The EFL Trophy divides opinion every season, yet it continues to serve an important purpose for clubs like Lincoln City.
As the Imps face Barnsley tonight in a dead rubber, the question resurfaces: what exactly is the point of this competition?
The EFL Trophy is often criticised as meaningless, particularly when fixtures carry little consequence, as is the case for Lincoln City’s trip to Oakwell. Many supporters view it as an unnecessary distraction, with both teams fielding rotated line-ups and little at stake. But the narrative that the competition has no value is far too simplistic.
Last week, Huddersfield Town attracted under 1,000 fans for a home tie, sparking another round of social media outrage from the usual suspects claiming the competition is “pointless.” The calls to scrap the under-21 sides and replace them with National League teams grow louder each year. But that argument doesn’t hold up under scrutiny. National League clubs wouldn’t generate more interest or better attendances. Few would travel in significant numbers to Lincoln, and the fixture list would still struggle for relevance.
Lincoln City’s own attendance figures tell the story. This season, 2,526 fans watched the Imps face Notts County, while 3,347 turned out to see Manchester United under-21s. That’s an increase of more than 800. Last year, 2,208 fans attended the home match against Chesterfield, but 3,055 came through the gates when Manchester City under-21s visited. The pattern is clear: crowds actually rise slightly for games against academy sides from Premier League clubs. The claim that fans are staying away because of the under-21s simply isn’t true.
The truth is that the competition has never drawn huge numbers. In 2007-08, only 936 people saw Lincoln host Hartlepool United. Earlier in the 2000s, just 1,503 turned up for a home tie against Telford, and 1,162 saw the away defeat at Halifax. By comparison, modern fixtures against Premier League academies attract two or three times as many supporters. It’s not a new problem, and it’s certainly not caused by the current format.
What has changed is the opportunity it gives managers to rotate their squads. In the past, 2007/08 for instance, when Lincoln lost 5-2 to Hartlepool, first-team regulars like Mark Stallard were still starting. Now, players who need minutes or development time can feature instead. Last season’s tie against Manchester City under-21s saw Freddie Draper, Rob Street, Zane Okoro and JJ McKiernan all score while gaining valuable experience. This season, Dexter Lembikisa, Finn Barbrook, Oscar Thorne, Frankie Okoronkwo and Erik Ring have all benefited in similar fashion. The competition’s value lies in giving those players meaningful minutes.
The main criticism remains the presence of under-21 teams, yet it’s a strangely inconsistent stance. Many of those who object to facing Liverpool’s youth sides will happily watch the Liverpool first team on television every weekend. It’s a contradiction born more from tribalism than logic. The inclusion of academy sides has not turned the EFL Trophy into a backdoor route for Premier League teams to enter the pyramid. In fact, it’s been nearly a decade since the format began, and not a single academy side has come close to joining the league system. The furthest any under-21 team has gone is the semi-final, when we beat Chelsea on penalties in 2018. Most are eliminated in the group stage. This season, only West Ham’s under-21s have already qualified, with Wolves and Arsenal still in contention. The rest are already out.
So the perceived “invasion” of the competition by Premier League academies is vastly overstated. Most clubs face only one under-21 side per campaign, and that’s it. The supposed threat of academy teams entering a League Three has never materialised, and with the introduction of an independent regulator, it’s now further away than ever. The Premier League’s focus lies on the potential European Super League, not on infiltrating League One or League Two.
Meanwhile, the EFL Trophy provides genuine benefits to clubs outside the top two divisions. Financially, it can be a lifeline. A short run to the knockout stages can bring in £50,000 to £70,000, which for smaller clubs like Harrogate or Barrow represents significant income. It also offers a realistic route to Wembley, something few other competitions can promise. The criticism always fades when a club reaches the latter rounds. Bolton Wanderers took it seriously last season, and Lincoln themselves relished their 2018 Checkatrade Trophy run to the final. Those who mocked the competition early on were among the thousands who made the trip to Wembley.
For Lincoln, tonight’s tie against Barnsley will give Oisin Gallagher, Dom Jefferies, Finn Barbrook and others a chance to impress, while ensuring valuable minutes for squad players like Lewis Montsma. If the Imps progress in future rounds, the approach will naturally change, as it always does. A quarter-final or semi-final spot transforms the “Mickey Mouse” competition into a realistic chance of silverware.
Ultimately, the EFL Trophy remains flawed but functional. It won’t ever rival the league or the FA Cup in prestige, yet it serves an important role in the football calendar. Crowds may not be huge, but attendances have improved, and the inclusion of under-21 sides hasn’t diluted its value. It gives youngsters a platform, provides income for smaller clubs, and offers fans the possibility of another day at Wembley.
After years of experimentation and format changes, it might just be in the best place it’s ever been.
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