12/06/2024 12:37
The 2023/24 season was the first of a multi-year partnership between Bristol Street Motors and the EFL that saw us become title sponsor for the EFL Trophy as well as the Official Car Dealer of the League.
The first Bristol Street Motors Trophy final saw Peterborough United secure a second title after a dramatic victory against Wycombe Wanderers, but it was only one of the various awards that would be handed out over the course of the campaign.
Here, we run down the various winners – and losers - from the season just gone...
CHAMPIONSHIP:
Leicester City secured an immediate return to the Premier League a year after being relegated, seeing off the challenge of surprise package Ipswich Town to secure the title by a single point.
For Ipswich, it was a second successive promotion after they moved up from League One twelve months earlier.
The third promotion slot went the way of Southampton, who also go straight back to the Premier League after beating Leeds United by a single goal in the play-off final.
They will be replaced by Luton Town, Burnley and Sheffield United, who all return to the EFL after a single season.
At the other end of the table, Birmingham City, Huddersfield Town and Rotherham United all dropped down to League One.
For his efforts in guiding Ipswich back to the top flight for the first time in more than 20 years, Kieran McKenna was named as Manager of the Season, with the award for Player of the Season going to Leeds United forward Crysencio Summerville. His team-mate Archie Gray was named as both Young Player of the Season and Apprentice of the Season.
The top scorer award went to Blackburn Rovers forward Sammie Szmodics, who found the net 27 times in the league.
Team of the Season:
LEAGUE ONE:
Portsmouth will return to the second tier of the English game for the first time since the 2011-12 season after emerging at the head of a battle between three former Premier League sides looking to secure the League One title.
Pompey took the title in the end by five points ahead of Derby County, with Bolton Wanderers consigned to the play-off places in third spot. Unfortunately for the Trotters, Oxford United came out on top at Wembley to secure the third promotion slot.
Down at the other end of the table, Cheltenham Town, Fleetwood Town, Port Vale and Carlisle United were the four teams that were consigned to the drop.
In his first role in charge, John Mousinho took the Manager of the Season award for guiding Portsmouth to the title, whilst Player of the Season went to Peterborough United captain Harrison Burrows. The Posh also provided Young Player of the Season Ronnie Edwards, with Northampton Town youngster Reuben Wyatt named as Apprentice of the Season.
The top scorer award went to Charlton Athletic’s Alfie May, who scored 23 goals from 42 appearances.
Team of the Season:
LEAGUE TWO:
After a season-long fight towards the top end of the table, Stockport County secured the League Two title to return to the third tier for the first time in more than a decade.
Wrexham made it two successive promotions as the side owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Ron McElhenney finished the season in second place, with Mansfield Town securing the third automatic promotion slot.
Despite sneaking into the play-offs in seventh place, Crawley Town picked up victory over Crewe Alexandra at Wembley to also gain a place in League One for next season.
At the bottom of the table, Sutton United and Forest Green Rovers both dropped out of the EFL after being unable to avoid relegation, with Chesterfield returning to the Football League as champions, and Bromley moving up from non-league for the first time following a penalty shootout victory against Solihull Moors.
Having guided his team to promotion, Nigel Clough – who has now managed more games than any other active manager in the English game – was named as Manager of the Season, with Player of the Season going to Notts County winger Jodi Jones. Young Player of the Season went to Tranmere Rovers midfielder Rob Apter, with MK Dons youngster Callum Trip named as Apprentice of the Season.
Top scorer in League Two was Notts County forward Macauley Langstaff, who picked up an impressive 28 goals from 46 starts.
Team of the Season:
EFL CUP:
The EFL Cup – more commonly known as the Carabao Cup – went the way of Liverpool, who secured the title for a record-extending tenth time with victory in the final over Chelsea.
The game went into extra-time after no goals in the first 90 minutes and it looked like a penalty shootout would be needed to split the teams before Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk nodded in with two minutes to go to wrap up the victory.
Top scorer in the competition was Morgan Rogers, who hit the back of the net five times for Middlesbrough as the Championship side made it to the semi-final stage.
EFL TROPHY:
Renamed as the Bristol Street Motors Trophy as part of a three-year deal, the competition was won in dramatic fashion by Peterborough United after three late goals in the Wembley showpiece.
Harrison Burrows put The Posh ahead late on before Wycombe Wanderers drew level through Dale Taylor with a goal that looked set to force extra time. However, Burrows then scored his second in stoppage time to secure the win for Peterborough.
That was a second win in the competition for Darren Ferguson’s side, which had previously won back in 2014.
Top scorer in the competition was Bradford City forward Tyler Smith, who fired in six goals in five matches as his side reached the semi-final stage.