A club statement has been issued explaining the decision NOT to enter the National League Cup for the 2026/27 season.
Barrow and Eastleigh say they won’t be taking part, following many league clubs to have pull out, withdraw or not take up the invite of playing in the controversial competition.
The National League Cup will return for the new campaign, despite low attendances, boycotts and backlash from fans and clubs.
The competition between National League clubs and Premier League 2 sides was revived for the 2024/25 season, but it looks to be another year of seeing a number of teams deciding not to take part.
Barrow AFC Confirm Decision Not to Enter 2026/27 National League Cup Competition
📖 Read all about it: https://t.co/UWxG0eF34P pic.twitter.com/86H3p8mGhA
— Barrow AFC (@BarrowAFC) June 8, 2026
The club said in a statement: “Barrow AFC Confirm Decision Not to Enter National League Cup
“Barrow AFC can confirm that the Club has today formally notified the National League of its intention not to enter the National League Cup for the 2026/27 season.
“The decision has been reached following careful consideration of all factors. As preparations continue for the forthcoming campaign, the Club believes its focus and resources are best directed towards competing as strongly as possible in the National League, FA Cup and FA Trophy, competitions which remain central to Barrow AFC’s objectives for the season ahead.
“Significant travel and operational costs associated with participation in the National League Cup, coupled with historically low attendances and limited financial return during the early stages of the competition, have been important factors in the Club’s decision-making process.
“Whilst the prize fund available in the latter rounds is recognised, the Club believes that its resources are best focused on achieving its objectives within the National League and the major knockout competitions during the 2026/27 season.”
Eastleigh said in a statement later that day: “Eastleigh Football Club would like to confirm that the club will not be competing in The National League Cup competition.
“Following yesterday’s announcement by the National League regarding the new National League Cup competition incorporating the Premier League U21 teams, Eastleigh Football Club can confirm for our fans that whilst we qualified for the competition we, like numerous other National league teams, declined to enter the competition.
“Our rational for this decision was based on numerous factors some of which we have listed below:
“National League teams currently receive no compensation or protection for our young players, some of whom would feature in this competition. Premier League and EFL clubs simply take these players that have often had many years development at our clubs, something they cannot do to each other. Providing these clubs with competitive games to then play these players or showcase more of them to be taken under these circumstances is completely illogical.
“The financial reward for playing in the competition is negligible and is likely to cost the club some much-needed funds.
“We don’t believe there is a huge demand for the competition from our supporters or any other National League club.
“The fixtures are to be played between October and April which is a time in the season where the club would hope to be competing in the FA Trophy, FA Cup and mounting a challenge for the Play-offs/Promotion and to add more fixtures to this already busy schedule would be counter productive.
“To fulfil these extra fixtures, the club would need to increase the size of its first team squad which would come at considerable cost to cover games that would provide no revenue to support this.
“National League clubs were not consulted before the decision had been made by the National League in the same way that we were not involved in the removal of FA Cup replays recently. Both of these decisions have potentially huge financial implications for National League clubs and also for our supporters.
“A number of other clubs have made the decision to not participate. If we truly value our football pyramid, which is often held up as something we should be proud of and unique then it is incumbent on the clubs to push back against developments that devalue our national sport something which we believe this cup competition does.
“Lower league football provides huge enjoyment all over the country for thousands of fans, is a large employer, and providing vital experience along the way to thousands of people connected to the game many of whom subsequently achieve well paid, hugely rewarding jobs higher up the football pyramid.
“Our clubs are being under-valued, and far too many have not survived in the game when there is more money than ever flowing into it. This needs addressing and this competition increases the huge divide which
currently exists.
“This competition which we feel benefits the richest in the game at the expense of the poorest, many of whom are fighting to survive so on balance we feel the right decision for clubs and fans at this level is to withdraw from the competition.”
Eastleigh Football Club can confirm that we will once again not be participating in the National League Cup.
Our reasons for choosing not to compete in the competition remain the same and can be seen here:
— Eastleigh FC (@EastleighFC) June 8, 2026
Fans gave their reaction after the club statement issued explaining the decision NOT to enter the 2026/27 National League Cup…
@nigewalker1: Fantastic glad we’re prioritising promotion over a competition that offers nothing! 👏👏💙 #WeAreBarrow
@TrevPaine: Rite decision this, I’m sure not to many of us (Fans) will be worrying about it! 👍
@Lukejst: Correct decision 👍
@Neilwhittaker17: Sensible decision
@CMAltree: Sensible decision the national league sold their soul for this ridiculous competition.
David Shaw: Sensible move
Mark Constable: Right choice!! Concentrate on the league!! 🐝↗️💙⚽️
John Grainger: Good 👍
Paul Tranter: Great decision
Josh Taylor: Thank christ for that
Matthew Dewey: Good decision
Trev Paine: Well Done Applause Sticker
Kat Saskia Parry: Makes sense, not worth it.
Danny Bafc Platt: Good
Ethan Smith: Good
Philip Henderson: I’m glad
Alfie Williams: Good
David Stowell: Makes sense.
Here’s what fans and clubs had to say on the same situation for the last few years…
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
Here’s a look at all the attendances from the National League Cup groups stage and knockouts for the 2025/26 season…
25/26 Group stage
Solihull Moors 1–2 Everton U21 – 942
Brackley Town 2–0 Blackburn Rovers U21 – 546
Rochdale 2–1 Burnley U21 – 1,452
Rochdale 3–2 Blackburn Rovers U21 – 1,135
Solihull Moors 0–0 (5–4 p) Burnley U21 – 476
Brackley Town 2–1 Manchester United U21 – 2,942
Tamworth 2–1 Everton U21 – 426
Solihull Moors 1–0 Blackburn Rovers U21 – 275
Brackley Town 1–1 (2–4 p) Everton U21 – 928
Tamworth 4–0 Burnley U21 – 362
Rochdale 0–2 Manchester United U21 – 2,960
Rochdale 1–0 Everton U21 – 635
Solihull Moors 4–1 Manchester United U21 – 1,522
Brackley Town 2–1 Burnley U21 – 353
Tamworth 3–0 Blackburn Rovers U21 – 251
Tamworth 3–0 Manchester United U21 – 1,022
Boreham Wood 2–0 Nottingham Forest U21 – 418
Braintree Town 2–0 Leicester City U21 – 291
Wealdstone 2–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 – 215
Forest Green Rovers 3–1 West Bromwich Albion U21 – 417
Boreham Wood 3–1 West Bromwich Albion U21 – 443
Braintree Town 1–0 Nottingham Forest U21 – 244
Forest Green Rovers 3–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 – 317
Wealdstone 2–1 Leicester City U21 – 226
Braintree Town 2–3 West Bromwich Albion U21 – 169
Forest Green Rovers 2–2 (3–5 p) Leicester City U21 – 340
Wealdstone 0–2 Nottingham Forest U21 – 168
Boreham Wood 4–3 Leicester City U21 – 404
Braintree Town 3–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 – 206
Forest Green Rovers 0–1 Nottingham Forest U21 – 265
Wealdstone 2–0 West Bromwich Albion U21 – 125
Boreham Wood 4–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 – 402
Aldershot Town 1–2 Brighton & Hove Albion U21 – 576
Sutton United 0–7 Fulham U21 – 806
Truro City 3–2 Southampton U21 – 1,909
Woking 0–2 West Ham United U21 – 241
Sutton United 1–2 Brighton & Hove Albion U21 – 437
Truro City 1–0 Fulham U21 – 1,114
Woking 2–1 Southampton U21 – 212
Aldershot Town 3–3 (2–4 p) Southampton U21 – 371
Sutton United 3–3 (3–4 p) West Ham United U21 – 633
Truro City 3–0 Brighton & Hove Albion U21 – 1,297
Woking 2–0 Fulham U21 – 262
Aldershot Town 2–1 Fulham U21 – 505
Truro City 0–3 West Ham United U21 – 2,266
Woking 1–1 (4–2 p) Brighton & Hove Albion U21 – 174
Aldershot Town 1–5 West Ham United U21 – 729
Boston United 2–1 Middlesbrough U21 – 733
Boston United 4–0 Leeds United U21 – 830
Scunthorpe United 2–3 Sunderland U21 – 979
Gateshead 3–4 Newcastle United U21 – 505
FC Halifax Town 2–1 Middlesbrough U21 – 207
Boston United 4–0 Sunderland U21 – 486
Scunthorpe United 1–3 Leeds United U21 – 1,016
Gateshead 0–2 Middlesbrough U21 – 226
Boston United 1–3 Newcastle United U21 – 630
FC Halifax Town 3–0 Leeds United U21 – 524
Gateshead 1–1 (4–3 p) Sunderland U21 – 158
Scunthorpe United 3–2 Middlesbrough U21 – 428
FC Halifax Town 1–1 (3–5 p) Sunderland U21 – 201
Gateshead 0–3 Leeds United U21 – 120
Scunthorpe United 2–0 Newcastle United U21 – 369
FC Halifax Town 0–0 (7–6 p) Newcastle United U21 – 246
25/26 Quarter finals
Boston United 1–2 West Ham United U21 – 688
Boreham Wood 5–2 Brackley Town – 509
Truro City 1–1 (3–0 p) Braintree Town – 1,023
Tamworth 1–0 FC Halifax Town – 476
25/26 Semi finals
Boreham Wood 2–0 Truro City – 678
Tamworth 1–3 West Ham United U21 – 1,341
25/26 Final
Boreham Wood 2–2 West Ham United U21 – 2,803
There was a total attendance of 47,812 for the 2025/26 National League Cup, and reportedly just 673 per match.
Clubs exploit little known loophole making subs in 1st minute of National League Cup matches
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