Carlisle United's grounds team - led by David Mitchell - have been recognised for their work in the 2020/21 season.

The Blues have been highly commended by the EFL in their annual grounds team of the season awards.

Forest Green won the League Two title, with Carlisle and Cheltenham highly commended.

It is further recognition for Mitchell, who has received a number of accolades over the years for his excellent work at Brunton Park.

It also recognises his efforts in a particularly challenging season, when United were hit by a number of weather-enforced postponements before having to play more often than normal on their pitch.

Blues chief executive Nigel Clibbens tweeted his appreciation of United's head groundsman, who has held the role since 2005.

He said: "Very tough year, especially with frost but great work by Dave of @officialcufc to produce one of the best pitches in L2 year in year out for the team.

"Same again this year. Cumbrian weather?...no excuses no problem."

The EFL said the season had been "extremely challenging for all clubs in relation to their pitches but, as ever, ground staff have produced some fantastic work throughout the campaign.

"Carrying out a tremendously important job to prepare their respective pitches for matches and maintain them throughout the calendar, things were made more difficult this season due to the lack of time to carry out pitch maintenance and renovations at the end of the 19/20 season, along with the intense fixture schedule for this season following the outbreak of COVID-19 in March 2020. 

"As the 2020/21 campaign draws to a close, grounds teams up and down the country have been recognised for their continued committment and efforts."

Watford took the Championship title with Bournemouth and Stoke commended.

Doncaster were the League One winners ahead of Plymouth, Portsmouth and Shrewsbury.

The league said pitches are marked by referees and away team managers after all league games.

The three clubs with the highest average marks in each division are then visited by Neil Rodger from the Sports Turf Research Institute, where further assessments are carried out on "pitch quality, environmental conditions and usage and resources and management."

"Once all club visits have taken place, in-depth reports and recommendations are submitted to the Playing Surfaces Committee, at which point winners are determined," the EFL statement added.