There has been a huge backlash to the newly formed ‘National League Cup’ with groups announced including Premier League 2 sides.
It’s been talked about for much of the summer, but we now have new details, fixtures and groups announced by The Premier League and the National League.
They say the ‘National League Cup’ is designed to give young players from Premier League and EFL clubs additional opportunities to test themselves against senior opposition, with the aim of further aiding elite player development.
It gets underway in October, also offers an opportunity for National League clubs to play regular matches against the best Under-21 teams in England at their own stadiums, with this additional exposure intended to improve the playing and spectator experience, as well as the clubs’ growth and sustainability.
Make of that what you will, but fans are certainly not happy with this.
Introducing the National League Cup 👋
We are delighted to announce an exciting new competition which kicks off next month 🏆
🔗 https://t.co/ZR2HF6149k@premierleague | #TheVanarama pic.twitter.com/NR0OOlkkHU
— The National League (@TheVanaramaNL) September 19, 2024
STATEMENT
The Premier League and the National League have today launched a new competition for first teams of National League clubs and Premier League 2 sides.
The National League Cup is designed to give young players from Premier League and EFL clubs additional opportunities to test themselves against senior opposition, with the aim of further aiding elite player development.
The competition, which begins in October, also offers an opportunity for National League clubs to play regular matches against the best Under-21 teams in England at their own stadiums, with this additional exposure intended to improve the playing and spectator experience, as well as the clubs’ growth and sustainability.
National League clubs will also keep all gate receipts from these fixtures.
What’s the competition’s format?
The National League Cup is a 32-team midweek competition, comprising 16 under-21 teams participating in Premier League 2, and 16 first teams from clubs participating in the National League.
The competition will consist of a group stage (four groups of eight), with the two best-placed teams in each group advancing to a knockout stage to determine the winner.
The first round of the competition includes fixtures between Oldham Athletic and Stoke City (PL2) and FC Halifax Town and Newcastle United (PL2), while Dagenham & Redbridge host Tottenham Hotspur (PL2).
Tony Scholes, Chief Football Officer at the Premier League, said: “We’re excited to launch this new competition in partnership with the National League. The competition will provide additional opportunities for young players in the under 17-21 age groups to gain valuable experience of playing against First Team opposition, something many of our current Premier League stars have experienced in their development. We’re pleased to be able to support in the operation of the competition and look forward to seeing the wider benefits it will bring to National League clubs.”
Mark Ives, General Manager at the National League said: “This new competition presents another exciting chapter in our partnership with the Premier League. Our sides will have a great opportunity to compete against some of the best Academy Players in the country. We’re excited to be working closer with the Premier League on the operational side of the new competition and look forward to continuing our valued partnership further.”
Further information
The combined prize fund for the competition is £1million, provided by the Premier League. Prize money will be distributed only to National League clubs.
The competition becomes a component of the Elite Player Performance Plan, which has seen over £2billion of investment into Premier League and EFL academies over the last decade, with the aim of producing more and better homegrown players.
Players within the Professional Development Phase (under-17 to under-21) compete in a range of competitions including Premier League 2, the Under-18 Premier League, the Premier League International Cup and the EFL Trophy.
When does the competition take place?
Group stage
Match round 1: 1-2 October 2024
Match round 2: 5-6 November 2024
Match round 3: 3-4 December 2024
Match round 4: 21-22 January 2025
Knockout rounds
Quarter-finals: 5-6 February 2025
Semi-finals: 11-12 March 2025
Final: 1-2 April 2025
Who are the participating clubs?
Group A
Brighton & Hove Albion
Fulham
Reading
Southampton
Aldershot Town
Maidenhead United
Wealdstone
Woking
Group B
Blackburn Rovers
Manchester United
Stoke City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Altrincham
Forest Green Rovers
Oldham Athletic
Rochdale
Group C
Leeds United
Middlesbrough
Newcastle United
Sunderland
Boston United
Gateshead
FC Halifax Town
Tamworth
Group D
Nottingham Forest
Tottenham Hotspur
West Bromwich Albion
West Ham United
Braintree Town
Dagenham & Redbridge
Ebbsfleet United
Sutton United
For more details on National League Cup fixture lists when they go live, visit the Premier League’s Football Development section.
As mentioned, there has been a huge backlash to the newly formed ‘National League Cup’ with groups announced including Premier League 2 sides…
Kevin Bailey: Be about 20 people in the crowd 🤣 shite !
Tom Atkins: What a bloody joke. The national league once again showing what a joke of an institution it is. No consideration of fan wishes whatsoever.
Derek Robinson: This is gonna affect small teams and be only of benefit to the bigger clubs because it’ll get their players up to speed with “Proper” games. UTTER TRASH
Michael Cook: How about the efl scrap the u21 teams in efl trophy then the top 8 excluding the promoted teams from season before take there place.
Adam Lead: All this just so PL teams can play more games in europe. Bring back replays
Andrew Youngman: It’s nonsense, pure nonsense
Jonathan Hibberd: A boycott isn’t enough. We need protests.
Mark Connerley: Waste of time.
James Fenton: Exciting my fucking arse! Not one person who supports am NL team is excited by this. I’m not interested in watching B teams I won’t be attending any games I hope we play our (Oldhams) reserves in every game.
Jason Lee: I had hoped they got rid of this idea, shame to see it’s going ahead
Howard Birch: Looks like B Teams by the back door is still the idea then?
@TeeGee60518810: No thanks, rather stick to the fa trophy
@oafc24: Fuck off
@longsden: Should have binned this off before it became a total failure
@tuckerb93: Am happy @YTFC are one of those not in this competition. Rather than play PL youth teams, which will serve the big club’s interests, surely it’s better to add National League Premier clubs to the Football League Trophy instead?
@alenbardet: Another motivation to get promoted out of this league.
@OctoLes: Presumably this is what the @TheVanaramaNL traded FA Cup replays (in rounds teams from @premierleague don’t compete in) for.
@LEC1990: No thanks #BTeamBoycott
@DiggerDagger20: Yeah fuck off
@CMpafc: Embarrassing
@SadlerJames_: Can’t wait for Stoke u21s vs Tamworth! Nothing screams ‘improved playing and spectator experience’ than that
@WeeJimmyLogie: Stop demeaning real cup competitions by pretending any one will give a toss about this meaningless rubbish. Group games FFS, that’ll be a crowd pleaser on a Tuesday night when they’re dead rubber fixtures. C7 6 488
@Rathman30: Well done, @matt_uggia for keeping us well away from this shite #ycfc
@elliott9kev: Awful idea
@renny_overton: Not listening to what fans want once again, National League you surpass even yourself
You must be logged in to post a comment Login