First part of EFL Trophy 2024/25 group stage draw complete and B Teams announced

The first part of EFL Trophy 2024/25 group stage draw is complete and a list of all the B Teams taking part have been announced.

The EFL confirmed in a statement the 16 invited sides from Premier League Clubs with Category One Academies that will join Sky Bet League One and Sky Bet League Two Clubs in the 2024/25 Bristol Street Motors Trophy competition.

This season’s under-21 sides consist of Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Everton, Fulham, Leicester City, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and last season’s quarter-finalists, Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Road to Wembley starts here! 🙌

🏆🔢 The draw for the Group Stages of the 2024/25 Bristol Street Motors Trophy will take place live on @SkySportsNews on Thursday 27 June from 2:30pm.#EFL | #BristolStreetMotorsTrophy

— Bristol Street Motors Trophy (@BSM_Trophy) June 24, 2024

GROUP STAGE DRAW

The draw for the Group Stages of the 2024/25 Bristol Street Motors Trophy, will be shown live on Sky Sports News on Thursday the 27th of June from 2:30pm. 

All 64 teams will enter from Round One and will be split into 16 regional groups of four teams, eight in the Northern region and eight in the Southern region. The 16 invited under-21 teams will be placed into their respective Northern and Southern regional Groups, with the 48 EFL Clubs placed into pre-determined Groups prior to the draw. 

Consideration has been given to ensure travel time is minimised and recovery time is maximised for players.

The ball numbers for the Group Stages Draw are as follows:

Northern Section

GROUP A –
Accrington Stanley,
Stockport County,
Tranmere Rovers

GROUP B –
Port Vale,
Salford City,
Wrexham

GROUP C –
Carlisle United,
Morecambe,
Wigan Athletic

GROUP D –
Barrow,
Bolton Wanderers,
Fleetwood Town

GROUP E –
Blackpool,
Crewe Alexandra,
Harrogate Town

GROUP F –
Barnsley,
Doncaster Rovers,
Huddersfield Town

GROUP G –
Chesterfield,
Grimsby Town,
Lincoln City

GROUP H –
Bradford City,
Mansfield Town,
Rotherham United

Ball Numbers

1. Aston Villa U21
2. Everton U21
3. Liverpool U21
4. Manchester City U21
5. Manchester United U21
6. Newcastle United U21
7. Nottingham Forest U21
8. Wolverhampton Wanderers U21

Southern Section

GROUP A –
Birmingham City,
Shrewsbury Town,
Walsall

GROUP B –
AFC Wimbledon,
Crawley Town,
Wycombe Wanderers

GROUP C –
Bromley,
Cambridge United,
Charlton Athletic

GROUP D –
Gillingham,
Peterborough United,
Stevenage

GROUP E –
Colchester United,
Leyton Orient,
Milton Keynes Dons

GROUP F –
Burton Albion,
Northampton Town,
Notts County

GROUP G –
Bristol Rovers,
Exeter City,
Swindon Town

GROUP H –
Cheltenham Town,
Newport County,
Reading

Ball Numbers

1. Arsenal U21
2. Brighton & Hove Albion U21
3. Chelsea U21
4. Crystal Palace U21
5. Fulham U21
6. Leicester City U21
7. Tottenham Hotspur U21
8. West Ham United U21

Bristol Street Motors Trophy Group Stage matches will commence in early September, with dates to be confirmed following the EFL’s Fixture Release Day on Wednesday 26 June.

COMPETITION FORMAT

The two top from each group progress to the knockout stages, with Bristol Street Motors Trophy fixtures remaining regionalised until the Quarter-Final stage.

Until 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

From 2024/25, the EFL and its Clubs will embark on a record domestic rights deal with broadcaster Sky Sports that will see every Bristol Street Motors Trophy match broadcast live on Sky Sports for fans in the UK.

For international markets, all matches are available for live streaming via Club platforms.

PRIZE MONEY

PRIZE MONEY
EFL Clubs Participation – £20,000 per Club
Group Stages – £10,000 per win / £5,000 per draw
Round of 32 – £20,000 per win
Round of 16 – £40,000 per win
Quarter Finals – £50,000 per win
Runners Up – £50,000
Winners – £100,000

Here’s how fans reacted with the first part of EFL Trophy 2024/25 group stage draw complete and B Teams announced…

@Tom_CUFC: #BTeamBoycott

@MIKEYPATT: Don’t care you have killed this comp with the U21s

@jbennett1997: So stupid to have a draw for the U21 teams, no one cares

@way2pricey:
Blues in with our U21’s would be hilarious
We’d still win 😂😂😂😂 #AVFC #BCFC

@alfie_t8: ‘The Bristol Street Motors Trophy’ ffs I hate league one already please just focus on promotion and play the youth team in this shitty competition 😭😭

@LeeAHinton95: Walsall and Shrewsbury, a pre season repeated 🤢

@delves1: Easy away days to pad your reference with, bet they give us half the ground aswell #KRO #BCFC

@lennonkian_: Shrewsbury and Walsall in our group. Playing Shrewsbury 4 times minimum this season 😂 #bcfc

@Jon_1875: Already sick of the sight of Shrewsbury #bcfc

@Jamesr02_: Your reminder that #Pompey are *not* competing in it this year 😍

@HappyAbode1875: Bring it home Blues! #KRO

@jack_pfc19: Thank fuck we’re not in this competition no more 😮‍💨

@SwannyHypno: Shrewsbury and Walsall lets goooooo huge tournament #bcfc

@avfc_nod: Our u21s can’t play blues 😞

@Wallsy1871: Cheltenham and Newport brilliant 🤣 #readingfc

@delves1: Joint 3 time winners incoming #KRO #BCFC

@MichaelRealReed: Our defence starts here #pufc

@dumpsterpoo: Hand us the trophy. #bcfc

@bcfcdiscord: League and Cup double is on. #kro #bcfc