In October, a new competition will make its maiden appearance. The National League Cup consists of 16 teams from the National League and 16 under-21 Premier League clubs battling it out for glory.
What’s the format of the competition?
The teams that finished in the top 14 of the fifth-tier table that failed to achieve promotion last season, plus the two teams that suffered relegation from the fourth tier, will take part in the competition.
As previously mentioned, they will compete against under-21 teams from the Premier League, which includes the likes of Manchester United, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.
Introducing the National League Cup 👋
We are delighted to announce an exciting new competition which kicks off next month 🏆
🔗 https://t.co/ZR2HF6149k@premierleague | #TheVanarama pic.twitter.com/NR0OOlkkHU
— The National League (@TheVanaramaNL) September 19, 2024
However, it is not that simple, as Barnet, Eastleigh, AFC Fylde, Solihull Moors and Southend United have all decided to pull out of the competition.
Dagenham & Redbridge, Wealdstone, Woking and Ebbsfleet will take part instead, as will Reading’s under-21 team.
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The competition will start with a group stage consisting of eight groups of four teams, with the top two teams qualifying for the knockout phase.
All the matches will be played at the non-league club’s grounds, with the fifth-tier teams keeping the profit from the games, just the same as the EFL Trophy, which some observers have compared with the competition.
Reportedly, the prize money for the competition is £1m, provided by the Premier League, with all proceeds going to the fifth-tier teams that take part.
Executives pleased with the new competition
Talking about the new competition, the Premier League Chief Football Officer Tony Scholes said: “We’re excited to launch this new competition in partnership with the National League.
The competition will provide additional opportunities for young players in the under 17-21 age groups to gain valuable experience of playing against First Team opposition, something many of our current Premier League stars have experienced in their development.
“We’re pleased to be able to support in the operation of the competition and look forward to seeing the wider benefits it will bring to National League clubs.”
While his National League counterpart Mark Ives echoed similar sentiments about the competition, saying: “This new competition presents another exciting chapter in our partnership with the Premier League. Our sides will have a great opportunity to compete against some of the best Academy Players in the country.
“We’re excited to be working closer with the Premier League on the operational side of the new competition and look forward to continuing our valued partnership further.”
However, the competition is definitely not universally loved, which is evident by the fact that so many clubs have withdrawn from it before it has even kicked off.
The general feeling amongst the clubs that have pulled out is that their clubs are being almost used. Eastleigh, one of the clubs that pulled out of the competition, has written a lengthy statement explaining its reasons for their refusal to take part in the competition.
Eastleigh Football Club would like to issue the following statement regarding The National League Cup: 👇
— Eastleigh FC (@EastleighFC) September 20, 2024
Here is a snippet of that statement: “Our clubs are being under-valued, and far too many have not survived in the game when there is more money than ever flowing into it. This needs addressing and this competition increases the huge divide which currently exists.”
“This competition which we feel benefits the richest in the game at the expense of the poorest, many of whom are fighting to survive, so on balance, we feel the right decision for clubs and fans at this level is to withdraw from the competition”.
Is the National League Cup good for the fifth-tier participants?
It is always hard to judge whether a new competition will be a success or not. However, looking in and taking in the opinions of some of the fifth-tier participants who pulled out, such as Eastleigh and also Fylde, it feels like the Premier League clubs are finding a cheap way of looking like they are helping the non-league clubs.
However, the games will benefit them far more because their youngsters will get to play proper games against more challenging opponents than they do in the Premier League 2.
Many observers have criticised the Premier League 2, as it doesn’t sufficiently prepare players for football in the professional game. That is why so many young players are sent out on loan to lower-league teams.
The Premier League clubs will claim that the fifth-tier sides will profit financially. However, what about the strain on their first-team squads? Most fifth-tier clubs don’t have massive squads.
Playing in the competition could well hamper their league campaigns and stretch their squads to the limit. The teams could, for example, lose a star player through injury, which could be the difference in getting the team promoted to the EFL or even beating the drop in the fifth tier.
If the National League Cup lasts, no doubt in time, this competition will likely have the same trajectory as the EFL Trophy. Whether it will be good for non-league football is a matter of opinion and depends on who is asked on the subject.
Will the National League Cup be good for the fifth-tier participants?