2024–25 National League Cup

2024–25 National League Cup
Tournament details
Country	England
Teams	32
Tournament statistics
Matches played	42
Goals scored	168 (4 per match)
Attendance	21,019 (500 per match)
	← 2008–09 2025–26 →; All statistics correct as of 15 October 2024.

The 2024–25 National League Cup, is the 26th season in the history of the competition, and the first since its revival. It is a knock-out tournament between clubs in the National League, the fifth tier of the English football league system, and 16 professional under-21 teams playing in Premier League 2.^[1]

A prize fund of £1 million is distributed to non-league clubs in the fifth and sixth tiers, with the intention to provide younger players from the PL2 with senior experience. The relaunch of the competition has otherwise been controversial, with criticism and negativity from non-league clubs and their supporters.^[2]^[3]^[4]

Participating clubs

16 invited clubs from the National League.^[a]
16 invited Premier League 2 under-21 teams.^[c]

	National League	Premier League 2
Clubs	Aldershot Town Altrincham Boston United Braintree Town Dagenham & Redbridge Ebbsfleet United FC Halifax Town Forest Green Rovers Gateshead Maidenhead United Oldham Athletic Rochdale Sutton United Tamworth Wealdstone Woking	Blackburn Rovers Brighton & Hove Albion Derby County^[b] Fulham Leeds United Manchester United Middlesbrough Newcastle United Nottingham Forest Southampton Stoke City Sunderland Tottenham Hotspur West Bromwich Albion West Ham United Wolverhampton Wanderers
Total	16	16

Competition format

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
League phase

Four groups of eight teams.
All groups will include four National League sides and four academy sides.
All National League clubs will play each academy side once, and all academy sides will play each National League side once (academy sides will play all group matches away from home).
Clubs will be awarded three points for a win and one point for a draw. Drawn matches will end in a penalty shoot-out with an extra point for the winners.
The top two teams in each group will progress to the knockout stage.

Knockout stage

In Round 2, the group winners will be seeded and the group runners-up will be unseeded in the draw.
In Round 2, teams who played in the same group as each other in the group stage will be kept apart.

Broadcasting

The National League announced all fixtures would be streamed live and free on NLTV.^[8]

Group stage

The group stage draw was made on 19 September 2024, when the competition was announced.^[1]^[9]^[10]

Group A

Pos	Div	Team	Pld	W	PW	PL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	NL	Maidenhead United	3	2	1	0	0	7	4	+3	8	Advance to knockout stage
2	NL	Aldershot Town	3	2	0	0	1	7	4	+3	6	Advance to knockout stage
3	NL	Wealdstone	3	2	0	0	1	5	3	+2	6
4	ACA	Fulham U21	3	2	0	0	1	5	4	+1	6
5	ACA	Brighton & Hove Albion U21	3	1	1	0	1	6	6	0	5
6	NL	Woking	3	0	1	1	1	8	9	−1	3
7	ACA	Southampton U21 (E)	3	0	0	1	2	6	9	−3	1
8	ACA	Derby County U21^[b] (E)	3	0	0	1	2	3	8	−5	1

Updated to match(es) played on 4 December 2024. Source: Premier League
(E) Eliminated

1 October 2024	Woking	2–2 (3–4 p)	Brighton & Hove Albion U21	Woking
19:00 BST (UTC+1)	Andrews 89' Kelly-Evans 90+6'	Report	Duffus 33' McConville 54'	Stadium: The Laithwaite Community Stadium Attendance: 227 Referee: Paul Johnson
	Penalties
	Walker Beautyman Anderson Andrews Leahy		Mullins Vickers Slater Moulton Simmonds

1 October 2024	Maidenhead United	2–0	Fulham U21	Maidenhead
19:30 BST (UTC+1)	McCoulsky 35' Barratt 45+1'	Report		Stadium: York Road Attendance: 210 Referee: Ross Martin

15 October 2024	Aldershot Town	3–0	Derby County U21	Aldershot
19:00 BST (UTC+1)	R. Jones 18', 59' A. Jones 32'	Report		Stadium: The EBB Stadium Attendance: 190 Referee: James Durkin

5 November 2024	Aldershot Town	2–3	Brighton & Hove Albion U21	Aldershot
19:00 GMT (UTC+0)	Henry 64', 86' (pen.)	Report	Ifill 80' Duffus 82' Vickers 90+3'	Stadium: The EBB Stadium Attendance: 317 Referee: Farai Hallam

5 November 2024	Wealdstone	0–2	Fulham U21	Ruislip
19:00 GMT (UTC+0)		Report	Gordon 43' Works 45+1'	Stadium: Grosvenor Vale Attendance: 190 Referee: Jamie O'Connor

5 November 2024	Woking	4–4 (3–0 p)	Southampton U21	Woking
19:00 GMT (UTC+0)	Stretton 39' Leahy 41' Walker 53', 61'	Report	Ehibhatiomhan 2' Robinson 35' MacLeod 85' Akachukwu 90+4'	Stadium: The Laithwaite Community Stadium Attendance: 157 Referee: Michael Doyle
	Penalties
	Walker Judge Harries		Buck MacLeod Robinson

5 November 2024	Maidenhead United	3–3 (7–6 p)	Derby County U21	Maidenhead
19:30 GMT (UTC+0)	Sho-Silva 17' Ajose 27', 70'	Report	Wheeldon 48' Robinson 61' Hawkins 73'	Stadium: York Road Attendance: 145 Referee: Greg Rollason
	Penalties
	Sho-Silva De Havilland Carvalho Pettit Cochrane Ajose Bell McMenemy		Spencer Rooney Robinson Eames Wheeldon Gill Hawkins Robinson

12 November 2024	Wealdstone	3–1	Southampton U21	Ruislip
GMT (UTC+0)	Adarkwa 4' Sandat 31' Thorpe 52'	Report	Merry 77'	Stadium: Grosvenor Vale Attendance: 160 Referee: Paul Johnson

3 December 2024	Aldershot Town	2–1	Southampton U21	Aldershot
GMT (UTC+0)	Barrett 44' Frost 51'	Report	Robinson 14'	Stadium: The EBB Stadium Attendance: 272

3 December 2024	Wealdstone	2–0	Derby County U21	Ruislip
GMT (UTC+0)	Sandat 4' Woodman 31'	Report		Stadium: Grosvenor Vale Attendance: 93 Referee: Callum Walchester

3 December 2024	Woking	2–3	Fulham U21	Woking
GMT (UTC+0)	Ward 34' Kelly-Evans 59'	Report	Loupalo-Bi 9' Osmand 64', 88'	Stadium: The Laithwaite Community Stadium Attendance: 222

4 December 2024	Maidenhead United	2–1	Brighton & Hove Albion U21	Maidenhead
19:30GMT (UTC+0)	Abrahams 11', 46'	Report	Vickers 87'	Stadium: York Road Attendance: 160 Referee: Jason Richardson

		v
GMT (UTC+0)

		v
GMT (UTC+0)

		v
GMT (UTC+0)

		v
GMT (UTC+0)

Group B

Pos	Div	Team	Pld	W	PW	PL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	ACA	Manchester United U21	3	3	0	0	0	8	2	+6	9	Advance to knockout stage
2	NL	Oldham Athletic	3	2	0	1	0	7	5	+2	7	Advance to knockout stage
3	ACA	Wolverhampton Wanderers U21	2	1	1	0	0	4	2	+2	5
4	NL	Altrincham	3	1	1	0	1	7	8	−1	5
5	NL	Rochdale	2	1	0	0	1	4	2	+2	3
6	ACA	Stoke City U21 (E)	3	1	0	0	2	6	6	0	3
7	ACA	Blackburn Rovers U21 (E)	3	0	0	1	2	6	10	−4	1
8	NL	Forest Green Rovers (E)	3	0	0	0	3	2	9	−7	0

Updated to match(es) played on 18 December 2024. Source: Premier League
(E) Eliminated

1 October 2024	Oldham Athletic	2–1	Stoke City U21	Oldham
19:00 BST (UTC+1)	Reid 29' Charsley 72'	Report	Mears 67'	Stadium: Boundary Park Attendance: 455 Referee: Stuart Morland

8 October 2024	Altrincham	3–3 (6–5 p)	Blackburn Rovers U21	Altrincham
19:30 BST (UTC+1)	Kosylo 7' Crawford 55' Weaver 83'	Report	Mafoumbi 47' Stritch 79' Leatherbarrow 88'	Stadium: Moss Lane Attendance: 783 Referee: Richard Aspinall
	Penalties
	Crawford Banks Newby Jones Reddin Kosylo Weaver		Edmondson Stritch Montgomery Tyjon Litherland Bell Powell

9 October 2024	Forest Green Rovers	2–3	Manchester United U21	Nailsworth
19:00 BST (UTC+1)	Doidge 3' Bunker 35'	Report	Sharpe 29' Ennis 33' Musa 77'	Stadium: The New Lawn Attendance: 1,273 Referee: Jason Richardson

5 November 2024	Rochdale	4–1	Blackburn Rovers U21	Rochdale
GMT (UTC+0)	Dennis 18' Barlow 47', 55' Henderson 90+1'	Report	Litherland 41'	Stadium: Crown Oil Arena Attendance: 426 Referee: Paul Cooper

5 November 2024	Forest Green Rovers	0–4	Stoke City U21	Nailsworth
GMT (UTC+0)		Report	Tezgel 6' (pen.), 18', 39', 49'	Stadium: The New Lawn Attendance: 257 Referee: Elliott Swallow

6 November 2024	Oldham Athletic	2–2 (2–4 p)	Wolverhampton Wanderers U21	Oldham
GMT (UTC+0)	Stones 21' Uchegbulam 27'	Report	Holman 25', 68'	Stadium: Boundary Park Attendance: 520 Referee: Aaron Jackson

19 November 2024	Altrincham	0–4	Manchester United U21	Altrincham
GMT (UTC+0)		Report	Ennis 16', 26', 90' Ibragimov 70'	Stadium: J. Davidson Stadium Attendance: 3,663 Referee: Stuart Morland

3 December 2024	Rochdale	0–1	Manchester United U21	Rochdale
GMT (UTC+0)		Report	Ibragimov 82'	Stadium: Crown Oil Arena Attendance: 3,681 Referee: John Mulligan

3 December 2024	Altrincham	4–1	Stoke City U21	Altrincham
GMT (UTC+0)	Jones 43' Golden 50' Crawford 58' Bickerstaff 90+1'	Report	Griffiths 23'	Stadium: J. Davidson Stadium Attendance: 879 Referee: Paul Cooper

10 December 2024	Oldham Athletic	3–2	Blackburn Rovers U21	Oldham
GMT (UTC+0)	Teixeira 18' Garner 38' Moore 41'	Report	Stritch 35' Doherty 90+1'	Stadium: Boundary Park Attendance: 356 Referee: Callum Jones

18 December 2024	Forest Green Rovers	0–2	Wolverhampton Wanderers U21	Nailsworth
GMT (UTC+0)		Report	Ojinnaka 49' Holman 56'	Stadium: The New Lawn

		v
GMT (UTC+0)

		v
GMT (UTC+0)

		v
GMT (UTC+0)

		v
GMT (UTC+0)

		v
GMT (UTC+0)

Group C

Pos	Div	Team	Pld	W	PW	PL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	ACA	Leeds United U21	3	2	1	0	0	8	6	+2	8	Advance to knockout stage
2	NL	Boston United	3	2	0	0	1	7	6	+1	6	Advance to knockout stage
3	ACA	Newcastle United U21	3	1	1	0	1	5	5	0	5
4	NL	Gateshead	3	1	1	0	1	4	4	0	5
5	ACA	Sunderland U21	3	1	0	1	1	7	4	+3	4
6	ACA	Middlesbrough U21	2	1	0	0	1	4	2	+2	3
7	NL	FC Halifax Town (E)	3	0	0	1	2	4	8	−4	1
8	NL	Tamworth	2	0	0	1	1	2	6	−4	1

Updated to match(es) played on 4 December 2024. Source: Premier League
(E) Eliminated

1 October 2024	FC Halifax Town	1–2	Newcastle United U21	Halifax
19:00 BST (UTC+1)	Oluwabori 18'	Report	Emerson 59' Ford 71' (o.g.)	Stadium: The Shay Attendance: 292 Referee: Michael Crusham

1 October 2024	Boston United	3–4	Leeds United U21	Boston
19:30 BST (UTC+1)	Ward 14', 76' Marriott 39'	Report	Green 15' (o.g.) Thomas 54', 85' Cresswell 83'	Stadium: Boston Community Stadium Attendance: 467 Referee: Jamie O'Connor

1 October 2024	Gateshead	1–0	Middlesbrough U21	Gateshead
19:45 BST (UTC+1)	Malcolm 13'	Report		Stadium: Gateshead International Stadium Attendance: 407 Referee: Ross Martin

5 November 2024	Boston United	1–0	Sunderland U21	Boston
GMT (UTC+0)	Mooney 42'	Report		Stadium: Boston Community Stadium Attendance: 414 Referee: William Davis

5 November 2024	Tamworth	1–1 (5–6 p)	Newcastle United U21	Tamworth
GMT (UTC+0)	Tshikuna 84'	Report	Donaldson 63'	Stadium: The Lamb Ground Attendance: 387 Referee: Robert Massey-Ellis
	Penalties
	Wallace Fletcher Creaney Tshikuna Digie Cockerill-Mollett Williams		Parkinson Huntley Turner-Cooke Donaldson Emerson McArthur Shahar

6 November 2024	Gateshead	1–2	Leeds United U21	Gateshead
GMT (UTC+0)	Adom 40'	Report	Chadwick-Chaplin 2'	Stadium: Gateshead International Stadium Attendance: 272 Referee: Gareth Rhodes

12 November 2024	FC Halifax Town	1–4	Middlesbrough U21	Halifax
GMT (UTC+0)	Bray 55'	Report	Matthews 24' Finch 37', 49', 81'	Stadium: The Shay Attendance: 256 Referee: James Westgate

19 November 2024	Tamworth	1–5	Sunderland U21	Tamworth
GMT (UTC+0)	Cockerill-Mollett 42'	Report	Ogunsuyi 2', 52' Lavery 11' Jones 69' Crompton 83'	Stadium: The Lamb Ground Attendance: 403 Referee: Mr. R. Eley

3 December 2024	Boston United	3–2	Newcastle United U21	Boston
GMT (UTC+0)	Osbourne 3' Aderoju 76' Maguire 81'	Report	Parkinson 11', 40'	Stadium: Boston Community Stadium Attendance: 386 Referee: Michael Crusham

3 December 2024	FC Halifax Town	2–2 (3–5 p)	Leeds United U21	Halifax
GMT (UTC+0)	Bray 62' Senior 90+5'	Report	Chadwick-Chaplin 34' Snowdon 80'	Stadium: The Shay Attendance: 471 Referee: Stuart Morland

4 December 2024	Gateshead	2–2 (5–4 p)	Sunderland U21	Gateshead
GMT (UTC+0)	Hannant 52' Malcolm 56'		Aouchiche 63' Ogunsuyi 68'	Stadium: Gateshead International Stadium

		v
GMT (UTC+0)

		v
GMT (UTC+0)

		v
GMT (UTC+0)

		v
GMT (UTC+0)

		v
GMT (UTC+0)

		v
GMT (UTC+0)

Group D

Pos	Div	Team	Pld	W	PW	PL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	NL	Braintree Town	3	3	0	0	0	8	4	+4	9	Advance to knockout stage
2	NL	Dagenham & Redbridge	3	1	0	1	1	8	9	−1	4	Advance to knockout stage
3	ACA	Tottenham Hotspur U21	3	0	2	0	1	6	9	−3	4
4	NL	Sutton United	2	1	0	0	1	3	2	+1	3
5	ACA	Nottingham Forest U21	2	1	0	0	1	3	2	+1	3
6	NL	Ebbsfleet United	2	0	1	1	0	3	3	0	3
7	ACA	West Ham United U21	2	1	0	0	1	4	4	0	3
8	ACA	West Bromwich Albion U21	3	0	0	1	2	5	7	−2	1

Updated to match(es) played on 10 December 2024. Source: Premier League

1 October 2024	Ebbsfleet United	2–2 (5–4 p)	West Bromwich Albion U21	Northfleet
19:00 BST (UTC+1)	Domi 17' Ondo 35'	Report	Williams 81' Deeming 90+4' (pen.)	Stadium: Kuflink Stadium Attendance: 213 Referee: Abigail Byrne
	Penalties
	Wright Thomas Tanga Cundle Randall		Deeming Onyemachi Sule Chimeziri Higgins

1 October 2024	Dagenham & Redbridge	5–5 (3–5 p)	Tottenham Hotspur U21	Dagenham
19:30 BST (UTC+1)	Stephenson 4' Hill 5', 39' Remy 37' Mbiya-Kalambayi 71'	Report	Williams 29', 78' Kyerematen 51' Robson 68' Akhamrich 80'	Stadium: Chigwell Construction Stadium Attendance: 184 Referee: Alan Dale
	Penalties
	Morias Stephenson Vincent Remy		Williams Hall Black Andiyapan Akhamrich

29 October 2024	Ebbsfleet United	1–1 (3–4 p)	Tottenham Hotspur U21	Northfleet
19:00 GMT (UTC+0)	Chapman 41'	Report	Kyerematen 23'	Stadium: Kuflink Stadium Attendance: 865 Referee: Elliott Swallow
	Penalties
	Domi Fonguck John Tanga Manktelow Chapman Tanner		Hall Williams Black Akhamrich Cassanova Kyerematen McKnight

5 November 2024	Braintree Town	4–2	West Ham United U21	Braintree
GMT (UTC+0)	Akinde 15' Effiong 60' Lisbie 64' Langston 86'		Ajala 9' Scarles 36'	Stadium: Rare Breed Meat Co. Stadium Attendance: 437

5 November 2024	Dagenham & Redbridge	2–1	West Bromwich Albion U21	Dagenham
GMT (UTC+0)	Umerah 40' Adigun 49'	Report	Chimeziri 66'	Stadium: Chigwell Construction Stadium Attendance: 183

3 December 2024	Braintree Town	3–2	West Bromwich Albion U21	Braintree
GMT (UTC+0)	Fyfield 15' Lisbie 45' Effiong 77'	Report 1 Report 2	Cleary 29', 40'	Stadium: Rare Breed Meat Co. Stadium Attendance: 123

3 December 2024	Dagenham & Redbridge	1–3	Nottingham Forest U21	Dagenham
GMT (UTC+0)	Rees 32'	Report	Berry 43', 55' Nadin 79'	Stadium: Chigwell Construction Stadium Attendance: 174

3 December 2024	Sutton United	3–0	Tottenham Hotspur U21	Sutton
GMT (UTC+0)	Simper 8' Williams 51' Ransom 90+2'	Report		Stadium: VBS Community Stadium Attendance: 1,092 Referee: Stephen Parkinson

10 December 2024	Braintree Town	1–0	Nottingham Forest U21	Braintree
GMT (UTC+0)	Blackwell 45'			Stadium: Rare Breed Meat Co. Stadium Attendance: 148

17 December 2024	Sutton United	0–2	West Ham United U21	Sutton
GMT (UTC+0)			Ajala 29' Robinson 82'	Stadium: VBS Community Stadium

		v
GMT (UTC+0)

		v
GMT (UTC+0)

		v
GMT (UTC+0)

		v
GMT (UTC+0)

		v
GMT (UTC+0)

		v
GMT (UTC+0)

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

Notes

^ National League clubs Barnet, Eastleigh, Solihull Moors and Southend declined the invitation to the competition.^[2]
^ ^a ^b ^c Reading were originally allocated to Group A.^[5] On 25 September, Reading withdrew citing lack of available players and due to the "higher than expected demands on the squad",^[2] adding the "original decision to enter [the competition] was made back in June".^[1]^[6] On the same day, Derby County confirmed their participation in the competition as Reading's replacement.^[7]
^ Premier League 2 side Reading withdrew from the competition and were replaced by Derby County.^[b]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Premier League and National League announce National League Cup". premierleague.com. Premier League. 25 September 2024. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c McLaughlin, Luke (2024-11-14). "National League Cup: a 'sweetener' for scrapping Cup replays or cash lifeline?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
^ Butler, Ryan (2024-10-10). "Sam's Section: National League Cup, what is it and how much do fans and clubs really want it?". Severn Sport. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
^ House, Alfie (2024-09-20). "Eastleigh release firm statement as they refuse controversial National League Cup". Daily Echo. Archived from the original on 2024-09-21. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
^ "National League Cup Launched!". theshots.co.uk. Aldershot Town F.C. 19 September 2024. Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
^ "Club withdraw from Premier League National League Cup". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 25 September 2024. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
^ "ACADEMY NEWS: Under-21s To Take Part In 2024/25 National League Cup". dcfc.co.uk. Derby County F.C. 25 September 2024. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
^ "National League Cup group stage free to air on NLTV". thenationalleague.org.uk. National League. 1 October 2024. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
^ "National League Cup competition to start in October". bbc.co.uk. BBC Sport. 19 September 2024. Archived from the original on 19 September 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
^ "U21s To Compete In National League Cup". fulhamfc.co.uk. Fulham F.C. 19 September 2024. Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.

[5] National League clubs Barnet, Eastleigh, Solihull Moors and Southend declined the invitation to the competition.^[2]

[Reading_F.C.-6] Reading were originally allocated to Group A.^[5] On 25 September, Reading withdrew citing lack of available players and due to the "higher than expected demands on the squad",^[2] adding the "original decision to enter [the competition] was made back in June".^[1]^[6] On the same day, Derby County confirmed their participation in the competition as Reading's replacement.^[7]

[7] Premier League 2 side Reading withdrew from the competition and were replaced by Derby County.^[b]

[info-1] "Premier League and National League announce National League Cup". premierleague.com. Premier League. 25 September 2024. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.

[McLaghlin-2024-2] McLaughlin, Luke (2024-11-14). "National League Cup: a 'sweetener' for scrapping Cup replays or cash lifeline?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-01-01.

[3] Butler, Ryan (2024-10-10). "Sam's Section: National League Cup, what is it and how much do fans and clubs really want it?". Severn Sport. Retrieved 2025-01-01.

[4] House, Alfie (2024-09-20). "Eastleigh release firm statement as they refuse controversial National League Cup". Daily Echo. Archived from the original on 2024-09-21. Retrieved 2025-01-01.

[8] "National League Cup Launched!". theshots.co.uk. Aldershot Town F.C. 19 September 2024. Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.

[9] "Club withdraw from Premier League National League Cup". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 25 September 2024. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.

[10] "ACADEMY NEWS: Under-21s To Take Part In 2024/25 National League Cup". dcfc.co.uk. Derby County F.C. 25 September 2024. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.

[11] "National League Cup group stage free to air on NLTV". thenationalleague.org.uk. National League. 1 October 2024. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.

[12] "National League Cup competition to start in October". bbc.co.uk. BBC Sport. 19 September 2024. Archived from the original on 19 September 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.

[13] "U21s To Compete In National League Cup". fulhamfc.co.uk. Fulham F.C. 19 September 2024. Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[a]

[c]

[b]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[5]

[6]

[7]