Editing EFL Trophy (section)

==Formats==
===Football League Group Cup===
====1981 to 1983====
32 invited teams from the four levels of the football league were split into eight regional groups of four teams each, with three round-robin games played by each side. The eight group winners qualified for the quarter-finals, and the knockout stages were played as a single leg, with the game going to extra time and penalties if necessary. The final was played on the home ground of one of the two teams.<ref name=812-1>{{cite web |url-status=dead |url=http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/football-league-trophy/1981-1982/results/r1-g1 |title=English Football League Trophy 1981-1982 First Round Group 1 |website=statto.com  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225072658/http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/football-league-trophy/1981-1982/results/r1-g1 |archive-date=25 December 2013 }}</ref>

===Associate Members' Cup===
====1983 to 1985====
The 48 clubs of the [[Football League Third Division|Third]] and [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]]s 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. In each section, the two second-round losers with the 'narrowest' defeats were reprieved and joined the six other clubs in the regional quarter-finals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/football-league-trophy/1983-1984/results/s.r2|title=English Associate Members Cup 1983-1984 Southern Second Round |website=statto.com |access-date=8 December 2018|archive-date=24 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024070153/http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/football-league-trophy/1983-1984/results/s.r2|url-status=dead }}</ref>

====1985 to 1992====
For [[1985–86 Football League Trophy|the 1985–86 edition]], 8 three-team groups were introduced in each of the two sections. Teams played one home and one away game and the group winners proceeded to the regional knockout stages.<ref>{{cite web|title=English Freight Rover Trophy 1985-1986 Northern First Round Group 1|url=http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/football-league-trophy/1985-1986/results/n.r1-g1|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024070205/http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/football-league-trophy/1985-1986/results/n.r1-g1|archive-date=24 October 2014|website=Statto|access-date=30 September 2017}}</ref> This was modified in [[1986–87 Football League Trophy|the following season]], with two teams qualifying from each group, resulting in an additional 'round of 16' knockout stage in each section.<ref>{{cite web|title=English Freight Rover Trophy 1986-1987 Southern First Round|url=http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/football-league-trophy/1986-1987/results/s.r1|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024070201/http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/football-league-trophy/1986-1987/results/s.r1|archive-date=24 October 2014|website=Statto|access-date=8 December 2018}}</ref>

===Football League Trophy===
====1992 to 1996====
For a number of seasons in the early to mid-1990s, the competition ran with seven 3-team groups, two teams in each section receiving a [[Bye (sports)|bye]] into the knockout stages. This was a direct result of the folding of [[Aldershot F.C.|Aldershot]] and [[Maidstone United F.C. (1897)|Maidstone United]] necessitating a reorganisation of the competition to accommodate fewer than 48 teams in the tournament.<ref>{{cite web|title=English Autoglass Trophy 1993-1994 Northern First Round Group 5|url=http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/football-league-trophy/1993-1994/results/n.r1-g5|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303231120/http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/football-league-trophy/1993-1994/results/n.r1-g5|archive-date=3 March 2009|website=Statto|access-date=8 December 2018}}</ref>

====1996 to 2000====
The group phase was abolished for the [[1996–97 Football League Trophy|1996–97 edition]]. The regional sections were retained and 8 teams in each section received a bye to the second round.

====2000 to 2006====
For [[2000–01 Football League Trophy|the 2000–01 season]], 8 [[National League (English football)|teams in level 5 (step 1) of the football pyramid]] were invited to participate in the tournament, resulting in 12 ties in each of the north/south sections in the first round, with only four teams in each section receiving a bye into the second round. The number of invitees increased to 12 from [[2002–03 Football League Trophy|2002–03]], resulting in 14 first-round ties, and two teams in each regional section gaining a bye into the second round.

=====Invited teams=====
The teams from the Conference invited by season are as follows:<ref>[http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/football-league-trophy/2004-2005/results/s.r1 2004–05 Southern 1st Rnd results, and links to other rounds/seasons – statto.com] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106012717/http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/football-league-trophy/2004-2005/results/s.r1 |date=6 January 2010 }}</ref>
* [[2000–01 Football League Trophy|2000–01]]: [[Chester City F.C.|Chester City]], [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]], [[Dover Athletic F.C.|Dover Athletic]], [[Hereford United F.C.|Hereford United]], [[Morecambe F.C.|Morecambe]], [[Rushden & Diamonds F.C.|Rushden & Diamonds]], [[Scarborough F.C.|Scarborough]], [[Yeovil Town F.C.|Yeovil Town]]
* [[2001–02 Football League Trophy|2001–02]]: [[Barnet F.C.|Barnet]], [[Dagenham & Redbridge F.C.|Dagenham & Redbridge]], Doncaster Rovers, [[Leigh Genesis F.C.|Leigh RMI]], Scarborough, [[Southport F.C.|Southport]], [[Stevenage F.C.|Stevenage Borough]], Yeovil Town
* [[2002–03 Football League Trophy|2002–03]]: Chester City, Dagenham & Redbridge, Doncaster Rovers, [[Halifax Town A.F.C.|Halifax Town]], Hereford United, Leigh RMI, Morecambe, Scarborough, Southport, Stevenage Borough, [[Woking F.C.|Woking]], Yeovil Town
* [[2003–04 Football League Trophy|2003–04]]: Barnet, Chester City, Dagenham & Redbridge, [[Exeter City F.C.|Exeter City]], [[Forest Green Rovers F.C.|Forest Green Rovers]], Halifax Town, Hereford United, Morecambe, Scarborough, [[Shrewsbury Town F.C.|Shrewsbury Town]], Stevenage Borough, [[Telford United F.C.|Telford United]]
* [[2004–05 Football League Trophy|2004–05]]: [[Accrington Stanley F.C.|Accrington Stanley]], [[Aldershot Town F.C.|Aldershot Town]], Barnet, [[Carlisle United F.C.|Carlisle United]], Dagenham & Redbridge, Exeter City, Hereford United, Morecambe, Scarborough, Stevenage Borough, Woking, [[York City F.C.|York City]]
* [[2005–06 Football League Trophy|2005–06]]: Accrington Stanley, Aldershot Town, [[Cambridge United F.C.|Cambridge United]], [[Crawley Town F.C.|Crawley Town]], Dagenham & Redbridge, Exeter City, Halifax Town, Hereford United, [[Kidderminster Harriers F.C.|Kidderminster Harriers]], Morecambe, Stevenage Borough, Woking

====2006 to 2016====
For the [[2006–07 Football League Trophy|2006–07 tournament]] onward, the Conference team invitations were abolished. This resulted in the format reverting to 8 first-round matches in each section, and 8 sides receiving byes to the second round.<ref>{{cite web|title=English LDV Vans Trophy 2002-2003 Northern First Round|url=http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/football-league-trophy/2002-2003/results/n.r1|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024070159/http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/football-league-trophy/2002-2003/results/n.r1|archive-date=24 October 2014|website=Statto|access-date=8 December 2018}}</ref>

===EFL Trophy===
====2016 to present====
64 teams enter from Round One; all 48 teams from levels three and four of the football pyramid ([[EFL League One|League One]] and [[EFL League Two|League Two]]), along with 16 category 1 Premier League and [[EFL Championship]] academy/under-21 sides. 16 regional groups of four teams split evenly 8 northern and 8 southern. Each of the groups contains one academy team. The top two from each group progress to the knockout stages; up to and including the quarter-final the tournament remains regionalised before becoming an open draw from the semi-finals onwards.<ref name="format">{{cite web |title=EFL Trophy Regulations |date=9 January 2024 |url=https://www.efl.com/news/2024/january/09/bristol-street-motors-trophy--quarter-final-draw/ |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=11 January 2024 |publisher=English Football League}}</ref>

During the group phase, if the scores are level at the end of the match, then penalties are taken immediately without recourse to extra time. The winning team is awarded 2 points and the losing team 1 point.<ref name=format /> During the knock-out phase, up to but not including the final, if the scores are level at the end of the match the winner is decided by penalties. In the final, if the scores are equal after 90 minutes an extra 30 minutes are played and if still equal the winner is then decided by penalties.<ref name=format />

=====Academy teams=====
The following academy teams have competed:
* '''Current''' ([[2023–24 EFL Trophy|2023–24]]): [[Arsenal F.C. Under-23s and Academy|Arsenal]] (since 2018–19), [[Aston Villa Under-23s and Academy|Aston Villa]] (since 2019–20), [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.#Development squad and youth team|Brighton & Hove Albion]] (since 2016–17), [[Chelsea F.C. Reserves and Academy|Chelsea]] (since 2016–17), [[Crystal Palace F.C. Under-23s and Academy|Crystal Palace]] (since 2021–22), [[Everton F.C. Reserves and Academy|Everton]] (from 2016–17 to 2019–20 and since 2021–22), [[Fulham F.C. Academy|Fulham]] (from 2017–18 to 2020–21 and since 2023–24), [[Leicester City F.C. Reserves and Academy|Leicester City]] (since 2016–17), [[Liverpool F.C. Reserves and Academy|Liverpool]] (since 2019–20), [[Manchester City F.C. EDS and Academy|Manchester City]] (since 2017–18), [[Manchester United F.C. Reserves and Academy|Manchester United]] (since 2019–20), [[Newcastle United F.C. Reserves and Academy|Newcastle United]] (since 2017–18), [[Nottingham Forest F.C. Under-23s, Under-18s and Academy|Nottingham Forest]] (since 2023–24), [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Reserves and Academy|Tottenham Hotspur]] (from 2017–18 to 2019–20 and since 2021–22), [[West Ham United F.C. Reserves and Academy|West Ham United]] (since 2016–17), [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Development Squad and Academy|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] (from 2016–17 and since 2018–19)
* '''Former''': [[Blackburn Rovers F.C. Reserves and Academy|Blackburn Rovers]] (from 2016–17), [[Derby County F.C.#Under-21 squad|Derby County]] (from 2016–17), [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]] (from 2016–17 and from 2019–20 to 2020–21), [[Leeds United F.C. Reserves and Youth Team|Leeds United]] (from 2021–22 to 2022–23), [[Middlesbrough F.C. Reserves and Academy|Middlesbrough]] (from 2016–17 to 2018–19), [[Reading F.C. Under-21s and Academy|Reading]] (from 2016–17 to 2017–18), [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] (from 2016–17 to 2022–23), [[Stoke City F.C. Reserves and Academy|Stoke City]] (from 2016–17 to 2018–19), [[Sunderland A.F.C. Reserves and Academy|Sunderland]] (from 2016–17 to 2017–18), [[Swansea City A.F.C. Under-21s|Swansea City]] (from 2016–17 to 2018–19), [[West Bromwich Albion]] (from 2016–17 to 2018–19 and from 2020–21)