Groundscare teams at Leicester City FC and Leeds Rhinos rugby club are among the winners of the 2015 Institute of Groundsmanship’s (IOG) awards for groundskeeping.

The winners were announced at a sell-out awards gala last night at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole attended by 630 people. The awards acknowledge the high standards achieved by volunteer and professional teams as well as individuals at facilities ranging from grassroots to professional stadia level.

The full list of winners:

Football Grounds Team of the Year
Leicester City FC

Cricket Grounds Team of the Year
Sussex County Cricket Club

Horse Racing Grounds Team of the Year
Nottingham Racecourse

Rugby Union Grounds Team of the Year
BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh

Rugby League Grounds Team of the Year
Leeds Rhinos

Tennis Grounds Team of the Year
The Queen’s Club, London

National Governing Bodies Professional Sports Ground of the Year
St George’s Park, Burton on Trent

Young Groundsman of the Year
Ryan Powell, Everton FC

Most Promising Sports Turf Student of the Year
Michael Crew, The Hurlingham Club, London

Unsung Hero
Ian Darler, Cambridge United FC

Environmental Project/Innovation of the Year
St George’s Park, Burton on Trent

Best Maintained Artificial Pitch of the Year
Manchester City FC

Independent School/University Sports Ground Team of the Year
Whitgift School, Croydon

Bowling Green Groundsman/Team of the Year
St Ives Bowls Club, Cambridge

International Ambassador of the Year
Philip Sharples, Azerbaijan

National Governing Bodies Grassroots Sports Grounds Team of the Year
Beversbrook Sports Facility, Calne

Volunteer Groundsman of the Year
Loucas Xenophontos, Hertford Town FC

Alex R Millar Groundsman of the Year Award
Jim Dawson, BT Murrayfield

Lifetime Achievement Award
Bob Smith, fomer Derby County groundsman who worked with Brian Clough