The 2017–18 EFL Trophy, known as the Checkatrade Trophy for sponsorship reasons, was the 37th season in the history of
the competition, a knock-out tournament for
English football
Football is the most popular sport in England. Widely regarded as the birthplace of modern football, the first official rules of the game were established in England in 1863. The country is home to the world's first football league, the oldest ...
clubs in
League One and
League Two of the English football system, and also including 16 Premier League and Championship "
B teams" with
Category One status after the previous season's trial format was extended.
Following the new format introduced in
2016–17, 64 teams entered the competition, including first time entries from the academy teams of
Manchester City
Manchester City Football Club is a professional association football, football club based in Manchester, England, that competes in the Premier League, the English football league system, top flight of Football in England, English footbal ...
,
Newcastle United
Newcastle United Football Club is a professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football league system, English football. Since th ...
and
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, commonly referred to as simply Tottenham (, , , ) or Spurs, is a professional Association football, football club based in Tottenham, North London, England. The club itself has stated that it should always ...
, who all declined to enter in the previous season.
were the reigning champions,
but were eliminated in the group stage on 7 November.
Participating clubs
*48 clubs from
League One and
League Two.
*16 invited
Category One Academy teams.
*Category One teams relegated to League One missed out on having academies participate in the following tournament.
;Notes
Arsenal
An arsenal is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, or issued, in any combination, whether privately or publicly owned. Arsenal and armoury (British English) or armory (American English) are mostly ...
,
Liverpool
Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...
and
Manchester United
Manchester United Football Club, commonly referred to as Man United (often stylised as Man Utd) or simply United, is a professional association football, football club based in Old Trafford (area), Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, Engl ...
declined to participate.
Eligibility criteria for players
*For EFL clubs; a minimum of 5 'First Team' players in the starting 11 as defined under the competition's existing rules.
*For invited clubs – 6 of the starting 11 to be U21 (as at 30 June 2016).
Competition format
Group stage
* Sixteen groups of 4 teams will be organised on a regionalised basis.
* All groups will include one invited club.
* All clubs will play each other once, either home or away (Academies play all group matches away from home).
* Clubs will be awarded 3 points for a win and 1 point for a draw.
* In the event of a drawn game (after 90 minutes), a penalty shootout will be held with the winning team earning an additional point.
* The top two teams will progress to the Knockout Stage.
Northern Section
=Group A
=
=Group B
=
=Group C
=
=Group D
=
=Group E
=
=Group F
=
=Group G
=
=Group H
=
Southern Section
=Group A
=
=Group B
=
=Group C
=
=Group D
=
=Group E
=
=Group F
=
=Group G
=
=Group H
=
Knockout stage
If scores are level after 90 minutes in Rounds 2, 3 and 4, the game will be determined by the taking of
penalties.
Round 2
The Round 2 draw was made on 10 November 2017.
The 32 remaining teams were drawn into 16 ties; each group winner will be at home to a runner-up from a different group within their own region.
Northern Section
Southern Section
Round 3
The Round 3 draw was made on 8 December 2017.
Northern Section
Southern Section
Round 4
Eight teams participated in this round with ties originally scheduled to take place in the week commencing 22 January 2018.
Semi-finals
Four teams participated in this round, which consisted of single ties played at the stadium of the club drawn first in each tie.
Final
Match proceeds
After deduction of match expenses, all proceeds were split:
*45% Home club
*45% Away club
*10% to the pool account
Top goalscorers
Notes
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:2017-18 EFL Trophy
EFL Trophy seasons
EFL Trophy
The English Football League Trophy, officially known as the Vertu Motors, Vertu Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football, football knockout competition open to all clubs in EFL League One and EFL League Two and ...
Trophy
A trophy is a tangible, decorative item used to remind of a specific achievement, serving as recognition or evidence of merit. Trophies are most commonly awarded for sports, sporting events, ranging from youth sports to professional level athlet ...