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 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 to 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, in the second half the team netted 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 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. 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.
Scunthorpe were relegated along with Oldham Athletic, who became the first former FA Premier League member to be relegated to the fifth tier. 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 Barrow-in-Furness Holker Street 5,045 Bradford City Bradford Valley Parade 25,136 Bristol Rovers Bristol Memorial Stadium 12,300 Carlisle United Carlisle Brunton Park 18,202 Colchester United Colchester Colchester Community Stadium 10,105 Crawley Town Crawley Broadfield Stadium 5,996 Exeter City Exeter St. James Park 8,696 Forest Green Rovers Nailsworth The New Lawn 5,147 Harrogate Town Harrogate Wetherby Road 5,000Hartlepool United HartlepoolVictoria Park 7,856 Leyton Orient London Brisbane Road 9,271 Mansfield Town Mansfield Field Mill 9,186 Newport County Newport Rodney Parade 7,850 Northampton Town Northampton Sixfields Stadium 7,798 Oldham Athletic Oldham Boundary Park 13,513 Port Vale Burslem Vale Park 20,552 Rochdale Rochdale Spotland Stadium 10,249 Salford City Salford Moor Lane 5,108 Scunthorpe United Scunthorpe Glanford Park 9,088 Stevenage Stevenage Broadhall Way 7,300 Sutton United London Gander Green Lane 5,013 Swindon Town Swindon County Ground 15,728 Tranmere Rovers Birkenhead Prenton Park 16,789 Walsall Walsall Bescot Stadium 11,300
Personnel and sponsoring Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer SponsorBarrow Phil Brown Jason Taylor JomaJF Hornby & Co. Bradford City Mark Hughes Paudie O'Connor Avec Sport JCT600 Bristol Rovers Joey Barton Paul Coutts Macron Utilita Carlisle United Paul Simpson Callum Guy Erreà Thomas Graham Colchester United Wayne Brown (caretaker) Tommy Smith MacronTexo Scaffolding (Home)JobServe (Away / Third) Crawley Town Lewis Young (caretaker) George Francomb ErreàThe People's Pension Exeter City Matt Taylor Matt Jay Joma Carpetright Forest Green Rovers Rob Edwards Jamille Matt PlayerLayer Ecotricity Harrogate Town Simon Weaver Josh Falkingham New Balance StrataHartlepool United Michael Nelson (caretaker) Nicky Featherstone O'NeillsOrangebox Training SolutionsLeyton Orient Richie Wellens Darren Pratley New Balance Multiple charities Mansfield Town Nigel Clough Ollie Clarke Surridge One CallNewport County James Rowberry Matty Dolan HummelAlzheimers Society Cymru Northampton Town Jon Brady Joseph Mills Hummel University of Northampton Oldham Athletic John Sheridan Carl Piergianni Hummel Bartercard Port Vale Darrell Clarke Tom Conlon Erreà Synectics Solutions Rochdale Robbie Stockdale Eoghan O'Connell Erreà Crown Oil LtdSalford City Gary Bowyer Ashley Eastham KappaTalkTalkScunthorpe United Keith Hill Liam Feeney MacronCancer Research UK Stevenage Steve Evans Scott Cuthbert Macron Prime GamingSutton United Matt Gray Craig Eastmond MacronAngel Plastics Swindon Town Ben Garner Dion Conroy Puma Bartercard Tranmere Rovers Micky Mellon Peter Clarke Mills Essar Walsall Michael Flynn Joss Labadie Erreà HomeServe
Managerial changes Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointmentLeyton Orient Jobi McAnuffEnd of Interim spell8 May 2021Pre-season Kenny Jackett21 May 2021Swindon Town Tommy Wright John McGreal26 May 2021Bradford City Mark Trueman Conor SellarsBradford City: "CLUB STATEMENT: MARK TRUEMAN AND CONOR SELLARS"Sacked10 May 2021 Derek Adams4 June 2021Walsall Brian DuttonWalsall: " CareClub Statement: Brian Dutton" Matthew Taylor19 May 2021Barrow Rob KellyEnd of Caretaker spell14 May 2021 Mark Cooper28 May 2021Tranmere Rovers Ian Dawes23 May 2021 Micky Mellon1 June 2021Forest Green Rovers Jimmy Ball Rob Edwards27 May 2021Swindon Town John McGrealMutual consent25 June 2021 Ben Garner21 July 2021Rochdale Brian Barry-MurphyResigned30 June 2021 Robbie Stockdale10 July 2021Newport County Michael Flynn1 October 202115th James Rowberry19 October 2021Carlisle United Chris BeechSacked10 October 202122nd Keith Millen26 October 2021Scunthorpe United Neil Cox1 November 202124th Keith Hill5 November 2021Hartlepool United Dave ChallinorSigned by Stockport County 10th Graeme Lee1 December 2021Stevenage Alex RevellSacked15 November 202121st Paul Tisdale28 November 2021Oldham Athletic Keith Curle24 November 202122nd Selim Benachour (Interim)24 November 2021Colchester United Hayden Mullins19 January 202122nd Wayne Brown (Interim) 22 January 2022Oldham Athletic Selim BenachourEnd of Interim Spell22 January 202224th John Sheridan 22 January 2022Walsall Matthew TaylorSacked9 February 2022 21st Michael Flynn15 February 2022Bradford City Derek Adams15 February 2022 11th Mark Hughes24 February 2022Leyton Orient Kenny Jackett22 February 202218th Richie Wellens9 March 2022Carlisle United Keith MillenMutual consent23 February 202223rd Paul Simpson23 February 2022Stevenage Paul TisdaleSacked16 March 202222nd Steve Evans16 March 2022Barrow Mark CooperMutual consent20 March 202221st Phil Brown21 March 2022Hartlepool United Graeme LeeSacked5 May 202216th Michael Nelson (caretaker)5 May 2022Crawley Town John YemsMutual consent6 May 202216th Lewis Young (caretaker)6 May 2022
League table
Play-offs
First leg
Second leg
Mansfield Town won 3–1 on aggregate.
Port Vale won 2-2 on aggregate, 6-5 on penalties.
Final
Results
Season statistics Top scorers
RankPlayerClubGoals1 Dom Telford Newport County252 Matty Stevens Forest Green Rovers233 Harry McKirdy Swindon Town204 Jamille Matt Forest Green Rovers195 Aaron Collins Bristol Rovers166 Davis Keillor-Dunn Oldham Athletic157 Matt Jay Exeter City14 Freddie Sears Colchester United
Hat-tricks
PlayerForAgainstResultDateRef Andy CookBradford CityStevenage4–117 August 2021 Nicky CaddenForest Green RoversCrawley Town6–321 August 2021 Aaron DrinanLeyton OrientHartlepool United5–030 October 2021 Paul Lewis Northampton Town Carlisle United 3–0 30 October 2021 Dom Telford Newport County Stevenage 5–0 30 October 2021 Harry McKirdy4 Swindon Town Northampton Town 5–2 1 January 2022 Jack Muldoon Harrogate Town Oldham Athletic 3–0 22 January 2022 Brandon Thomas-Asante Salford City Scunthorpe United 5–1 19 March 2022 Aaron Collins Bristol Rovers Rochdale 3–4 30 April 2022
Notes 4 Player scored 4 goals
Monthly awards MonthManager of the MonthPlayer of the MonthReferenceAugust Rob EdwardsForest Green Rovers Mathew StevensForest Green RoversSeptember Darrell ClarkePort Vale Nicky CaddenOctober Dom TelfordNewport CountyNovember Rob EdwardsForest Green RoversDecember Micky MellonTranmere Rovers Jake BeesleyRochdaleJanuary Rob EdwardsForest Green Rovers Luke McGeeForest Green RoversFebruary Matt TaylorExeter City Davis Keillor-DunnOldham AthleticMarch Joey BartonBristol Rovers Ruel SotiriouLeyton Orient
Awards AwardWinnerClubPlayer of the Season Kane Wilson Forest Green RoversYoung Player of the Season Finn AzazNewport County
EFL League Two Team of the season Pos.PlayerClubRef.GK Joe WollacottSwindon Town DF Jon GuthrieNorthampton TownDF Peter ClarkeTranmere RoversDF Jordan TurnbullSalford CityMF Kane WilsonForest Green RoversMF Timothée DiengExeter CityMF Finn AzazNewport CountyMF Nicky CaddenForest Green RoversFW Harry McKirdySwindon TownFW Dom TelfordNewport CountyFW Matty StevensForest Green RoversManager Rob EdwardsForest Green Rovers
Notes
References