Middlesbrough’s Chuba Akpom walked away with Championship Player of the Season at the 2023 EFL Awards.
Akpom has enjoyed a memorable season which has seen him net 29 goals in 38 appearances across all competitions, as he led Middlesbrough from relegation contenders to a guaranteed play-off spot under manager – Michael Carrick who joined in October.
Speaking at the Awards ceremony in London upon collecting his award, Akpom commented: “I am super grateful, it has been years of hard work to get to this stage, I am over the moon.
“It’s been an amazing season but I’ve had a lot of downs, getting injured earlier in the season. The new manager came in at the perfect time and he probably brought out the best in me, put me in the number 10 and I’ve been enjoying it ever since.”
Akpom also was named in the Championship Team of the Season alongside fellow nominees, Viktor Gyokeres and Josh Brownhill.
Carrick though missed out on Manager of the Season to Burnley’s Vincent Kompany, who led the Clarets back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, having taken up the job last summer in his first managerial role on English soil after managing in Belgium previously.
Boro’s Hayden Hackney meanwhile missed out on Young Player of the Season as Bristol City’s Alex Scott took the gong, after impressing for the Robins amidst two goals in 47 appearances in all competitions.
Middlesbrough meanwhile took home the EFL Diversity Award for their work in supporting supporters who suffer from dementia with their Dementia Project, both on matchdays and throughout the week.
Blackburn’s Ash Phillips won the Championship Young Apprentice of the Season award in a positive campaign, where he has made eight senior appearances at just 17 years-old.
Watford striker, Ismaila Sarr won Goal of the Season for his stunning strike against West Bromwich Albion in August, despite the game eventually finishing 1-1 at The Hawthorns.
Norwich City won EFL Innovation Award for their ‘Not Just Another Kit Launch’ campaign, which aimed to raise awareness of male suicides.
Plymouth Argyle’s Steven Schumacher was crowned League One’s Manager of the Season, whilst Ritchie Wellens was awarded League Two’s Manager of the Season after he took Leyton Orient to automatic promotion as champions.
Bristol Rovers’ Aaron Collins was voted League One’s Player of the Season, whilst Northampton Town’s Sam Hoskins took home League Two’s Player of the Season, although both were named in the Team of the Season for their respective divisions.
Footballing legend, Chris Kamara MBE was handed the Contribution to League Football award which honoured his playing career before he went on to become one of Sky Sports’ biggest names prior to his departure last year after 24 years with the broadcaster.
“The last time I had a standing ovation I was getting sent off!” joked Kamara as he accepted the “amazing” award.
Adebayo Akinfenwa was handed Sir Tom Finney Award in recognition of his career prior to his retirement from professional football in May 2022, following Wycombe’s loss in the League One Play-Off Final against Sunderland.
Full list of winners can be found below in bold.
Championship Manager of Year
- Vincent Kompany (Burnley)
- Michael Carrick (Middlesbrough)
- Mark Robins (Coventry City)
Championship Player of Year
- Chuba Akpom (Middlesbrough)
- Josh Brownhill (Burnley)
- Viktor Gyokeres (Coventry City)
League One Manager of Season
- Kieran McKenna (Ipswich Town)
- Darren Moore (Sheffield Wednesday)
- Steven Schumacher (Plymouth Argyle)
League One Player of Season
- Barry Bannan (Sheffield Wednesday)
- Jonson Clarke-Harris (Peterborough)
- Aaron Collins (Bristol Rovers)
League Two Manager of Season
- Steve Evans (Stevenage)
- Paul Simpson (Carlisle United)
- Ritchie Wellens (Leyton Orient)
League Two Player of Season
- Andy Cook (Bradford City)
- Carl Piergianni (Stevenage)
- Sam Hoskins (Northampton Town)
Championship Young Player of Season
- Amad Diallo (Sunderland)
- Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough)
- Alex Scott (Bristol City)
League One Young Player of Season
- Cameron Humohreys (Ipswich Town)
- Bali Mumba (Plymouth Argyle)
- Jes Rak-Sakyi (Charlton Athletic)
League Two Young Player of Season
- Jayden Sweeney (Leyton Orient)
- Junior Tchamadeu (Colchester United)
- Jacob Wakeling (Swindon Town)
Championship Apprentice of Season
- Jamie Knight-Lebel (Bristol City)
- Ash Phillips (Blackburn Rovers)
- Emre Tezgel (Stoke City)
League One Apprentice of Season
- Fabio Jalo (Barnsley)
- Zach Mitchell (Charlton Athletic)
- Gatlin O’Donkor (Oxford United)
League Two Apprentice of Season
- Matus Holicek (Crewe Alexandra)
- Emmanuel Ilesanmi (Harrogate Town)
- Josh Tomlinson (Northampton Town)
EFL Club Employee of Season
- John Clarke (Burton Albion)
- Abdul Khalique (Portsmouth)
- Jerry Tocknell (Bristol City)
EFL Fan Engagement of Season
- Bolton Wanderers
- Lincoln City
- Reading
EFL Diversity Award
- Bolton Wanderers
- Middlesbrough
- Watford
EFL Innovation Award
- Millwall
- Norwich City
- Portsmouth
EFL Green Club Award
- Bristol City
- Northampton Town
- Reading
EFL Supporter of the Season
- Diane Blazier (Norwich City)
- Paula Martin (Reading)
- Les Miller (Luton Town)
Championship Team of the Season
Ben Wilson (Coventry), Connor Roberts (Burnley), Anel Ahmedhodzic (Sheffield United), Tom Lockyer (Luton), Ian Maatsen (Burnley), Alex Scott (Bristol City), Josh Brownhill (Burnley), Nathan Tella (Burnley), Iliman Ndiaye (Sheffield United), Chuba Akpom (Middlesbrough), Viktor Gyokeres (Coventry)
League One Team of the Season
Michael Cooper (Plymouth Argyle), Balu Mumba (Plymouth Argyle), Leif Davis (Ipswich Town), Mads Anderson (Barnsley), Ricardo Santos (Bolton Wanderers), Conor Hourihane (Derby County), Barry Bannan (Sheffield Wednesday), Josh Windass (Sheffield Wednesday), Aaron Collins (Bristol Rovers), Jonson Clarke-Harris (Peterborough), Conor Chaplin (Ipswich Town)
League Two Team of the Season
Lawrence Vigoroux (Leyton Orient), Junior Tchamadeu (Colchester), Iboue Touray (Salford City), Carl Piergianni (Stevenage), Omar Beckles (Leyton Orient), Elliott Watt (Salford City), Owen Moxon (Carlisle United), Idris El Mizouni (Leyton Orient), Sam Hoskins (Northampton Town), Andy Cook (Bradford City), Mitch Pinnock (Northampton Town)
Contribution to League Football – Chris Kamara
Sir Tom Finney Award – Adebayo Akinfenwa
Goal of the Season – Ismaila Sarr (Watford)
EFL Player in Community Award – Omar Beckles (Leyton Orient)
EFL Community Project – MK Dons (Knife Angel)
Community Club of Season – Wigan
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