Swansea City), Milan van Ewijk (Coventry City), Matt Grimes (Coventry City), Sorba Thomas (Stoke City), Femi Azeez (Millwall), Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough), Haji Wright (Coventry City), and Zan Vipotnik (Swansea City).
League One: Ballard Doubles Up
Dom Ballard, the Leyton Orient striker who recently turned 21, earned both the player and young player of the season awards for League One. Ballard has scored 22 goals in 38 matches this season, a significant improvement from the previous year when he scored three goals in 35 League One appearances during loan spells at Blackpool and Cambridge United while contracted to Southampton.
Michael Skubala, manager of Lincoln City, won the League One manager of the season award after guiding the Imps to promotion to the Championship for the first time in 65 years. Lincoln's defensive record has been impressive, conceding only 38 goals in 43 matches. Their goalkeeper George Wickens and defenders Tendayi Darikwa and Sonny Bradley were three of the four Lincoln players named in the League One team of the season.
"Some people have called it machine-like, they've been a well-oiled machine every week," Skubala said. "I think there's a belief you can go and get promoted but the way we've done it, is unbelievable. I don't think you'd ever dream of that."
Lincoln City are unbeaten in their last 26 league games, winning 20 and drawing six on their way to promotion.
The League One team of the season includes: George Wickens (Lincoln City), Tendayi Darikwa (Lincoln City), Charlie Goode (Stevenage), Sonny Bradley (Lincoln City), Joel Bagan (Cardiff City), Ollie Norwood (Stockport County), Owen Bailey (Doncaster Rovers), Jack Moylan (Lincoln City), Amario Cozier-Duberry (Bolton Wanderers), Kyle Wootton (Stockport County), and Dom Ballard (Leyton Orient). Sulyman Krubally of Burton Albion was named apprentice of the season.
League Two: Ravens Recognised
Andy Woodman, manager of Bromley, was awarded League Two manager of the season after leading the club to promotion to League One for the first time in their history. Woodman, a former Arsenal goalkeeper coach, has been managing Bromley since March 2021 and described the club's rise as "absolute madness."
"I'm a little bit humbled but it's a really nice award for all the work we've done," Woodman said. "We've just got to keep building on what we've put here. We know it's going to be tough and we need to make sure we bring the right culture and right ingredients of players in with the money we've got available."
Bromley players Omar Sowunmi and Mitch Pinnock were named in the League Two team of the season. Both were also nominated for player of the season, which was awarded to Swindon Town striker Aaron Drinan for his 22 goals.
Daniel Kanu of Walsall was named young player of the season, and Ollie Dewsbury of Bristol Rovers received the apprentice of the season award.
The League Two team of the season comprises: Mathew Hudson (Oldham Athletic), Kelland Watts (Cambridge United), Jack Sanders (Milton Keynes Dons), Omar Sowunmi (Bromley), Harvey Rodgers (Grimsby Town), Mitch Pinnock (Bromley), Liam Kelly (Milton Keynes Dons), Isaac Hutchinson (Cheltenham Town), Sammy Braybrooke (Chesterfield), Aaron Drinan (Swindon Town), and Callum Paterson (Milton Keynes Dons).
Other EFL Awards Winners
Swansea City's Josh Tymon won the EFL goal of the season for his left-footed volley into the top right-hand corner from just outside the penalty area against Oxford United in December.
Additional awards included:
- Community club of the season: Plymouth Argyle
- Community project of the season: Blackburn Rovers (Dads FC)
- Player in the community: Will Vaulks (Oxford United)
- Diversity award: Bristol City (We Are City)
- Environmental award: Bradford City (Greener Bantams)
- Fan engagement award: Huddersfield Town (Terriers Together Travel)
- Club employee award: Wendy Thomas (Middlesbrough)
- Sir Tom Finney award: Dean Lewington
- Contribution to league football award: Brenda Spencer (chair of trustees, Wigan Athletic Community Trust)
