2021–22 EFL League Two explained

Competition:	EFL League Two
Season:	2021–22
Dates:	7 August 2021 – 7 May 2022
Winners:	Forest Green Rovers
Promoted:	Forest Green Rovers Exeter City Bristol Rovers Port Vale
Matches:	552
Total Goals:	1359
League Topscorer:	Dom Telford (25 goals)
Biggest Home Win:	(7 May 2022)
Biggest Away Win:	(11 September 2021) (18 September 2021) (29 January 2022) (19 February 2022) (9 April 2022)
Highest Scoring:	(11 December 2021)
Prevseason:	2020–21
Nextseason:	2022–23

The 2021–22 EFL League Two (referred to as the Sky Bet League Two for sponsorship reasons) was the 18th season of Football League Two under its current title and the 30th season under its current league division format. The season is known for the dramatic finish to the last automatic spot (3rd) between Bristol Rovers and Northampton Town. Bristol Rovers started the day needing to better the result of 3rd placed Northampton Town or win by 5 goals more than their rivals. Northampton Town beat 22nd placed Barrow 3-1, and by halftime, Bristol Rovers seemed on course for a playoff position despite leading 2-0 against Scunthorpe United, thanks in part to Lobley's own goal. However, the team delivered a remarkable second-half performance, netting 5 goals against a youthful Scunthorpe side. With just 5 minutes remaining, Anderson's header propelled Bristol Rovers into the automatic promotion spot (Anderson's crucial winner against Colchester United earlier in March, secured the team's place in the playoff ranks for the first time this season). The dramatic final moments saw Bristol Rovers clinch automatic promotion from League Two based on goals scored as the two teams were tied on points and goal difference. Manager Joey Barton implored fans to clear the pitch after Anderson's decisive goal triggered a pitch invasion, halting the match for nearly 20 minutes. Fortunately, the remaining 5 minutes and added time were played without incident, sealing Bristol Rovers' immediate and triumphant return to EFL League One following last season's relegation, beating already relegated Scunthorpe United 7-0. ^{[1] [2]}

Team changes

To League Two

Promoted from National League

• Sutton United
• Hartlepool United

Relegated from League One

• Bristol Rovers
• Swindon Town
• Northampton Town
• Rochdale

From League Two

Promoted to League One

• Cheltenham Town
• Cambridge United
• Bolton Wanderers
• Morecambe

Relegated to National League

• Grimsby Town
• Southend United

Stadiums

Team	Location	Stadium	Capacity
	Barrow-in-Furness		5,045
	Bradford		25,136
	Bristol		12,300
			18,202
			10,105
	Crawley		5,996
			8,696
Forest Green Rovers			5,147
	Harrogate		5,000
	Hartlepool	Victoria Park	7,856
			9,271
			9,186
	Newport		7,850
	Northampton		7,798
	Oldham		13,513
	Burslem		20,552
			10,249
			5,108
			9,088
	Stevenage		7,800
		Gander Green Lane	5,013
	Swindon		15,728
			16,789
	Walsall		11,300

Personnel and sponsoring

Team	Manager	Captain	Kit manufacturer	Sponsor
Barrow	Phil Brown	Jason Taylor	Joma	JF Hornby & Co.
	Mark Hughes	Paudie O'Connor	Avec Sport	JCT600
	Joey Barton	Paul Coutts	Macron	Utilita
Carlisle United	Paul Simpson	Callum Guy	Erreà	Thomas Graham
Colchester United	Wayne Brown (caretaker)	Tommy Smith	Macron	Texo Scaffolding (Home) JobServe (Away / Third)
Crawley Town	Lewis Young (caretaker)	George Francomb^[3]	Erreà	The People's Pension
Exeter City	Matt Taylor	Matt Jay^[4]	Joma	Carpetright
Forest Green Rovers	Rob Edwards	Jamille Matt	PlayerLayer^[5]	Ecotricity
Harrogate Town	Simon Weaver	Josh Falkingham	New Balance	Strata
	Michael Nelson (caretaker)	Nicky Featherstone	O'Neills	Orangebox Training Solutions
	Richie Wellens	Darren Pratley	New Balance	Multiple charities
Mansfield Town	Nigel Clough	Ollie Clarke	Surridge	One Call
Newport County	James Rowberry	Matty Dolan	Hummel	Alzheimers Society Cymru
Northampton Town	Jon Brady	Joseph Mills	Hummel	University of Northampton
Oldham Athletic	John Sheridan	Carl Piergianni	Hummel	Bartercard
	Darrell Clarke	Tom Conlon	Erreà	Synectics Solutions
	Robbie Stockdale	Eoghan O'Connell	Erreà	Crown Oil Ltd
Salford City		Ashley Eastham	Kappa	TalkTalk
	Keith Hill	Liam Feeney	Macron	Cancer Research UK
Stevenage	Steve Evans	Scott Cuthbert	Macron	Prime Gaming
Sutton United	Matt Gray	Craig Eastmond	Macron	Angel Plastics
Swindon Town		Ben Garner	Dion Conroy	Puma	Bartercard
Tranmere Rovers	Micky Mellon	Peter Clarke	Mills^[6]	Essar
	Michael Flynn	Joss Labadie	Erreà

Managerial changes

Team	Outgoing manager	Manner of departure	Date of vacancy	Position in table	Incoming manager	Date of appointment
Leyton Orient	Jobi McAnuff^[7]	End of Interim spell	8 May 2021	Pre-season	Kenny Jackett^[8]	21 May 2021
Swindon Town	Tommy Wright				John McGreal^[9]	26 May 2021
Bradford City	Mark Trueman Conor Sellars^[10]	Sacked	10 May 2021		Derek Adams^[11]	4 June 2021
Walsall	Brian Dutton^[12]				Matthew Taylor^[13]	19 May 2021
Barrow	Rob Kelly^[14]	End of Caretaker spell	14 May 2021		Mark Cooper^[15]	28 May 2021
Tranmere Rovers	Ian Dawes		23 May 2021		Micky Mellon^[16]	1 June 2021
Forest Green Rovers					Rob Edwards^[17]	27 May 2021
Swindon Town	John McGreal^[18]	Mutual consent	25 June 2021		Ben Garner^[19]	21 July 2021
Rochdale	Brian Barry-Murphy^[20]	Resigned	30 June 2021		Robbie Stockdale^[21]	10 July 2021
Newport County	Michael Flynn^[22]		1 October 2021	15th	James Rowberry^[23]	19 October 2021
Carlisle United	Chris Beech^[24]	Sacked	10 October 2021	22nd	Keith Millen^[25]	26 October 2021
Scunthorpe United	1 November 2021		Neil Cox^[26]	1 November 2021	24th	Keith Hill^[27]	5 November 2021
	Dave Challinor^[28]		10th		Graeme Lee^[29]	1 December 2021
Stevenage	Alex Revell^[30]	Sacked	15 November 2021	21st	Paul Tisdale^[31]	28 November 2021
Oldham Athletic	Keith Curle^[32]		24 November 2021	22nd	Selim Benachour (Interim)	24 November 2021
Colchester United	Hayden Mullins^[33]		19 January 2021	22nd	Wayne Brown (Interim)	22 January 2022
Oldham Athletic	Selim Benachour	End of Interim Spell	22 January 2022	24th	John Sheridan^[34]	22 January 2022
Walsall	Matthew Taylor^[35]	Sacked	9 February 2022	21st	Michael Flynn^[36]	15 February 2022
Bradford City	Derek Adams^[37]		15 February 2022	11th	Mark Hughes^[38]	24 February 2022
Leyton Orient	Kenny Jackett^[39]		22 February 2022	18th	Richie Wellens^[40]	9 March 2022
Carlisle United	Keith Millen^[41]	Mutual consent	23 February 2022	23rd	Paul Simpson^[42]	23 February 2022
Stevenage	Paul Tisdale^[43]	Sacked	16 March 2022	22nd	Steve Evans	16 March 2022
Barrow	Mark Cooper^[44]	Mutual consent	20 March 2022	21st	Phil Brown^[45]	21 March 2022
Hartlepool United	Graeme Lee^[46]	Sacked	5 May 2022	16th	Michael Nelson (caretaker)	5 May 2022
Crawley Town	John Yems^[47] ^[48]	Mutual consent	6 May 2022	16th	Lewis Young (caretaker)	6 May 2022

Play-offs

See main article: 2022 English Football League play-offs.

First leg

Second legMansfield Town won 3–1 on aggregate.Port Vale won 2-2 on aggregate, 6-5 on penalties.

Final

See main article: 2022 EFL League Two play-off Final.

Season statistics

Top scorers

Rank	Player	Club	Goals
1	Dom Telford	Newport County	25
2	Matty Stevens	Forest Green Rovers	23
3	Harry McKirdy	Swindon Town	20
4	Jamille Matt	Forest Green Rovers	19
5	Aaron Collins	Bristol Rovers	16
6	Davis Keillor-Dunn	Oldham Athletic	15
7	Matt Jay	Exeter City	14
	Freddie Sears	Colchester United

Hat-tricks

See main article: List of EFL League Two hat-tricks.

Player	For	Against	Result	Date	Ref
Andy Cook	Bradford City	Stevenage	4–1	17 August 2021	^[49]
Nicky Cadden	Forest Green Rovers	Crawley Town	6–3	21 August 2021	^[50]
Aaron Drinan	Leyton Orient	Hartlepool United	5–0	30 October 2021	^[51]
Paul Lewis	Northampton Town	Carlisle United	3–0	30 October 2021	^[52]
Dom Telford	Newport County	Stevenage	5–0	30 October 2021	^[53]
Harry McKirdy^4	Swindon Town	Northampton Town	5–2	1 January 2022	^[54]
Jack Muldoon	Harrogate Town	Oldham Athletic	3–0	22 January 2022	^[55]
Brandon Thomas-Asante	Salford City	Scunthorpe United	5–1	19 March 2022	^[56]
Aaron Collins	Bristol Rovers	Rochdale	3–4	30 April 2022	^[57]

Notes⁴ Player scored 4 goals

Monthly awards

Month	Manager of the Month		Player of the Month		Reference
August	Rob Edwards	Forest Green Rovers	Mathew Stevens	Forest Green Rovers	^[58]
September	Darrell Clarke	Port Vale	Nicky Cadden		^[59]
October			Dom Telford	Newport County	^[60]
November	Rob Edwards	Forest Green Rovers			^[61]
December	Micky Mellon	Tranmere Rovers	Jake Beesley	Rochdale	^[62]
January	Rob Edwards	Forest Green Rovers	Luke McGee	Forest Green Rovers	^[63]
February	Matt Taylor	Exeter City	Davis Keillor-Dunn	Oldham Athletic	^[64]
March	Joey Barton	Bristol Rovers	Ruel Sotiriou	Leyton Orient	^[65]

Awards

Award	Winner	Club
Player of the Season	Kane Wilson^[66]	Forest Green Rovers
Young Player of the Season	Finn Azaz	Newport County

EFL League Two Team of the season

Pos.	Player	Club	Ref.
GK	Joe Wollacott	Swindon Town	^[67]
DF	Jon Guthrie	Northampton Town
DF	Peter Clarke	Tranmere Rovers
DF	Jordan Turnbull	Salford City
MF	Kane Wilson	Forest Green Rovers
MF	Timothée Dieng	Exeter City
MF	Finn Azaz	Newport County
MF	Nicky Cadden	Forest Green Rovers
FW	Harry McKirdy	Swindon Town
FW	Dom Telford	Newport County
FW	Matty Stevens	Forest Green Rovers
Manager	Rob Edwards	Forest Green Rovers

Notes and References

1. News: Bristol Rovers go up after extraordinary 7-0 win . 2024-03-22 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
2. News: Northampton denied automatic promotion despite win . 2024-03-22 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
3. Web site: George Francomb takes on Reds captaincy . 1 May 2021 . Crawley Town F.C. . 4 September 2020.
4. Web site: Matt Jay named the new Grecians captain . Exeter City FC . 31 July 2021.
5. Web site: Forest Green Rovers Cancel Hummel Deal Following Company's Fail to Deliver Kits. Footy Headlines. 22 August 2018.
6. Web site: Perusahaan Indonesia, Mills, Jadi Pemasok Apparel Klub Inggris Tranmere Rovers. 29 May 2021. Tempo.co. 10 May 2021.
7. Web site: Jobi McAnuff: Leyton Orient will not offer interim manager permanent job . BBC Sport. 8 May 2021.
8. Web site: LEYTON ORIENT APPOINT KENNY JACKETT AS MANAGER. www.leytonorient.com. 21 May 2021.
9. Web site: John McGreal: Swindon Town appoint ex-Colchester boss as manager. BBC Sport. 26 May 2021.
10. https://www.bradfordcityafc.com/news/2021/may/club-statement-mark-trueman-and-conor-sellars/ Bradford City: "CLUB STATEMENT: MARK TRUEMAN AND CONOR SELLARS"
11. Web site: ADAMS UNVEILED AS NEW BANTAMS BOSS. www.bradfordcityafc.com. 4 June 2021.
12. https://www.saddlers.co.uk/news/2021/may/club-statement-brian-dutton/ Walsall: " CareClub Statement: Brian Dutton"
13. Web site: Matthew Taylor appointed as Saddlers Head Coach. www.saddlers.co.uk. 19 May 2021.
14. Web site: Rob Kelly: Barrow assistant does not wish to take up vacant managerial position. BBC Sport. 14 May 2021. 19 May 2021.
15. Web site: Mark Cooper Appointed As Barrow Manager. www.barrowafc.com. 28 May 2021.
16. Web site: Micky Mellon confirmed as new Tranmere Rovers manager. www.tranmererovers.co.uk. 31 May 2021.
17. Web site: Rob Edwards named Forest Green Rovers Head Coach. www.fgr.co.uk. 27 May 2021. 27 May 2021.
18. Web site: CLUB STATEMENT: JOHN MCGREAL AND RENE GILMARTIN. www.swindontownfc.co.uk. 25 June 2021. 30 June 2021.
19. Web site: New Director of Football and Head Coach Appointed. www.swindontownfc.co.uk. 21 July 2021. 21 July 2021.
20. Web site: Club Statement: Brian Barry-Murphy. www.rochdaleafc.co.uk. 30 June 2021.
21. Web site: Robbie Stockdale: Rochdale appoint former Sunderland and West Brom coach as manager . BBC Sport . 10 July 2021 . 10 July 2021.
22. Web site: Michael Flynn Resigns. BBC Sport. 1 October 2021.
23. Web site: James Rowberry: Cardiff City coach is named Newport County manager . BBC Sport . 19 October 2021 . 19 October 2021.
24. Web site: Chris Beech: Carlisle United head coach departs after poor run of form. BBC Sport . 10 October 2021. 10 October 2021.
25. Web site: CLUB: New manager appointed. Carlisle United. 26 October 2021. 26 October 2021.
26. Web site: 1 November 2021. Club News Club statement. live. 1 November 2021. Scunthorpe United. https://web.archive.org/web/20211101115258/https://www.scunthorpe-united.co.uk/news/2021/november/club-statement/ . 2021-11-01 .
27. Web site: 1 November 2021. Keith Hill appointed as the Iron's new first team manager. live. 5 November 2021. Scunthorpe United. https://web.archive.org/web/20211105094919/https://www.scunthorpe-united.co.uk/news/2021/november/keith-hill-appointed-as-the-irons-new-first-team-manager// . 2021-11-05 .
28. Web site: Dave Challinor: Hartlepool United boss leaves role for Stockport County opportunity . BBC Sport . 2 November 2021 . 2 November 2021.
29. Web site: Graeme Lee appointed. www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk. 1 December 2021.
30. Web site: Managerial Change. Stevenage FC . 14 November 2021 . 14 November 2021.
31. Web site: Paul Tisdale: Stevenage appoint former Exeter City and MK Dons boss. BBC Sport . 28 November 2021 . 28 November 2021.
32. Web site: Keith Curle: Oldham Athletic boss leaves club eight months after appointment . BBC Sport . 24 November 2021 . 24 November 2021.
33. Web site: Club Statement . Colchester United FC . 19 January 2021 . 20 January 2021.
34. Web site: Club Statement - John Sheridan. www.oldhamathletic.co.uk. 22 January 2022.
35. Web site: Matt Taylor: Walsall sack head coach following seven successive league defeats . BBC Sport . 9 February 2022 . 9 February 2022.
36. Web site: Michael Flynn: Walsall appoint former Newport County boss as head coach . BBC Sport . 15 February 2022 . 15 February 2022.
37. Web site: Derek Adams: Bradford City part company with manager after eight months in charge . BBC Sport . 15 February 2022 . 15 February 2022.
38. Web site: MARK HUGHES UNVEILED AS NEW CITY MANAGER. www.bradfordcityafc.com. 24 February 2022. 24 February 2022.
39. Web site: Club statement: Kenny Jackett. www.leytonorient.com. 22 February 2022. 23 February 2022.
40. Web site: Richie Wellens appointed as Head Coach. www.leytonorient.com. 9 March 2022. 9 March 2022.
41. Web site: CLUB STATEMENT: 23 February 2022. www.carlisleunited.co.uk. 23 February 2022. 23 February 2022.
42. Web site: Paul Simpson: Carlisle United reappoint former boss after Keith Millen exit . BBC Sport . 23 February 2022 . 23 February 2022.
43. Web site: Managerial Change. Stevenage FC . 16 March 2022 . 16 March 2022.
44. Web site: Club Statement: Mark Cooper. www.barrowafc.com. 20 March 2022. 20 March 2022.
45. Web site: Phil Brown Appointed As Barrow Manager. www.barrowafc.com. 21 March 2022. 21 March 2022.
46. Web site: Club statement - Graeme Lee. www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk. 5 May 2022. 6 May 2022.
47. Web site: John Yems: Crawley Town part company with manager in wake of racism claims. BBC Sport. 6 May 2022. 7 May 2022.
48. Web site: CLUB STATEMENT - JOHN YEMS. Crawley Town Football Club. 6 May 2022. 7 May 2022.
49. Web site: Bradford City 4–1 Stevenage . 17 August 2021 . BBC Sport . 18 August 2021.
50. Web site: Forest Green Rovers 6–3 Crawley Town . 21 August 2021 . BBC Sport . 22 August 2021.
51. Web site: Leyton Orient 5-0 Hartlepool United . 30 October 2021 . BBC Sport . 30 October 2021.
52. News: Northampton Town 3-0 Carlisle United. BBC Sport. BBC. 30 October 2021. 1 January 2022.
53. Web site: Newport County 5–0 Stevenage. BBC Sport. 30 October 2021. 22 March 2022.
54. News: Swindon Town 5-2 Northampton Town. BBC Sport. BBC. 1 January 2022. 1 January 2022.
55. Web site: Harrogate Town 3–0 Oldham Athletic. BBC Sport. 22 January 2022. 22 March 2022.
56. Web site: Salford City 5–1 Scunthorpe United. BBC Sport. 19 March 2022. 22 March 2022.
57. Web site: Rochdale 3–4 Bristol Rovers. BBC Sport. 30 April 2022. 9 August 2022.
58. Web site: Sky Bet EFL August Manager and Player of the Month winners. 2021-09-10. EFL. en.
59. Web site: Scott Parker and Ben Brereton Diaz win Sky Bet Championship September awards. 2021-10-08. Sky Sports. en.
60. Web site: Introducing October's Player and Manager of the Month winners!. www.efl.com. 12 November 2021. 12 November 2021.
61. Web site: Sky Bet EFL Manager and Player of the Month: November winners!. www.efl.com. 11 December 2021. 11 December 2021.
62. Web site: Your Sky Bet Manager and Player of the Month December winners!. 2022-01-07. EFL. en.
63. Web site: January's Sky Bet EFL Manager and Player of the Month winners!. www.efl.com. 11 February 2022. 14 February 2022.
64. Web site: Your Sky Bet EFL February Manager and Player of the Month winners!. www.efl.com. 11 March 2022. 11 March 2022.
65. Web site: March's Sky Bet EFL Manager and Player of the Month winners. www.efl.com. 8 April 2022.
66. Web site: Aleksandar Mitrovic named Sky Bet Championship Player of the Season. www.efl.com. 24 April 2022. 25 April 2022.
67. Web site: Football Manager EFL Team of the Season line-ups. www.efl.com. 24 April 2022. 25 April 2022.