The 2023/24 League Two is almost at an end, with there being just one play-off final to go but with that being said, who has made our team of the season squad?
The writing and podcast teams have come together to vote for their picks for the League Two team of the season, with some categories being split by a single vote.
Previously, the Sports Deck team have named our 2023/24 National League Team of the Season and now it’s time to turn our attention to the fourth tier ahead of next weekend’s play-off final between Crewe Alexandra and Crawley Town with the winner joining Stockport County, Wrexham and Mansfield Town in League One next season.
With that being said, let’s take a look at our official League Two Team of the Season…
Goalkeeper: Arthur Okonkwo
Beginning between the sticks is Wrexham’s Arthur Okonkwo who joined the club on loan from Arsenal last summer and has played a starring role since his move.
The 22-year-old made 36 appearances for Wrexham in League Two after taking the place off Ben Foster. He’s since managed 14 clean sheets, managing three saves per match and conceding just 0.8 goals per 90 minutes.
Okonkwo stormed to his place in this eleven by taking over 56% of the votes, beating Stockport’s Ben Hinchliffe and Barrow’s Paul Farman.
Right-Back: Brad Halliday
Unsurprisingly, Bradford’s Brad Halliday takes the first defence spot in this squad following the impressive nature of his performances for Graham Alexander’s side this season.
The 28-year-old has made 44 league appearances for the Bantams this season, contributing to eight goals. Similarly, Halliday also managed 1.2 key passes per 90 minutes as well as 5.7 ball recoveries and 2.8 tackles per game.
Unsurprisingly, Halliday cruised into his spot in the XI after earning 73.9% of the votes, fending off Gillingham’s Remeao Hutton.
Centre-Back: Mickey Demetriou
Continuing the back four is a man who is 90 minutes away from playing in League One next season, in the form of Crewe Alexandra captain Mickey Demetriou.
Following his arrival in the summer, Demetriou has made 46 league appearances for the club, scoring eight goals and providing six assists which is an impressive return, especially for a centre-back. He has also managed to earn 13 clean sheets in the process.
Despite some tough competition, Demetriou takes his place in our squad after earning 30.4% of the votes.
Centre-Back: Fraser Horsfall
Partnering Demetriou is Stockport County’s Fraser Horsfall who beat off someone by one vote to make our squad and will take his place in League One next season.
The 27-year-old featured 45 times in league action for Stockport County this season, scoring twice whilst helping to earn 17 clean sheets. He also managed 4.9 ball recoveries, five clearances and a pass completion rate of 82%.
By a single vote, Horsfall beat Mansfield’s Aden Flint to take the final spot in our squad, whilst Barrow’s George Ray also came close but fell short.
Left-Back: Jodi Jones
Theoretically, there really was no competition for Notts County’s Jodi Jones this season, who produced an outstanding campaign since arriving on a permanent deal last summer.
The Maltese international managed 43 league appearances for Stuart Maynard’s side, scoring six goals and providing a draw-dropping 24 assists, making him one of the highest providers in European Football.
To put into context how routine this selection was, Jones earned 91% of our votes, with MK Dons’ Joe Tomlinson, Wimbledon’s Jack Curie and Crewe’s Rio Adebisi also earning votes.
Central Midfield: Alex Gilbey
Moving into midfield, MK Dons’ Alex Gilbey was our first selection based on his role in helping Mike Williamson’s side to reach the League Two play-off places after narrowly missing out on automatic promotion.
In total, Gilbey made managed 13 goals and ten assists from 46 league matches for MK Dons. He also managed 1.4 key passes per 90 minutes, a passing success rate of 77% and 4.2 ball recoveries per game, proving how important he is to the way MK Dons play.
Despite facing plenty of competition, Gilbey managed 30.4% of the votes and firmly takes his place in our squad for the 2023/24 season.
Central Midfield: Liam Kelly
Partnering Gilbey is Crawley Town midfielder Liam Kelly, who has played an important role in helping Scott Lindsey’s side to defy the odds and move to within 90 minutes of a place in League One next season.
The 28-year-old made 37 league appearances for Crawley this season, scoring four goals and providing nine additional assists. Similarly, Kelly also managed a pass completion rate of 86% as well as 1.6 key passes per game and was extremely influential.
With 26% of the votes, Kelly takes his place as our second midfielder in this squad and deservedly so.
Attacking Midfield: Davis Keillor-Dunn
Completing the midfield is one of League Two’s best players this season in the form of Mansfield Town playmaker Davis Keillor-Dunn.
The 27-year-old made 46 league appearances for Nigel Clough’s side, scoring 22 goals and providing ten assists. He also managed 2.2 key passes per game, 3.5 shots and averaged a goal every 155 minutes in League Two, helping the Stags to achieve promotion into the third tier.
Keillor-Dunn managed to earn a whopping 72% of our votes and comfortably takes his place in the squad ahead of Wrexham’s Elliott Lee and Walsall’s Isaac Hutchinson.
Right Winger: Dan Kemp
Although this inclusion is likely to have been based on the first-half of the season, you simply cannot ignore how successful MK Dons’ Dan Kemp has been this season.
Between MK Dons and Swindon Town, Kemp has made 46 league appearances this season, scoring 17 goals and providing 11 assists. He also managed 1.7 key passes this season along with 2.3 shots per 90 and a pass completion rate of 80%.
From our votes, Kemp made the squad with 52%, comfortably beating his closest rival (more on that shortly) to earn a place in our squad.
Left Winger: Rob Apter
The League Two Young Player of the Season will also make our squad alongside Kemp in attack, much to the delight of Tranmere Rovers supporters reading.
Since signing on loan from Blackpool, Apter has made 37 league appearances for Nigel Adkins’ side, scoring 12 goals and providing six assists in the process, averaging a goal contribution almost every two matches.
Apter managed 26% of our votes to make this squad and he’ll be hoping to kick on at Blackpool in League One next season.
Striker: Macaulay Langstaff
Completing our squad is Notts County star Macaulay Langstaff who had a phenomenal campaign despite his side slipping out of promotion contention during the campaign.
The 27-year-old made 46 league appearances for Stuart Maynard’s side, scoring 28 goals and providing six additional assists. This means he averaged a goal contribution every 1.35 matches as well as having 1.5 shots on target per game as well as scoring every 144 minutes.
Despite some serious competition, Langstaff made our squad after picking up 47% of the vote, ahead of Stockport’s Paddy Madden and Salford’s Matt Smith.
Manager: Scott Lindsey
Unsurprisingly, our League Two Manager of the Season has gone to Crawley Town’s Scott Lindsey and deservedly so. Before a ball was kicked this season, many football fans (including myself) made the mistake of predicting Crawley would go down, now they are 90 minutes away from League One.
Lindsey faced competition from Stockport’s Dave Challinor, Mansfield’s Nigel Clough and Doncaster’s Grant McCann, but sweeps our award with 43.5% of the votes.
Readers, what are your thoughts on our League Two Team of the Season?