EFL reveal new name of the EFL Trophy with Bristol Street Motors no longer title sponsors

The EFL reveal the new name of the EFL Trophy with Bristol Street Motors no longer title sponsors, the league confirms.

Just as we get set for the Round of 32 draw, the competition reveals a mid-season rebrand of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy, with Vertu taking over.

The takes place with immediate effect in the latest phase of the multi-year partnership between the Vertu Motors group and the EFL

There is a new look also, with the colours changed and the logo redesigned…

New look and new name – introducing the Vertu Trophy. 🏆

Read more: https://t.co/Hpk6dHI9J2#EFL | #VertuTrophy pic.twitter.com/S5NtoHPjex

— Vertu Trophy (@VertuTrophy) November 21, 2024

STATEMENT:

The Bristol Street Motors Trophy will be renamed the Vertu Trophy with immediate effect.

Vertu Motors – the Group that currently operates under the trading names of three automotive retail brands, which include Bristol Street Motors – announced it will consolidate those brands into one, named Vertu, last month.

The competition rebranding will be in place ahead of tomorrow’s Round of 32 Draw live on Sky Sports and the next round of fixtures taking place from Tuesday 10 December.

The League agreed a three-year deal as Title Sponsor of the EFL Trophy through to the end of the 2025/26 season with the award-winning national automotive group in November last year, with Bristol Street Motors taking up the role. Vertu will remain the Official Car Dealer of the EFL for the term.

The Vertu Trophy has seen some of its best attendances in its current format at this stage of the competition, with the likes of Wrexham, Birmingham City and Rotherham United among the Clubs who have booked their passage to the Round of 32.

As the EFL celebrates the League’s Week of Action this week, Vertu are proud to have continued their support of EFL Clubs and their local communities with a ticket initiative for community programme participants and staff this season. Participants and staff have received tickets to all Trophy matches this season, and Vertu will continue to recognise local community heroes from the knockout rounds and beyond.

EFL Chief Commercial Officer, Ben Wright said: “Vertu have contributed significantly to the ongoing success of the competition and have made a lasting impact in communities by supporting accessible football with ticket initiatives.

“Trophy attendances contributed strongly to the EFL’s status as the highest attended league body in Europe last season, and with every Vertu Trophy match live on Sky Sports this season, the exposure for the competition will continue on an upward trajectory.”

Chief Executive Officer at Vertu, Robert Forrester said: “Our partnership with the EFL has been a huge success over the past twelve months, allowing us to engage with community groups across the country and including one of the most dramatic finals in competition history at Wembley Stadium back in April.

“As our business evolves to operate under one brand, we look forward to continuing to work alongside the EFL to drive the Vertu Trophy forwards, and are interested to see what fixtures emerge from Friday’s draw for the Round of 32.”

PREVIOUS SPONSORS:

1981–1982 — Football League Group Cup
1982–1983 – Football League Trophy
1983–1984 – Associate Members Cup
1984–1987 – Freight Rover – Freight Rover Trophy
1987–1989 – LDV Group – Sherpa Van Trophy
1989–1992 – Leyland DAF – Leyland DAF Cup
1992–1994 – Autoglass – Autoglass Trophy
1994–2000 – Auto Windscreens – Auto Windscreens Shield
2000–2007 – LDV Group – LDV Vans Trophy
2007–2016 – PPG Industries – Johnstone’s Paint Trophy
2016–2019 – Checkatrade.com – Checkatrade Trophy
2019–2020 – Leasing.com – Leasing.com Trophy
2020–2023 – Papa John’s Pizza – Papa Johns Trophy
2023–2024 – Vertu Motors – Bristol Street Motors Trophy
2024– – Vertu Motors – Vertu Trophy

Vertu Trophy: Round of 32 draw details

The Bristol Street Motors Trophy Round of 32 draw will take place live on Sky Sports News on Friday 22 November, in the lead-up to Sky Sports’ coverage of the Sky Bet Championship match between Plymouth Argyle and Watford.

Sky Sports’ Emma Saunders will host the draw alongside former Jamaican international, Jobi McAnuff and former Queens Park Rangers and Plymouth Argyle striker, Jamie Mackie.

The Group Stage phase of the competition officially came to a close following last night’s Bradford City v Rotherham United tie.

For the Round of 32 Draw, Clubs will remain regionalised with each Group winner being drawn at home to a second placed Club from a different qualifying Group.

Ball numbers have been allocated to the following Clubs across both sections.

NORTHERN

Draw A winners pot

Stockport (1)
Wrexham (2)
Morecambe (3)
Wanderers (4)

Draw A runners-up pot

Crewe (13)
Huddersfield (14)
Lincoln (15)
Bradford (16)

Draw B winners pot

Blackpool (5)
Doncaster (6)
Chesterfield (7)
Rotherham (8)

Draw B runners-up pot

Tranmere (9)
Port Vale (10)
Wigan (11)
Aston Villa U21 (12)

SOUTHERN

Draw A winners pot

Walsall (1)
Wycombe (2)
Charlton (3)
Peterborough (4)

Draw A runners-up pot

Leyton Orient (13)
Northampton (14)
Swindon (15)
Reading (16)

Draw B winners pot

Colchester (5)
Burton (6)
Exeter (7)
Cheltenham (8)

Draw B runners-up pot

Birmingham (9)
Wimbledon (10)
Cambridge (11)
Stevenage (12)

Bristol Street Motors Trophy Round of 32 ties are to take place week commencing December 9th.

Competition Format

Bristol Street Motors Trophy fixturing remains regionalised until the Quarter-Final stage.

From Round of 32 phase to the Semi-Finals, no extra time shall be played. The winners shall be determined by penalty kicks.

Extra time will apply only in the Final if the result is level after ninety minutes’ duration. A period of 30 minutes will be played. If still equal the winner is then decided by penalties.

How to watch

For UK fans, all Bristol Street Motors Trophy matches are broadcast live on Sky Sports, via Sky Sports+ and on streaming service NOW.

For international fans, Bristol Street Trophy matches are available for live streaming via Club platforms.

This is how fans reacted as the EFL reveal new name of the EFL Trophy with Bristol Street Motors no longer title sponsors…

@jackstringer19: Change the format instead

@ILPadrino1994: Who rebramds a trophy mid season?! Then again, Sunderland reached the final of the Leasing.com trophy, then duly won the Papa John’s Trophy! Technically, no one ever lifted the Leasing.com trophy

@AlbzSFC: They can’t keep a sponsor because of how shit the tournament is, but instead of scrapping it or getting rid of youth teams they just keep digging the whole. Fuck the scab cup

@nathjnzy: Joke of a competition 🤣

@craigyjones17: I still miss it being called the Freight Rover Trophy.

@JWJB_CAFC: Just fucking get rid of it by this point ffs

@BigBadBraz: Hopefully this company shows a bit more patience than the last few sponsors..

@jettight19: Stop with changing the names just keep it as 1 name

@GeorgeMurfet_: It will always be the papa johns trophy

@FeeFiFoFee: Changes its name more than the Kardashians change husbands.

@CD_PAFC: To be honest… it’s still the pizza cup to me 🍕 #pafc

@92_jackrich: This tournament continues to outdo itself. Bringing in B teams to appease the Premier League, removing the straight knock out format, invented this American style extra point scenario, low attendance’s now having to change the name mid tournament! Just do away with it 👍🏽

@IanC1959: Surely it’s the wtf is it this season trophy?

@JOGOBONlTO: Just remove it

@matthew2215: Swear this trophy has a new name every other week 😂

@j17_jj: At this point just cancel the comp next season. It’s seriously embarrassing hahaha

@skipmcoy_: Same shit format no one wants

@AlbzSFC: Just give up. Get rid of the competition or get rid of youth teams.

@KAE1967: Changing the name doesn’t make it a better trophy. #sellouts

@booncafc: This name genuinely changes every 6 months it feels like

@ChrisLukeJones: The most embarrassing charade in English football continues