Changes have been made to the 25/26 National League Cup with Morecambe removed, a new club joins, and one club moves groups.
It comes amid the crisis situation at Morecambe, who faces suspension until August 20th, 2025, due to severe financial issues.
This means the first three matches have been postponed with the league expressing serious concerns about rule compliance.
Failure to prove financial stability for the season by the next compliance meeting could lead to expulsion.
The club, relegated from League Two, has seen takeover bids accepted but not finalised, with the owner, Jason Whittingham, missing sale deadlines and the board resigning.
Now they have been removed from the National League Cup, in it’s second season, and Boreham Wood have been added to Group B alongside Braintree, Forest Green, and Wealdstone, joined by Premier League 2 teams Nottingham Forest, Leicester, West Brom, and Wolves.
Boreham Wood say they are delighted to announce their participation.
Meanwhile, Brackley moves to Group A, facing Rochdale, Solihull, Tamworth, and PL2 sides Burnley, Manchester United, Blackburn, and Everton.
The competition, featuring 32 teams, begins next month with Leeds United as the defending champions. Final group standings are confirmed for Groups A, B, C, and D.
Following the removal of Morecambe from the National League Cup, a number of changes have been made ℹ️
— Enterprise National League (@NL_Enterprise) July 30, 2025
The National League have said in a statement via their website: “Following the announcement of the removal of Morecambe from the National League Cup two changes have now been made.
“The cup competition – returning for its second season – gets underway next month as 32 teams look to follow in the footsteps of inaugural winner Leeds United.
“Boreham Wood now join the competition and are placed in Group B with fellow National League sides Braintree Town, Forest Green Rovers and Wealdstone.
“The Wood will be joined by PL2 sides Nottingham Forest, Leicester City, West Bromwich Albion and Wolves.
“The introduction of Boreham Wood sees Brackley Town moved into Group A.
“The newly-promoted Saints will now face National League sides Rochdale, Solihull Moors and Tamworth as Burnley, Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers and Everton will visit Brackley Town from PL2.”
Confirmation of the final group standings is below:
Group A
Blackburn Rovers
Burnley
Everton
Manchester United
Brackley Town
Rochdale
Solihull Moors
Tamworth
Group B
Leicester City
Nottingham Forest
West Bromwich Albion
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Boreham Wood
Braintree Town
Forest Green Rovers
Wealdstone
Group C
Brighton & Hove Albion
Fulham
Southampton
West Ham United
Aldershot Town
Sutton United
Truro City
Woking
Group D
Leeds United
Middlesbrough
Newcastle United
Sunderland
Boston United
FC Halifax Town
Gateshead
Scunthorpe United
When will games be played?
Match round 1 – 12/13 August
Match round 2 – 16/17 September
Match round 3 – 21/22 October
Match round 4 – 25/26 November
Quarter-final – 27/28 January
Semi-final – 17/18 February
Final – 17/18 March
What were National League Cup attendances like last season?
The cumulative attendance across the 71 Competition fixtures was 40,972, with a highest attendance of 3,681 (Rochdale v Manchester United). The lowest was 91 at Woking v Derby County).
There was an average attendance of 577 per game across the entirety of the competition, an average attendance of 507 during the group stages and an average attendance of 1,215 during the knockout stages including 3,062 at the Final.
What prize money is on offer from the National League Cup?
There is a prize pot of £1m that only participating National division clubs benefit from. National League North and South clubs also financially benefit from this prize pot. PL2 clubs do not receive any prize money or participation fee for playing in the National League Cup.
Growing list of clubs turn down invitation to play in the 2025/26 National League Cup
Every attendance of the 2024/25 National League Cup with it ‘set to continue’ despite low turnout
What’s the latest on the Morecambe situation?
There was a huge update with Panjab Warriors breaking their silence with fresh hope of saving the club from the brink.
Panjab Warriors say are now ready, willing and able to proceed with the purchase immediately, according to statement released on Tuesday (29th July).
Panjab Warriors had gone quiet, but now they are back in the picture and prepared to take over Morecambe immediately. Is this the last attempt?
The National League are on board too. Now over to Jason Whittingham. And any kind of communication / response from him seems to come and go. One minute he’s releasing a statement every day, then there will be silence. Deadlines, meetings and payments have been missed, leaving fans, players and staff increasingly concerned.
Huge Morecambe update emerges as Panjab Warriors break silence with hope of saving club
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