Football League Trophy
Encyclopedia
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint
Trophy for sponsorship
reasons, is an annual English association football
knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One
and Football League Two
, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top divisions of English league football
.
The competition began in the 1983–84 season as the Associate Members' Cup but, from 1992, it has been named the Football League Trophy, after the lower-division clubs became full members of the Football League. The competition replaced the short-lived Football League Group Cup, a competition which was only played in 1981/82 and 1982/83 (although confusingly, in the second year it was also called the Football League Trophy). The competition has been associated with a title sponsor since its second edition. This sponsor has changed over the years, below is a list of sponsors and the sponsored name of the competition:
The first draws are made in August, then the competition runs as two parallel north and south area competitions, before the two winners meet in late March or early April in the final at England's national stadium, Wembley
. The basic north/south format of the competition has existed since its beginnings, although other details have varied over the years, including in some years inviting clubs from the semi-professional Conference National
, and holding a round-robin group stage prior to moving into knock-out rounds.
Clubs are assigned to one of four areas for the purposes of the cup draws: Northern Section - East and West, Southern Section - East and West
The cup draw pots are now merged, leaving just a Northern and Southern section
Drawing is no longer necessary for the final 4 teams
A major change was introduced for the 1985–86 tournament, with 8 three-team groups being set up in each of the two sections. Teams played one home and one away game and the group winners proceeded to the regional knockout stages. This format was tweaked the following season, with two teams qualifying from each group, resulting in an additional 'round of 16' knockout stage in each section.
For a number of seasons in the early to mid 1990s the competition ran with only seven three-team groups with two teams in each section getting a bye to the knockout stages. This was necessary due to League reorganisation and the demise of Aldershot
and Maidstone United
, which resulted in there being less than 48 teams in the 3rd and 4th levels.
The group phase was abolished for the 1996–97 tournament
, with 8 teams in each section getting a bye to the second round, where they were joined by the 8 winners of the first round ties.
For the 2000-01 edition, 8 Football Conference
sides also played in the tournament, resulting in 12 ties in each of the north/south sections in the 1st round, with only four teams in each section gaining a bye into the second round. The number of Conference entrants was increased to 12 starting in 2002-03, resulting in 14 1st round ties, and two teams in each regional section gaining a bye straight to the second round.
From the 2006-07 tournament
Conference teams no longer participated, and the format reverted to 8 1st round teams in each section, with 8 sides gaining byes to the 2nd round.
and Four
of the English football league system
. However, between 2000/01 and 2005/06 the event was also open to a certain number of Football Conference sides, and these are listed by season below:
2000-01: Chester City
, Doncaster Rovers, Dover Athletic, Hereford United, Morecambe
, Rushden & Diamonds, Scarborough
, Yeovil Town
2001-02
: Barnet
, Dagenham & Redbridge, Doncaster Rovers, Leigh RMI, Scarborough, Southport
, Stevenage Borough, Yeovil Town
2002-03: Chester City, Dagenham & Redbridge, Doncaster Rovers, Halifax Town
, Hereford United, Leigh RMI, Morecambe, Scarborough, Southport, Stevenage Borough, Woking
, Yeovil Town
2003-04
: Barnet, Chester City, Dagenham & Redbridge, Exeter City
, Forest Green Rovers, Halifax Town, Hereford United, Morecambe, Scarborough, Shewsbury Town
, Stevenage Borough, Telford United
2004-05: Accrington Stanley
, Aldershot Town
, Barnet, Carlisle United, Dagenham & Redbridge, Exeter City, Hereford United, Morecambe, Scarborough, Stevenage Borough, Woking, York City
2005-06: Accrington Stanley, Aldershot Town, Cambridge United, Crawley Town
, Dagenham & Redbridge, Exeter City, Halifax Town, Hereford United, Kidderminster Harriers, Morecambe, Stevenage Borough, Woking
which is for the top ten levels of the football pyramid, and the Football League Cup
which is for all four of the professional divisions. With the prospect of meeting bigger teams in those competitions, and with the financial importance of doing well in the league competition, the Football League Trophy is not considered a priority by many clubs, with some opting to field below-strength teams, particularly in the earlier rounds.
A new rule from the 2006/07 season aims to stop this, with teams now obliged to play at least 6 of the players with the most appearances in their respective positions (for the season to date) or face a fine. Supporters, too, apparently lack enthusiasm for the competition, with crowds usually falling well below the level considered acceptable (or, indeed, commercially viable) for senior football. For example, in November 2005, Peterborough United
(with an average crowd of approximately 7,500) attracted just 969 people to their game against Swindon Town
, whilst Swansea City
(with an average gate of some 15,000) saw a mere 5,321 people attend their tie with Rushden & Diamonds
. Nottingham Forest
recorded the lowest attendance in their history, with just 2,013 fans turning up for the tie against Brentford
in 2006. During their exile more than 40 miles (64.4 km) away at Macclesfield Town
between moving grounds, Chester City
attracted just 409 fans against Bury
in November 1990 and 420 in the following year's competition against Darlington
. In the 2011-12 competition, the first round match involving Wycomble Wanderers
and Bristol Rovers
attracted a mere 771 supporters.
in London, the English national football stadium. The first final in 1984 was to have been played at Wembley, but due to damage to the pitch caused during the Horse of the Year show it was moved to Hull. From 2001 to 2007 when the 1923 built Wembley was being rebuilt, the Football League Trophy finals were played at the Millennium Stadium
, Cardiff
.
Source: napit.co.uk
have reached the final the greatest number of times (6), but have so far only won 2, 1997 and 2011. Wolves are the only former English football champions
to win the Trophy; Burnley and Huddersfield Town
have been finalists once each.
match between Wolverhampton Wanderers
and Burnley
at Wembley.
The highest attendance for any game outside of the final came in 2010, when Southampton
beat MK Dons
3-1 at St. Mary's Stadium in Southampton, in front of a crowd of nearly 30,000.
As the Football League Trophy
Note: The 2006 final was branded simply as the Football League Trophy after the new owners of LDV withdrew sponsorship of the competition in March 2006, also meaning no prize money was awarded to the winners. The following May the Johnstone's sponsorship deal was announced.
Johnstone's Paint
Johnstone's Paint is a British manufacturer of Paint and current sponsors of the Football League Trophy. The firm is based in Birstall, West Yorkshire and employ around 2,000 people....
Trophy for sponsorship
English football sponsorship
Corporate sponsorship of major English football competitions dates back to the early 1980s, although minor competitions such as the Watney Cup and Texaco Cup were sponsored during the early 1970s....
reasons, is an annual English association football
Football in England
Association football is a national sport in England, where the first modern set of rules for the code were established in 1863, which were a major influence on the development of the modern Laws of the Game...
knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
and Football League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top divisions of English league football
English football league system
The English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for association football clubs in England, with six teams from Wales also competing...
.
The competition began in the 1983–84 season as the Associate Members' Cup but, from 1992, it has been named the Football League Trophy, after the lower-division clubs became full members of the Football League. The competition replaced the short-lived Football League Group Cup, a competition which was only played in 1981/82 and 1982/83 (although confusingly, in the second year it was also called the Football League Trophy). The competition has been associated with a title sponsor since its second edition. This sponsor has changed over the years, below is a list of sponsors and the sponsored name of the competition:
The first draws are made in August, then the competition runs as two parallel north and south area competitions, before the two winners meet in late March or early April in the final at England's national stadium, Wembley
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
. The basic north/south format of the competition has existed since its beginnings, although other details have varied over the years, including in some years inviting clubs from the semi-professional Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
, and holding a round-robin group stage prior to moving into knock-out rounds.
History
The competition was inaugurated as the Associate Members' Cup in the 1983-84 season (when League One and Two were known as Division Three and Four) as a way of providing more games for the lower division clubs. It followed on from the short-lived Football League Group Cup. These competitions however were not restricted to the lower leagues. The competition was renamed the Football League Trophy in 1992. This was in the same year of the reorganisation that followed after Division One broke away to form the Premier League and the Football League became responsible for just the lower three professional divisions.Sponsorship
| Period | Sponsor | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1983-1984 | No main sponsor | Football League Trophy |
| 1984 | Rover Leyland Articles beginning Leyland include:* LeylandAlliance, an American company* Leyland Band, a British band* Leyland Brothers, two Australian explorers* Leyland Cypress, a tree* Leyland , an English hundred* Leyland Line, a shipping company... |
Freight Rover Trophy |
| Sherpa Van Trophy, | ||
| ????-1994 | The Leyland Cup | |
| 1994-1995 | Autoglass Autoglass Autoglass is a car-windscreen repair company based in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England.-History:In 1971, Windshields was formed in Bedford, and operated across southern England doing mobile repairs. In 1973 the Doulton Group launched Autoglass, which operated across northern England... |
The Autoglass Trophy |
| 1995-2007 | LDV Limited LDV Limited LDV Group Limited was a British van manufacturer, based in the Ward End area of Birmingham.In its history part of Rover Group and Leyland DAF, was latterly a wholly owned subsidiary of the Russian GAZ group... |
LDV Vans Trophy |
| 2007-present | Johnstones Paint | Johnstones Paint Trophy |
Current format
48 teams enter from League One and League Two.Clubs are assigned to one of four areas for the purposes of the cup draws: Northern Section - East and West, Southern Section - East and West
- Round One, 16 games - 16 teams receive a bye to Round Two, while the remaining 32 play single game ties
- Round Two, 16 games - 32 teams play another single game tie
The cup draw pots are now merged, leaving just a Northern and Southern section
- Area Quarter Finals, 8 games - 16 teams play a single game tie
- Area Semi-Finals, 4 games - 8 teams play a single game tie
Drawing is no longer necessary for the final 4 teams
- Area finals - effectively the competition's semi-finals, the two remaining teams in each section play each other in two-legged game ties, home and away
- Final - between the Northern and Southern area winners
Previous formats
In the first year of the tournament the 48 eligible Third and Fourth Division clubs were split into North and South sections of 24 teams each. The first round had 12 knockout ties in each section, and the second had six. The two losers with the 'narrowest' defeat were reprieved and joined the six other clubs in the regional quarter finals.A major change was introduced for the 1985–86 tournament, with 8 three-team groups being set up in each of the two sections. Teams played one home and one away game and the group winners proceeded to the regional knockout stages. This format was tweaked the following season, with two teams qualifying from each group, resulting in an additional 'round of 16' knockout stage in each section.
For a number of seasons in the early to mid 1990s the competition ran with only seven three-team groups with two teams in each section getting a bye to the knockout stages. This was necessary due to League reorganisation and the demise of Aldershot
Aldershot F.C.
Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable...
and Maidstone United
Maidstone United F.C. (1897)
The original Maidstone United was an English football club that existed from 1897 to 1992. The club played in the Football League Fourth Division from 1989 until their demise in 1992. During their time in the Football League Maidstone played their games at Dartford's Watling Street Ground...
, which resulted in there being less than 48 teams in the 3rd and 4th levels.
The group phase was abolished for the 1996–97 tournament
1996–97 Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy 1996–97, known as the Auto Windscreens Shield 1996–97 for sponsorship reasons, was the 14th staging of the Football League Trophy, a knock-out competition for English football clubs in Second and Third Division...
, with 8 teams in each section getting a bye to the second round, where they were joined by the 8 winners of the first round ties.
For the 2000-01 edition, 8 Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
sides also played in the tournament, resulting in 12 ties in each of the north/south sections in the 1st round, with only four teams in each section gaining a bye into the second round. The number of Conference entrants was increased to 12 starting in 2002-03, resulting in 14 1st round ties, and two teams in each regional section gaining a bye straight to the second round.
From the 2006-07 tournament
2006–07 Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy 2006–07, known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy 2006–07 for sponsorship reasons, was the 23rd staging of the Football League Trophy, a knockout competition for English football clubs in Leagues One and Two...
Conference teams no longer participated, and the format reverted to 8 1st round teams in each section, with 8 sides gaining byes to the 2nd round.
Participants
The competition has always been contested by all teams at Levels ThreeFootball League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
and Four
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
of the English football league system
English football league system
The English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for association football clubs in England, with six teams from Wales also competing...
. However, between 2000/01 and 2005/06 the event was also open to a certain number of Football Conference sides, and these are listed by season below:
2000-01: Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
, Doncaster Rovers, Dover Athletic, Hereford United, Morecambe
Morecambe F.C.
Morecambe Football Club is an English football club based in Morecambe, Lancashire. It plays its football in League Two, the fourth division of English football, having been promoted in 2007 for the first time in their history to the Football League. They played their home matches at Christie Park...
, Rushden & Diamonds, Scarborough
Scarborough F.C.
Scarborough Football Club was an English football club based in the seaside resort of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. They were one of the oldest football clubs in England, formed in 1879, before they were wound up on 20 June 2007, with debts of £2.5 million.In the 2006–07 season...
, Yeovil Town
Yeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
2001-02
2001–02 Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy 2001–02, known as the LDV Vans Trophy 2001–02 for sponsorship reasons, was the 19th staging of the Football League Trophy, a knock-out competition for English football clubs in Second, Third Division and the Conference...
: Barnet
Barnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
, Dagenham & Redbridge, Doncaster Rovers, Leigh RMI, Scarborough, Southport
Southport F.C.
Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008...
, Stevenage Borough, Yeovil Town
2002-03: Chester City, Dagenham & Redbridge, Doncaster Rovers, Halifax Town
Halifax Town A.F.C.
Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years...
, Hereford United, Leigh RMI, Morecambe, Scarborough, Southport, Stevenage Borough, Woking
Woking F.C.
Woking Football Club is a football club from in Woking, Surrey, England, formed in 1889. They are playing in the Conference South in the 2011–12 season. For the 2011/2012 season, Woking are sharing their ground with Conference National club Hayes & Yeading United.-Promotion to the...
, Yeovil Town
2003-04
2003–04 Football League Trophy
The 2003–04 Football League Trophy, known as the LDV Vans Trophy for sponsorship reasons, was the 21st season in the history of the competition. A straight knockout competition for English football clubs in the third and fourth tiers of the English football league system.In all, 56 clubs entered...
: Barnet, Chester City, Dagenham & Redbridge, Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
, Forest Green Rovers, Halifax Town, Hereford United, Morecambe, Scarborough, Shewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
, Stevenage Borough, Telford United
Telford United F.C.
Telford United F.C. was an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire.The club existed under various names for a total of 132 years from its formation in 1872. The club was founder members of the Alliance Premier League in 1979 and played at this level for 25 years before being wound up in...
2004-05: Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley F.C.
Accrington Stanley is an English association football club from Accrington in Lancashire, in the North West of England, who play in Football League Two, the fourth-highest division in the English football league system....
, Aldershot Town
Aldershot Town F.C.
Aldershot Town Football Club is an association football club based in Aldershot, Hampshire, England, founded in the spring of 1992 just after the closure of debt-ridden Fourth Division club Aldershot Football Club...
, Barnet, Carlisle United, Dagenham & Redbridge, Exeter City, Hereford United, Morecambe, Scarborough, Stevenage Borough, Woking, York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
2005-06: Accrington Stanley, Aldershot Town, Cambridge United, Crawley Town
Crawley Town F.C.
Crawley Town Football Club is an English football club based in Crawley, West Sussex. They won the title of the Football Conference, by a record 15 point margin on second place, and with it promotion to The Football League, in April 2011.-1896–2009:...
, Dagenham & Redbridge, Exeter City, Halifax Town, Hereford United, Kidderminster Harriers, Morecambe, Stevenage Borough, Woking
Status
League One and Two clubs which compete in the Football League Trophy are also eligible to enter the FA CupFA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
which is for the top ten levels of the football pyramid, and the Football League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
which is for all four of the professional divisions. With the prospect of meeting bigger teams in those competitions, and with the financial importance of doing well in the league competition, the Football League Trophy is not considered a priority by many clubs, with some opting to field below-strength teams, particularly in the earlier rounds.
A new rule from the 2006/07 season aims to stop this, with teams now obliged to play at least 6 of the players with the most appearances in their respective positions (for the season to date) or face a fine. Supporters, too, apparently lack enthusiasm for the competition, with crowds usually falling well below the level considered acceptable (or, indeed, commercially viable) for senior football. For example, in November 2005, Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
(with an average crowd of approximately 7,500) attracted just 969 people to their game against Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
, whilst Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
(with an average gate of some 15,000) saw a mere 5,321 people attend their tie with Rushden & Diamonds
Rushden & Diamonds F.C.
Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of...
. Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
recorded the lowest attendance in their history, with just 2,013 fans turning up for the tie against Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
in 2006. During their exile more than 40 miles (64.4 km) away at Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
between moving grounds, Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
attracted just 409 fans against Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
in November 1990 and 420 in the following year's competition against Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
. In the 2011-12 competition, the first round match involving Wycomble Wanderers
Wycombe Wanderers F.C.
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play...
and Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
attracted a mere 771 supporters.
Venue
The League Trophy final is held at the 90,000-seat Wembley StadiumWembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
in London, the English national football stadium. The first final in 1984 was to have been played at Wembley, but due to damage to the pitch caused during the Horse of the Year show it was moved to Hull. From 2001 to 2007 when the 1923 built Wembley was being rebuilt, the Football League Trophy finals were played at the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
, Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
.
Winners
- 1983–84: BournemouthA.F.C. BournemouthA.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
- 1984–85: Wigan AthleticWigan Athletic F.C.Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
- 1985–86: Bristol CityBristol City F.C.Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
- 1986–87: Mansfield TownMansfield Town F.C.Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
- 1987–88: Wolverhampton WanderersWolverhampton Wanderers F.C.Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
- 1988–89: Bolton WanderersBolton Wanderers F.C.Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
- 1989–90: Tranmere RoversTranmere Rovers F.C.Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
- 1990–91: Birmingham CityBirmingham City F.C.Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
- 1991–92: Stoke CityStoke City F.C.Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
- 1992–93: Port ValePort Vale F.C.Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
- 1993–94: Swansea CitySwansea City A.F.C.Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
- 1994–95: Birmingham CityBirmingham City F.C.Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
- 1995–961995–96 Football League TrophyThe Football League Trophy 1995-96, known as the Auto Windscreens Shield 1995-96 for sponsorship reasons, was the 13th staging of the Football League Trophy, a knock-out competition for English football clubs in the Second and Third Divisions .The winners were Rotherham United, who defeated...
: Rotherham UnitedRotherham United F.C.Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history... - 1996–971996–97 Football League TrophyThe Football League Trophy 1996–97, known as the Auto Windscreens Shield 1996–97 for sponsorship reasons, was the 14th staging of the Football League Trophy, a knock-out competition for English football clubs in Second and Third Division...
: Carlisle UnitedCarlisle United F.C.Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system.... - 1997–981997–98 Football League TrophyThe Football League Trophy 1997–98, known as the Auto Windscreens Shield 1997–98 for sponsorship reasons, was the 15th staging of the Football League Trophy, a knock-out competition for English football clubs in Second and Third Division...
: Grimsby TownGrimsby Town F.C.Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town... - 1998–991998–99 Football League TrophyThe Football League Trophy 1998–99, known as the Auto Windscreens Shield 1998–99 for sponsorship reasons, was the 16th staging of the Football League Trophy, a knock-out competition for English football clubs in Second and Third Division...
: Wigan AthleticWigan Athletic F.C.Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW... - 1999–001999–2000 Football League TrophyThe Football League Trophy 1999–2000, known as the Auto Windscreens Shield 1999–2000 for sponsorship reasons, was the 17th staging of the Football League Trophy, a knock-out competition for English football clubs in Second and Third Division...
: Stoke CityStoke City F.C.Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts... - 2000–01: Port ValePort Vale F.C.Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
- 2001–022001–02 Football League TrophyThe Football League Trophy 2001–02, known as the LDV Vans Trophy 2001–02 for sponsorship reasons, was the 19th staging of the Football League Trophy, a knock-out competition for English football clubs in Second, Third Division and the Conference...
: BlackpoolBlackpool F.C.Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the... - 2002–03: Bristol CityBristol City F.C.Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
- 2003–042003–04 Football League TrophyThe 2003–04 Football League Trophy, known as the LDV Vans Trophy for sponsorship reasons, was the 21st season in the history of the competition. A straight knockout competition for English football clubs in the third and fourth tiers of the English football league system.In all, 56 clubs entered...
: BlackpoolBlackpool F.C.Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the... - 2004–05: WrexhamWrexham A.F.C.Wrexham Football Club are a professional football team based in Wrexham, north-east Wales, who play in the English football pyramid.Founded in 1872, they are one of the oldest surviving football clubs in Britain and the oldest professional club in Wales...
- 2005–06: Swansea CitySwansea City A.F.C.Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
- 2006–072006–07 Football League TrophyThe Football League Trophy 2006–07, known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy 2006–07 for sponsorship reasons, was the 23rd staging of the Football League Trophy, a knockout competition for English football clubs in Leagues One and Two...
: Doncaster RoversDoncaster Rovers F.C.Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in... - 2007–08: Milton Keynes DonsMilton Keynes Dons F.C..Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
- 2008–09: Luton TownLuton Town F.C.Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
- 2009–102009–10 Football League TrophyThe Football League Trophy 2009–10, known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy 2009–10 for sponsorship reasons, is the 26th Football League Trophy, a knockout competition for English football clubs in Leagues One and Two, the third and fourth tiers of English football.The format is similar to that which...
: SouthamptonSouthampton F.C.Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club... - 2010–112010–11 Football League TrophyThe 2010–11 Football League Trophy, known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is the 27th season in the history of the competition. It is a knock-out tournament for English football clubs in League One and League Two, the third and fourth tiers of the English football.In all,...
: Carlisle UnitedCarlisle United F.C.Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
Source: napit.co.uk
Wins by club
Eight clubs share the record for most wins in the competition with two successes apiece. Carlisle UnitedCarlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
have reached the final the greatest number of times (6), but have so far only won 2, 1997 and 2011. Wolves are the only former English football champions
English football champions
The English football champions are the winners of the highest league in English football, which is currently the Premier League. Teams in bold are those who won the double of League Championship and FA Cup, or the European Double of League Championship and European Cup in that season.Following the...
to win the Trophy; Burnley and Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
have been finalists once each.
| Rank | Club | Winner | Last win | Runner-up | Last losing final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carlisle United Carlisle United F.C. Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system.... |
2 | 2011 2011 Football League Trophy Final The 2011 Football League Trophy Final was the 28th final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from Football Leagues One and Two, the Football League Trophy. The final was played at Wembley Stadium in London on 3 April 2011. The match was contested between Brentford and Carlisle... |
4 | 2010 2010 Football League Trophy Final The 2010 Football League Trophy Final was the 27th final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from Football Leagues One and Two, the Football League Trophy. The final was played at Wembley Stadium in London on 28 March 2010. The match was contested between Carlisle United and... |
| 2 | Bristol City Bristol City F.C. Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City... |
2 | 2003 2003 Football League Trophy Final The 2003 Football League Trophy Final was the 20th final of the Football League Trophy - a domestic football cup competition for teams from the Football League Second and Third Division. The match was played at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, and was contested by Bristol City and Carlisle... |
2 | 2000 2000 Football League Trophy Final The 2000 Football League Trophy Final was the 17th final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from the Second and Third Division of the Football League... |
| 3 | Port Vale Port Vale F.C. Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as... |
2 | 2001 Football League Trophy 2000–01 The Football League Trophy 2000–01, known as the LDV Vans Trophy 2000–01 for sponsorship reasons, was the 17th staging of the Football League Trophy, a knock-out competition for English football clubs in Second and Third Division. The winners were Port Vale F.C... |
0 | – |
| Birmingham City Birmingham City F.C. Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the... |
1995 1995 Football League Trophy Final The 1995 Football League Trophy Final was the 12th final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from the Second and Third Division of the Football League. The match was played at Wembley on 23 April 1995, and was contested by Birmingham City and Carlisle United... |
– | |||
| Blackpool Blackpool F.C. Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the... |
2004 2004 Football League Trophy Final The 2004 Football League Trophy Final was the 21st final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from Football Leagues One, Two and The Conference, the Football League Trophy. The final was played at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on 21 March 2004. The match was contested between... |
– | |||
| Stoke City Stoke City F.C. Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts... |
2000 2000 Football League Trophy Final The 2000 Football League Trophy Final was the 17th final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from the Second and Third Division of the Football League... |
– | |||
| Swansea City | 2006 2006 Football League Trophy Final The 2006 Football League Trophy Final was the 23rd final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from Football Leagues One and Two, the Football League Trophy. The final was played at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on 2 April 2006. The match was contested between Swansea City and Carlisle... |
– | |||
| Wigan Athletic Wigan Athletic F.C. Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW... |
1999 1999 Football League Trophy Final The 1999 Football League Trophy Final was the 16th final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from the Second and Third Division of the Football League. The match was played at Wembley on 18 April 1999, and was contested by Millwall and Wigan Athletic... |
– | |||
| 9 | Bournemouth A.F.C. Bournemouth A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899.... |
1 | 1984 1984 Football League Trophy Final The 1984 Football League Trophy Final, known at the time as the Associate Members' Cup, was the inaugural final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from the Third and Fourth Divisions.... |
1 | 1998 1998 Football League Trophy Final The 1998 Football League Trophy Final was the 15th final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from the Second and Third Division of the Football League. The match was played at Wembley on 19 April 1998, and was contested by Bournemouth and Grimsby Town... |
| Bolton Wanderers Bolton Wanderers F.C. Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001.... |
1989 1989 Football League Trophy Final The 1989 Football League Trophy Final, known as the Sherpa Van Trophy for sponsorship reasons, was the 6th final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from the Third Division and Fourth Division. The final was played at Wembley Stadium, London on 28 May 1989, and was contested by... |
1986 1986 Football League Trophy Final The 1986 Football League Trophy Final, known as the Freight Rover Trophy for sponsorship reasons, was the 3rd final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from the Third Division and Fourth Division. The final was played at Wembley Stadium, London on 24 May 1986, and was contested by... |
|||
| Tranmere Rovers Tranmere Rovers F.C. Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system... |
1990 1990 Football League Trophy Final The 1990 Football League Trophy Final, known as the Leyland DAF Cup for sponsorship reasons, was the 7th final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from the Third Division and Fourth Division. The final was played at Wembley Stadium, London on 20 May 1990, and was contested by... |
1991 1991 Football League Trophy Final The 1991 Football League Trophy Final, known as the Leyland DAF Cup for sponsorship reasons, was the 8th final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from the Third Division and Fourth Division. The final was played at Wembley Stadium, London on 26 May 1991, and was contested by... |
|||
| Grimsby Town Grimsby Town F.C. Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town... |
1998 1998 Football League Trophy Final The 1998 Football League Trophy Final was the 15th final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from the Second and Third Division of the Football League. The match was played at Wembley on 19 April 1998, and was contested by Bournemouth and Grimsby Town... |
2008 2008 Football League Trophy Final The 2008 Football League Trophy Final was the 25th final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from Football Leagues One and Two, the Football League Trophy. The final was played at Wembley Stadium in London on 30 March 2009, the first time that the final had been staged at the stadium... |
|||
| 13 | Rotherham United Rotherham United F.C. Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history... |
1 | 1996 1996 Football League Trophy Final The 1996 Football League Trophy Final was the 13th final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from the Second and Third Division of the Football League. The match was played at Wembley on 14 April 1996, and was contested by Rotherham United and Shrewsbury Town... |
0 | – |
| Mansfield Town Mansfield Town F.C. Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910... |
1987 1987 Football League Trophy Final The 1987 Football League Trophy Final, known as the Freight Rover Trophy for sponsorship reasons, was the 4th final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from the Third Division and Fourth Division. The final was played at Wembley Stadium, London on 24 May 1987, and was contested by... |
– | |||
| Wolverhampton Wanderers Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at... |
1988 1988 Football League Trophy Final The 1988 Football League Trophy Final, known as the Sherpa Van Trophy Final for sponsorship reasons was the 5th final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from the Third and Fourth Divisions.... |
– | |||
| Wrexham | 2005 2005 Football League Trophy Final The 2005 Football League Trophy Final was the 22nd final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from Football Leagues One, Two and The Conference, the Football League Trophy. The final was played at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on 10 April 2005. The match was contested between Southend... |
– | |||
| Doncaster Rovers Doncaster Rovers F.C. Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in... |
2007 2007 Football League Trophy Final The 2007 Football League Trophy Final was the 24th final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from Football Leagues One and Two, the Football League Trophy. The final was played at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on 1 April 2007, the last time that the final would be played in the... |
– | |||
| Milton Keynes Dons Milton Keynes Dons F.C. .Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire... |
2008 2008 Football League Trophy Final The 2008 Football League Trophy Final was the 25th final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from Football Leagues One and Two, the Football League Trophy. The final was played at Wembley Stadium in London on 30 March 2009, the first time that the final had been staged at the stadium... |
– | |||
| Luton Town Luton Town F.C. Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was... |
2009 2009 Football League Trophy Final The 2009 Football League Trophy Final was the 26th final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from Football Leagues One and Two, the Football League Trophy. The final was played at Wembley Stadium in London on 5 April 2009, the second time that the final had been staged at the stadium... |
– | |||
| Southampton Southampton F.C. Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club... |
2010 2010 Football League Trophy Final The 2010 Football League Trophy Final was the 27th final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from Football Leagues One and Two, the Football League Trophy. The final was played at Wembley Stadium in London on 28 March 2010. The match was contested between Carlisle United and... |
– | |||
Attendances
The record attendance for the final is 80,841, for the 1988 Final1988 Football League Trophy Final
The 1988 Football League Trophy Final, known as the Sherpa Van Trophy Final for sponsorship reasons was the 5th final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from the Third and Fourth Divisions....
match between Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
and Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
at Wembley.
The highest attendance for any game outside of the final came in 2010, when Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
beat MK Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
3-1 at St. Mary's Stadium in Southampton, in front of a crowd of nearly 30,000.
Sponsors
As the Associate Members' Cup- (1983–1984) no sponsor
- (1984–1987) Freight RoverFreight RoverFreight Rover was a British commercial vehicle manufacturer based in Birmingham, England, United Kingdom.-History:The company was created as a division of the Land Rover Group of British Leyland in 1981, creating a new single brand for BL's panel van business.Under later company organisation...
Trophy - (1987–1989) Sherpa VanLDV LimitedLDV Group Limited was a British van manufacturer, based in the Ward End area of Birmingham.In its history part of Rover Group and Leyland DAF, was latterly a wholly owned subsidiary of the Russian GAZ group...
Trophy - (1989–1991) Leyland DAFLeyland DAFLeyland DAF was a commercial vehicle manufacturing company based in the United Kingdom, and a division of DAF NV. In 1993 DAF NV became insolvent and Leyland DAF went into receivership.-History:...
Cup - (1991–1992) AutoglassAutoglassAutoglass is a car-windscreen repair company based in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England.-History:In 1971, Windshields was formed in Bedford, and operated across southern England doing mobile repairs. In 1973 the Doulton Group launched Autoglass, which operated across northern England...
Trophy
As the Football League Trophy
- (1992–1994) AutoglassAutoglassAutoglass is a car-windscreen repair company based in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England.-History:In 1971, Windshields was formed in Bedford, and operated across southern England doing mobile repairs. In 1973 the Doulton Group launched Autoglass, which operated across northern England...
Trophy - (1994–2000) Auto WindscreensAuto WindscreensAuto Windscreens is a British automotive glazing company specialising in windshield repair and replacement. The company was established in 2011 after the collapse of the previous company, which had operated since 1971....
Shields Trophy - (2000–2006) LDV VansLDV LimitedLDV Group Limited was a British van manufacturer, based in the Ward End area of Birmingham.In its history part of Rover Group and Leyland DAF, was latterly a wholly owned subsidiary of the Russian GAZ group...
Trophy (Note) - (2007 onwards) Johnstone's PaintJohnstone's PaintJohnstone's Paint is a British manufacturer of Paint and current sponsors of the Football League Trophy. The firm is based in Birstall, West Yorkshire and employ around 2,000 people....
Trophy
Note: The 2006 final was branded simply as the Football League Trophy after the new owners of LDV withdrew sponsorship of the competition in March 2006, also meaning no prize money was awarded to the winners. The following May the Johnstone's sponsorship deal was announced.