Scunthorpe United can confirm we have been invited to take part in this season’s National League Cup.
The club will has been placed in Group D and will host Sunderland U21s, Newcastle United U21s, Leeds United U21s and Middlesbrough U21s at the Attis Arena, with one fixture a month taking place from August through until November. This will begin with us hosting the Black Cats week commencing Monday, August 11th.
Also in Group D, taking on the Premier League academy sides, are Boston United, FC Halifax Town and Gateshead, although as part of the competition’s format, none of these sides will face United in the group stages.
The top two in Group D after all fixtures have been played will progress forward into the knockout stages, irrespective of whether they’re a National League side or a Premier League academy side.
United’s involvement in the competition was carefully considered following an invitation from the National League, with all factors taken into account.
With four group stage games scheduled, one a month in the opening four months of the campaign, it was felt it was an opportunity to be part of the competition and ensure the entirety of the squad remained up to speed in terms of match minutes. Behind the scenes, often these matches take place as bounce games against opposition without being in the public domain, but these matches give an opportunity for there to be a competitive nature to these games, and for supporters to have the option to come and watch.
Furthermore, the club considered the financial gain to being part of the competition, and it was unanimous in finding that from this perspective, it would only be a benefit to the club to take part when taking into account all factors.
Exposing ourselves to playing Premier League academy sides also broadens our horizons and awareness of certain players at the level which may be available for loan, and will undoubtedly help us to forge lasting relationships with other clubs with regards to future player recruitment.
We are aware of the controversy and opposition which has surrounded the competition in its inaugural year last campaign, but as a club we are happy to accept the invite, and see it as another opportunity in the forthcoming season.
Full list of group stage fixtures, with these provisional dates subject to change due to our opposition:
Scunthorpe United v Sunderland U21s - Tuesday, August 12th / Wednesday, August 13th
Scunthorpe United v Leeds United U21s - Tuesday, September 16th / Wednesday, September 17th
Scunthorpe United v Middlesbrough U21s - Tuesday, October 21st / Wednesday, October 22nd
Scunthorpe United v Newcastle United U21s - Tuesday, November 25th / Wednesday, November 26th
