From the *cough* EFL *cough* website.

The EFL has confirmed the format of the EFL Trophy 2016/17 which, for the first time, will include 16 invited teams from clubs with Category One Academies.
A total of 64 clubs will compete in the competition beginning with 16 groups of four teams, each of which will include at least one club from each of Leagues One and Two, along with one invited team. The top two sides in each group will then go into a knockout stage that will culminate in a showpiece final at Wembley Stadium on April 2.

The new look competition will also have an enhanced prize fund with an expected £1.95m being up for grabs, including £10,000 per win and £5,000 per draw during the Group Stage and £100,000 for the eventual winner.

The first 16 clubs with Category One Academies that have been invited to take part in the EFL Trophy 2016/17 are Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Leicester City, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Middlesbrough, Newcastle United, Southampton, Stoke City, Sunderland, Swansea City, Tottenham Hotspur, West Bromwich Albion and West Ham United.

EFL Chief Executive, Shaun Harvey said: "The new format is intended to rejuvenate this competition and also assist the development of the very best young players in English football. This will help us deliver more and better home grown players which will deliver benefits to the national team and domestic league football at all levels.

"I believe this is the right time to pilot these changes to the EFL Trophy, which we will review at the end of the 2016/17 season following discussions with our clubs and having consulted with the other football bodies and supporter organisations."

A Premier League spokesman said: "The overriding aim of the Elite Player Performance Plan across the Premier League and English Football League is to produce more and better home grown players capable of performing at first team and international levels.

"Participation for a selection of Premier League clubs' teams to take part in the EFL Trophy is an important part of a range developments that both we and the EFL believe will help young, talented players progress physically and mentally on top of the technical aspect of their game developed in the Academy system.

"It is a progressive move by both leagues; one that we welcome."

Competition format

Clubs:

- 48 clubs from League One & Two.

- 16 invited Category One Academy teams.

Eligibility Criteria:

- EFL Clubs – a minimum of 5 ‘First Team’ players in the starting 11 as defined under the competition’s existing rules.

- Invited Clubs – 6 of the starting 11 to be U21 (as at June 30).

Group Stage:

- 16 groups of 4 teams organised on a regionalised basis.

- Groups to include one invited club and at least one club from each of Leagues One & Two.

- Clubs to play each other once, either home or away. Invited clubs will play one home game at the club’s first team stadium.

- Clubs will be awarded 3 points for a win and 1 point for a draw. In the event of a drawn game (after 90 minutes), a penalty shootout will be held with the winning team earning an additional point.

- The top two teams will progress to the Knockout Stage.

Knockout Stage:

- Round 2 (32 teams) will remain regionalised with each group winner being drawn at home to a second placed team from a different qualifying group.

- Round 3 (16 teams) and Round 4 (8 teams) will be ‘free’ draws.

- Semi-finals (4 teams) will be a 'free’ draw and will consist of single ties played at the stadium of the club drawn first in each tie.

- If scores are level after 90 minutes in Rounds 2, 3 and 4, the game will be determined by the taking of penalties. The EFL will confirm arrangements for the Semi-Finals and Final in due course following further consultation.

Dates:

- Group Stage
- w/c 29th August 2016
- w/c 3rd October 2016
- w/c 7th November 2016

- Round 2 - w/c 5th December 2016
- Round 3 - w/c 9th January 2017
- Round 4 - w/c 23rd January 2017
- Semi- Final - w/c 20th February 2017
- Final - 2nd April 2017 (Wembley Stadium)

The date of the draw for the group stage will be announced in due course.

Match Proceeds:

After deduction of match expenses, all proceeds will be split:
- 45% Home Club
- 45% Away Club
- 10% to the pool account

Invited clubs will donate all or some of their share of gate receipts to a fund that will be shared equally by League One and Two clubs.

Group Stage - Invited Clubs will donate their 45% share to the fund.
Knockout Stage - Invited Clubs will retain 25% of their share and donate 20% to the fund.
Semi-finals & Final - Invited Clubs will retain 30% of their share and donate 15% to the fund

Read more at
[/quote]

Can't say I mind not being part of this idea to get prem B teams into the English football system at the expense of lower league clubs, but I am slightly miffed that Newcastle get invited and we don't when we are (for now) in the same league.

It would be interesting to know how many Cat. 1 Academy (and who they are) have not been invited. Has any Premier League Cat 1 Academy been left out? This is another nail in the coffin of the lower Divisions as a chance of going to Wembley and a bit of handy cash disappears. Serves the FA right if the League 1 & 2 clubs tell the FA where to go and all withdraw from the EFL Trophy the following season.

If you can find an accurate list of category 1 academies I'd be interested.

The official line is that Newcastle got the last slot as they had the highest finishing position last season of the 6 clubs who have category 1 academies and are outside the Premier League.

Norwich, Derby, Wolves and Reading are 4 of the other 5. Brighton had Category 1 status, but not sure if they have retained it. I expect they have a category of their own being such a massive club.

Expect attendances to be low and the concept dropped. I'll vote with my wallet for one.

So this is a revamp for the Johnstone's Paint Trophy or whatever its called now. To be honest, I couldn't give a toss if our academy isn't involved. It's one thing one or two 19 year olds playing in the first team but a whole team of 19 year olds sent out against a team of hardened lower league professionals? They'll get murdered in the group stage.

Agreed. The thought of some of our younger players being mullered by established hardened pros from the lower divisions doesn't bear thinking about.

Overall this is an utter bellend of an idea and hope it lasts as long as the Anglo-Italian lasted or the Watney Cup or the myriad of other pointless cup ideas the league come up with to try and get money.

Just who would pay to see, say Stoke City Academy, take on Crawley Town remains to be seen. My guess is both sets of supporters would baulk at the thought of that.

Anyone remember the days of the Football Combination and Central Leagues. Seemed to work perfectly well as a method to give game time to leading young talent and players recovering from injury or on the edge of the first team. Why they had to scrap all that is totally beyond me.

Although the rules mean these will not be Academy sides.
There must be 5 first team players and 6 u21 players in the starting 11

Didn't read that bit. Just saw the Cat 1 bit and assumed it was full Academy sides, not that that makes it any less of a stupid idea.

Sounds like B teams sneaking in through the back door - hopefully poor ticket sales/attendance will scupper plans for B Teams in the leagues.

Also interested in seeing if the invited clubs accept the invitation or not.

Spurs, Chelsea, Man Utd & Liverpool all not entering. Maybe we will get a chance to enter.

id turn it down.


don't want the shit idea, don't want the prem cast offs.
fukk off.

Although the rules mean these will not be Academy sides.
There must be 5 first team players and 6 u21 players in the starting 11

Nope, the EFL teams must have 5 first team players, the academy sides (B teams, whatever you want to call them) must have 6 u21s

Although the rules mean these will not be Academy sides.
There must be 5 first team players and 6 u21 players in the starting 11

Nope, the EFL teams must have 5 first team players, the academy sides (B teams, whatever you want to call them) must have 6 u21s

Meaning the invited sides aren't going to be Academy sides as such. Although I'd concede that current U21 league rules allow a similar number of overage players and very few teams actually take advantage of that.
The key point though is that no invited clubs have to stick a bunch of kids out against 'grizzled pros'. There is plenty of scope to field a good mix of experience and youth. unless of course some clubs want to replicate the League Cup and play just kids.....

Still agree it's a bit of a rubbish idea for football in general but would actually be happy with us taking part and seeing how our 'young stars' got on. Would be a step ,up from the U21 league

Pointless idea done badly.

If you want to improve the best youth in the country this way, at least invite the top academies by using the existing competitions as a qualifying tournament. So simply invite the whole U21 first division from last year and the top 4 from Div 2.

The FL are clearly just hoping that 2 big clubs get to Wembley in the hope they can sell more tickets than for Barnsley v Oxford.

Why not just create an U21 FA cup competition and give the winners a big grant towards the running/development of their academy. Final played at Wembley and broadcasters forced to screen and give it the same channel/screen time as the FA Cup as part of the deal. Make entry compulsory/conditional for entering the main FA Cup for clubs in the top 2 divisions.

Isn't there already a national U21 Cup (I could have sworn I watched us win it !)
Not sure how the FA Could force the broadcasters to show anything, given it is the broadcasters who have complete control of what is shown when on TV

Man City have declined the invitation

Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool are all expected to decline the chance too.


So i guess we could get invited?!

According to the BBC article (which I'm assuming you're referencing here) the declined invites will then be "passed to other clubs with cat 1 academies, in the order of finishing league position".

So a) how many of the 15 or so teams that finished above us have cat 1 academies, and b) depending on the potentially 6 declines from the list TBM mentions above we might then get an invite.

According to the BBC article (which I'm assuming you're referencing here) the declined invites will then be "passed to other clubs with cat 1 academies, in the order of finishing league position".

So a) how many of the 15 or so teams that finished above us have cat 1 academies, and b) depending on the potentially 6 declines from the list TBM mentions above we might then get an invite.

Norwich, Derby, Wolves

So what happens if the F.A. can't muster 16 cat 1 teams? This idea is beginning to look dead in the water before it even starts.

Also, are there any teams in League 1 and League 2 with Cat 1? If so, would they then get 2 teams in the cup (and potentially have to play themselves)?

Can non academy teams in League 1 and 2 decline as well or are they contractually bound to enter?

As far as I am aware every club has to apply to enter every FA run competition that they want to be in, each season.

Membership of leagues, on the other hand, is perpetual until you resign or are thrown out. Ergo I would presume that as members of the FL, as in this case, that all clubs are also automatically entered into the League Cup and whatever other affiliated cups there are that are deemed appropriate for that club's level.

If a club does not wish to participate then I believe they are at liberty to withdraw just as they would be at liberty to resign form the league itself.

Our invitation must have got lost in the post

Club accepts invitation to enter a Category One team into tournament

Earlier this month, the EFL confirmed the format for this season’s EFL Trophy which, for the first time, will include 16 invited teams from clubs with Category One Academies.

We can now announce that Reading Football Club will be one of the clubs entering the Trophy this season, following an invitation from the EFL.

A total of 64 clubs will compete in the competition beginning with 16 groups of four teams, each of which will include at least one club from each of Leagues One and Two, along with one invited team. The top two sides in each group will then go into a knockout stage that will culminate in a showpiece final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 2nd April.

The new look competition also has an enhanced prize fund with an expected £1.95m up for grabs, including £10,000 per win and £5,000 per draw during the Group Stage as well as £100,000 for the eventual winner.

Reading Football Club last entered the Football League Trophy in 2001-2, when as a third tier side led by Alan Pardew we reached the quarter-finals thanks to a Second Round win over Colchester United nearly 15 years ago!

Aptly, our last goal in the tournament was scored by an Academy product - Darius Henderson notching in a defeat to Barnet that year as the then-named LDV Vans Trophy was awarded to Blackpool. A number of our Academy stars will hope to make an impact of their own on the tournament in 2016-17; all Category One clubs are obliged to field a minimum of six U21 players (as at June 30) in their starting 11.

In fact, a large number of our Academy stars will be featuring in a range of different competitions this season; Premier League 2 (U23s league), The Premier League Cup, The Premier League International Cup, the U18s Premier League, the FA Youth Cup and now the EFL Trophy. Not to mention any youngsters who might break into the first team and potentially play in the Sky Bet Championship, the FA Cup or the EFL Cup for Jaap Stam's side this season.

EFL Chief Executive, Shaun Harvey said: "The new format is intended to rejuvenate this competition and also assist the development of the very best young players in English football. This will help us deliver more and better home grown players which will deliver benefits to the national team and domestic league football at all levels.

"I believe this is the right time to pilot these changes to the EFL Trophy, which we will review at the end of the 2016/17 season following discussions with our clubs and having consulted with the other football bodies and supporter organisations."

A Premier League spokesman said: "The overriding aim of the Elite Player Performance Plan across the Premier League and English Football League is to produce more and better home grown players capable of performing at first team and international levels.

"Participation for a selection of Premier League clubs' teams to take part in the EFL Trophy is an important part of a range developments that both we and the EFL believe will help young, talented players progress physically and mentally on top of the technical aspect of their game developed in the Academy system. It is a progressive move by both leagues; one that we welcome.”

What you need to know about the EFL Trophy 2016-17

- It will include 48 clubs from League One and League Two as well as 16 invited Category One Academy teams.

- All Category One clubs are obliged to field a minimum of six U21 players (as at June 30) in their starting 11.

- 16 groups of 4 teams will be organised on a regionalised basis. The draw is due to take place on Wednesday 27th July.

- Each group will include one invited Category One club and at least one club from each of Leagues One & Two.

- Clubs will play each other once, either home or away. We are set to play at least one of our home games at Madejski Stadium.

- Clubs will be awarded 3 points for a win and 1 point for a draw. In the event of a drawn game (after 90 minutes), a penalty shootout will be held with the winning team earning an additional point.

- The top two teams will progress to the Knockout Stage. Round 2 (32 teams) will remain regionalised with each group winner being drawn at home to a second placed team from a different qualifying group. Round 3 (16 teams) and Round 4 (8 teams) will be ‘free’ draws.

- Semi-finals (4 teams) will be a 'free’ draw and will consist of single ties played at the stadium of the club drawn first in each tie.

- If scores are level after 90 minutes in Rounds 2, 3 and 4, the game will be determined by the taking of penalties.

- Group Stage dates:
- w/c 29th August 2016
- w/c 3rd October 2016
- w/c 7th November 2016

- Round 2 - w/c 5th December 2016

- Round 3 - w/c 9th January 2017

- Round 4 - w/c 23rd January 2017

- Semi- Final - w/c 20th February 2017

- Final - 2nd April 2017 (Wembley Stadium)

Read more at

In the spirit of rejuvinating youth football to support the English national team I hope that our side features Long, Hyam, Jules, Andresson, Semedo Kelly, Barrett, Urbancic, Novakovich, Davis and Matzelevich

About the only thing that could make this interesting is being drawn against Oxford or Wycombe.

A home game v Accrington will undoubtedly be a massive tie

This should toughen up some of the youngsters and will hopefully give them the right kind of experience of first team football. It should also help the first team as more youngsters will have the right kind of experience if they're needed.

We can debate the rights and wrongs of academy teams participating in tournaments like this but I think it's good for the club overall.

I don't agree with any of this, but it will be great for our academy players, and I bet Stam will be delighted. We keep hearing how our academy set-up is very similat to Ajax, so Stam will have a keen eye on these young boys and this is a great platform for them to perform and show what they can do.

It also gives us a chance to meet Oxford and Swindon in the competition!

I think the tournament will be regionalised. Certainly at the group stage. And also in the next couple of rounds. We could end up being drawn in a group with Swindon, Oxford, Barnet, Millwall, Northampton, Exeter, Plymouth, Charlton.... I'm sure at least one of those teams mentioned will be in our group. Definitely though, we will not be drawn with Accrington.

I'm looking forward to this tournament. It should be fun.

I think the tournament will be regionalised. Certainly at the group stage. And also in the next couple of rounds. We could end up being drawn in a group with Swindon, Oxford, Barnet, Millwall, Northampton, Exeter, Plymouth, Charlton.... I'm sure at least one of those teams mentioned will be in our group. Definitely though, we will not be drawn with Accrington.

I'm looking forward to this tournament. It should be fun.

Oh yeah, I was being flippant really.

In many ways I think for a club like us this is a good thing - will offer a further step in the education of the younger players in a competitive environment hopefully allowing them experience to step up to the 1st XI if needed.