The Cards, along with Aldershot Town, Truro City, and Sutton United, will face Premier League U21 sides from West Ham United, Southampton, Fulham, and Brighton & Hove Albion in Group C.

Director of Football, Jody Brown, explained “It’s a positive competition for us, it’s ensures that the squad gets game time, it gives us brilliant access to some of the more local Cat 1 academy prospects, and the prize money available exceeds the FA Trophy and most foreseeable sponsorship revenue. We could follow the narrative, complain and criticise it, or we can accept the change and find ways to benefit from it”.

He added, “It would be great for our supporters to get behind it and help us to go far like our neighbours Sutton United did last year, gaining close to £100k in prize money”.

Our fixture details for Group C:

West Ham – Weds 13th August – 7pm Kick-off

Southampton – Tues 16th Sep – 7pm Kick-off

Fulham – Tues 21st Oct – 7pm Kick-off

Brighton – Tues 25th Nov – 7pm Kick-off

Ticketing info the follow.