U21s' Cup Dates Set
Wednesday, 5th Aug 2026 17:33

Town U21s’ National League Cup and EFL Trophy dates have been confirmed.

The Blues’ second string will be entering the competitions for the first time in 2026/27 having been invited to take part after finishing fifth in Premier League 2 last season, their first at category one level.

All U21s teams play away in both tournaments with Town’s National League Cup group campaign getting under way on Tuesday 18th August at Braintree Town with another trip to Essex, to Hornchurch, following on Tuesday 8th September.

John McGreal and Chris Casement’s side are then away at Worthing on Tuesday 13th October, then Aldershot Town on Tuesday 3rd November.

In the EFL Trophy, the young Blues visit Luton Town on Tuesday 22nd September, Peterborough United on Tuesday 6th October and Colchester United on Tuesday 10th November.

Unusually, the game against the U’s at the JobServe Community Stadium is an away match played at the U21s’ usual home ground.

National League Cup
Braintree Town v Town U21 - Tuesday 18th August
Hornchurch v Town U21 - Tuesday 8th September
Worthing v Town U21 - Tuesday 13th October
Aldershot Town v Town U21 - Tuesday 3rd November

EFL Trophy
Luton Town v Town U21 - Tuesday 22nd September
Peterborough United v Town U21 - Tuesday 6th October
Colchester United v Town U21 - Tuesday 10th November

Photo: TWTD

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VanDusen added 18:23 - Aug 5 Still so shocked and disappointed we're entering this. Of all clubs we should know how the bl**dy PL is undermining and destroying our league structure given we were in it only 2-3 years ago, and now we're part of the problem. Disgusting.
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jazzback added 20:52 - Aug 5 I think it's a great move. Gives the youngsters a chance of playing against men rather than same age group. Gives them a chance to shine without affecting the first team. Couple of games not to far from me in Essex may well pop over and watch
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Mark added 21:31 - Aug 5 This is good for our young players' development, but wrong for the game as a whole. I would not to go EFL Trophy matches when we were in League One as I felt it is wrong for senior teams to have to play U21 teams, and I stick to that principle now we are on the other side of it.
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slade1 added 06:09 - Aug 6 VanDusen, I don't really see where you are coming from? It's an excellent opportunity for the U21 to play against a 'proper' league team and to gain experience. It's all positive for me.
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StowTractor added 08:37 - Aug 6

I'm torn. I don't want to see U21 or B teams from PL or Championship teams playing in the National League or L2. And these cups seem like the thin end of the wedge. But I did go to the Arsenal U21 v Town Trophy games when we were in L1. We ended up signing a couple of Arsenal U21 players for our first team on loan. These cups give our younger players some good development and opportunities to be seen as potential loanees by the opponents managers.

On the point of undermining the league structure it seemed the case a few years back when we were first in L1 and Bury went under and Bolton came so close to going the same way. Or even more recently with Sheff Weds but that was more self inflicted by their owner. But I'm sure that recently the PL clubs voted an increased share to the EFL funds? You'd expect bottom end and newly promoted clubs to be in favour as we may need to take advantage of this if the worst happens. But it was unanimous. If Liverpool or City , United or Arsenal were hoping to see L2 clubs replaced by their own B or U21 teams would they have voted for this?

StowTractor added 08:40 - Aug 6 On a more positive note didn't our U21s also qualify for some European competition? Any news of opponents and ayes of matches yet?
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StowTractor added 08:41 - Aug 6 * dates of matches even.
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VanDusen added 11:28 - Aug 6

@slade1 - it's the thin end of the wedge. This was only consented to as a way to stop U21 teams being put in the league. And it's ruined any sort of integrity of a competition that was originally designed to give teams down the league a chance at glory/wembley etc. And now they have to made to bow down and give practice so the big clubs can just dominate even more. That's why there's been a boycott from many EFL fans since 2016 when this nonsense was first introduced. Just because we're now trying to compete at a higher level doesn't mean it isn't disgraceful our first team was made to play U21 teams in the first place.

Do we need to have the bl--y Premier League sucking the life out of everything that used to be good about English football (the reason why it rose to become "the best league in the world" which it is far from nowadays - it's not even better than the Championship in terms of excitement and competition)? If these showbiz clubs really want to buy up and monopolise young players let them send them out on loan. Or better yet put down a limit on the amount of young players any club is allowed to have registered to them.