A short time ago, the full draw for the Group Stage round of this season’s EFL Trophy was made.
As fans will know, the competition has been revamped this year and we do welcome in 16 Category One Academy sides into the competition, with each of the now Under 23 sides, featuring on a one per group basis – 16 groups, four teams each.
The announcement of the clubs that would join the competition on that basis was made earlier this morning and they are:
North Section:
Blackburn Rovers, Everton, Stoke City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Derby County, Leicester City, Middlesbrough, Sunderland.
South Section:
Chelsea, Reading, Swansea City, West Ham, Brighton, Norwich City, Southampton, West Bromwich Albion.
The Group Stage draw was conducted by Preston North End manager Simon Grayson and began shortly after 10am.
And these are the Groups drawn.
Northern Section:
Group A:
Everton
Bolton Wanderers
Cheltenham Town
Blackpool
Group B:
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Chesterfield
Crewe Alexandra
Accrington Stanley
Group C:
Stoke City
Bradford City
Morecambe
Bury
Group D:
Blackburn Rovers
Fleetwood Town
Carlisle United
Oldham Athletic
Group E:
Derby County
Port Vale
Doncaster Rovers
Mansfield Town
Group F:
Sunderland
Rochdale
Hartlepool United
Notts County
Group G:
Middlesbrough
Scunthorpe United
Cambridge United
Shrewsbury Town
Group H:
Leicester City
Sheffield United
Grimsby Town
Walsall
Southern Section:
Group A:
Reading
Bristol Rovers
Portsmouth
Yeovil Town
Group B:
Swansea City
Wimbledon
Newport County
Plymouth Argyle
Group C:
Chelsea
Swindon Town
Exeter City
Oxford United
Group D:
West Ham
Coventry City
Wycombe Wanderers
Northampton Town
Group E:
Southampton
Charlton Athletic
Colchester United
Crawley Town
Group F:
Norwich City
Peterborough United
Barnet
MK Dons
Group G:
Brighton
Southend United
Stevenage
Leyton Orient
Group H:
West Bromwich Albion
Millwall
Luton Town
Gillingham
Further information will be released by clubs when it comes to the games themselves, ticket information, confirmed dates and so on.
For other changes this year – the specifics read.
Three points for a win – one for a draw. At the end of 90 minutes if drawn, a penalty shootout will take place with the winning team earning an additional point.
The top two teams in each group go through to the knockout stages. The group winner goes through to face a runner up at the next stage.
Round 3 (16 sides) and Round 4 (8 sides) will be a free draw.
The Semi Final will be a free draw and a single leg at the stadium of the side drawn first.
Further arrangements for Semi Final and Final will be confirmed later – for example, if drawn like earlier rounds, it goes straight to penalties.
Dates:
Group Stage – w/c August 29, October 3, November 7.
Round 2 – w/c December 5.
Round 3 – w/c January 9.
Round 4 – w/c January 23.
Semi Final – w/c February 20.
Final – Sunday April 2, 2017, at Wembley Stadium.
