THE first set of games have been drawn for the revamped EFL Trophy (formerly Johnstone's Paint Trophy), with the group stages announced this morning.
North A
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North B
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North C
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North D
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North E
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North F
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North G
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North H
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Everton
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Wolves
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Stoke
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Blackburn
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Derby
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Sunderland
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M’brough
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Leicester
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Bolton
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Chesterfield
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Bradford
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Fleetwood
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Port Vale
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Rochdale
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Scunthorpe
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Sheffield
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Cheltenham
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Crewe Alex
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Morecambe
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Carlisle
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Doncaster
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Hartlepool
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Cambridge
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Grismby
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Blackpool
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Accrington
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Bury
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Oldham
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Mansfield
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Notts C
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Shrewsbury
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Walsall
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Match dates to be
confirmed. Groups based on divisional and regional factors.
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South A
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South B
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South C
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South D
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South E
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South F
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South G
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South H
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Reading
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Swansea
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Chelsea
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West Ham
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Southampton
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Norwich
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Brighton
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W Brom
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Bristol Rov
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Wimbledon
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Swindon
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Coventry
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Charlton
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Pet’boro
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Southend
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Millwall
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Portsmouth
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Newport
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Exeter
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Wycombe
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Colchester
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Barnet
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Stevenage
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Luton
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Yeovil
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Plymouth
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Oxford
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Northampton
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Crawley
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MK Dons
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L Orient
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Gillingham
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Match dates to be
confirmed. Groups based on divisional and regional factors.
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Southend have been drawn in Southern group G, alongside Category 1 academy Brighton (29th Aug, home), and EFL Two sides Stevenage (away, 7th Nov) and Leyton Orient (home, 3rd Oct).
Colchester have been drawn in Southern group E alongside Premier League academy Southampton (home, 3rd Oct), EFL One side Charlton Athletic (home, 7th Nov) and fellow EFL Two side Crawley Town (away, 29th Aug).
The Category One academies of Everton, Wolves, Stoke, Blackburn, Derby, Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Leicester, Reading, Chelsea, West Ham, Southampton, Norwich, Brighton and West Brom will be participating, in a new format revised by the EFL.
Arsenal, Liverpool, Man Utd, Man City, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle have all rejected offers to participate in the tournament.
Barnsley are the champions, after defeating Oxford 3-2 in last season's final, although Barnsley will be unable to defend their title, following promotion to the EFL Championship.
Arsenal, Liverpool, Man Utd, Man City, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle have all rejected offers to participate in the tournament.
Barnsley are the champions, after defeating Oxford 3-2 in last season's final, although Barnsley will be unable to defend their title, following promotion to the EFL Championship.
Each club will play each other once, either home or away. The top two teams in the 'groups' will progress to round 2, where they play the 1st/2nd place team of a different group.
The new format is explained here.