Category One academies from Premier League and Championship clubs were invited to compete in the tournament for the first time last season and, although we weren’t involved then, we’re all set to make our ‘debut’ this time around in what has historically been a cherished competition among teams from the Football League.
Drawn in Group F alongside Barnet, AFC Wimbledon and Luton, we’ll take on the latter side at Kenilworth Road at 7.45pm on Tuesday and coach Wayne Burnett, who won the competition as a player with Grimsby Town back in 1998, scoring the winning goal in the final against Bournemouth at Wembley, says the chance to face senior Football League players in a competitive game is ideal for our youngsters’ development.