Frank Lampard and Hayden Hackney Lead EFL Awards Honorees

The English Football League has formalized its recognition of the 2025-26 season’s standout performers. At the annual EFL Awards, Frank Lampard and Hayden Hackney emerged as the headliners, securing the top honors for the Championship division.

Lampard’s tenure at Coventry City has been defined by a rapid turnaround. Taking the helm in November 2024 with the team languishing in 17th, he successfully engineered a promotion campaign that ends a quarter-century wait for Premier League football. It is an impressive statistical feat for his first full season in charge, during which he surpassed competitors like Alex Neil of Millwall and Hull City’s Sergej Jakirovic to claim the manager of the season title.

On the pitch, Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney, 23, was selected as the Championship’s premier player. His influence was critical to Boro’s promotion push, anchored by a balanced output of five goals and eight assists. His performance helped him edge out fellow nominees such as top scorer Zan Vipotnik and Coventry goalkeeper Carl Rushworth.

The awards extended across the lower tiers as well:

• League One: Lincoln City’s Michael Skubala was recognized as manager of the season for securing a return to the second tier after a 65-year hiatus. Leyton Orient’s Dom Ballard dominated the individual accolades, claiming both player and young player of the season.
• League Two: The league honored Bromley manager Andy Woodman and Swindon Town striker Aaron Drinan for their respective contributions.

Other notable winners include Swansea City’s Josh Tymon, who took home the EFL goal of the season for his clinical volley against Oxford United, and Leicester City’s Jordan James, who was named the Championship’s young player of the season.

Read more: How Lampard's own revival ended Coventry's 25-year wait

The arc of Bromley’s recent history is nothing if not dramatic. Only a little over a decade ago, as Wigan Athletic were lifting the FA Cup, the Ravens were languishing in 15th place in the National League South. Now, thanks to their historic promotion into the third tier, they prepare to face those same opponents on equal footing in League One.

At the center of this ascent is Andy Woodman. Since taking charge in March 2021, the former Arsenal goalkeeper coach has managed to stabilize and elevate the squad, a feat recognized by his peers and the league with the Manager of the Season award. He isn’t alone in the honors; teammates Omar Sowunmi and Mitch Pinnock secured spots in the Team of the Season. While Swindon’s Aaron Drinan edged them out for the Player of the Season title—largely fueled by a 22-goal haul—the recognition underscores a breakthrough campaign for the club.

League Two Honors Summary

• Manager of the Season: Andy Woodman (Bromley)
• Player of the Season: Aaron Drinan (Swindon Town)
• Young Player of the Season: Daniel Kanu (Walsall)
• Apprentice of the Season: Ollie Dewsbury (Bristol Rovers)

Team of the Season: Mathew Hudson (Oldham Athletic); Kelland Watts (Cambridge United), Jack Sanders (MK Dons), Omar Sowunmi (Bromley), Harvey Rodgers (Grimsby Town); Mitch Pinnock (Bromley), Liam Kelly (MK Dons), Isaac Hutchinson (Cheltenham Town), Sammy Braybrooke (Chesterfield); Aaron Drinan (Swindon Town), Callum Paterson (MK Dons).

Beyond the pitch, the EFL recognized significant off-field contributions, with Plymouth Argyle named Community Club of the Season and Blackburn Rovers taking the project award for Dads FC. Individual honors went to Will Vaulks (Player in the Community), Wendy Thomas (Club Employee), and the long-serving Dean Lewington (Sir Tom Finney Award). Brenda Spencer, chair of trustees at Wigan Athletic Community Trust, was also lauded for her sustained contribution to league football.

For Bromley, the jump to League One will be the ultimate litmus test. While momentum is a powerful asset in lower-league football, maintaining this trajectory against established third-tier heavyweights will require more than just the current award-winning chemistry. They are currently chasing the completion of 'Project Champions'—an ambitious internal objective that sets the tone for their future aspirations. If their performance in League Two is any indication, they don't plan on being mere spectators in the tier above.

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