Runners up for the past 2 years Oxford United enter the Checkatrade Trophy campaign this evening against Stevenage away at Broadhall Way.
Last season EFL fans were upset with the inclusion of Premiership and Championship U21 academy sides. Even though fans have dwindled in support of the competition over the years. T
hey see this as an attempt by bigger clubs to get 2nd string teams into the football league.
The competition has struggled to get major sponsorship which has resulted in clubs in the early rounds getting very little or no financial benefits. Teams have tended to field understrength teams prioritising league, FA Cup and League Cup matches over this competition.
With money being waved under the noses of the EFL board a deal was struck that would benefit the development of the academies youngsters with the EFL teams of league 1 and league 2 benefiting financially.
However fans see this as short term gain of their clubs and last season stayed away in the thousands in protest of the arrangement.
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