The Johnstone’s Paint Tropy has officially welcomed AFC Wimbledon and Crawley Town to the competition, after the regional groups and byes for the first round were made.
The two promoted sides can now see their names up in lights alongside some of the country’s biggest clubs including Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United and Preston North End.
For AFC Wimbledon, their trophy trail will begin in round two after securing a bye, while Crawley Town will have to work a bit harder, finding themselves in the southern section – east draw for the first round stage.
Carlisle United might be the trophy holders, but they must still enter the action in round one, along with fellow finalists Brentford.
Other highlights include Preston North End receiving a bye, while both Sheffield clubs take their places for round one in an extremely competitive northern section – east group.
The date for the first round draw is to be confirmed, while the first round action will take place on the week commencing August 29.
Byes awarded to:
Northern Section; Chesterfield; Macclesfield Town; Morecambe; Notts County; Oldham Athletic; Preston North End; Rochdale; Rotherham United.
Southern Section: AFC Wimbledon; Aldershot Town; Charlton Athletic; Gillingham; Oxford United; Stevenage; Swindon Town; Yeovil Town
Groups: Northern Section – West: Accrington Stanley; Bury; Carlisle United; Crewe Alexandra; Port Vale; Shrewsbury Town; Tranmere Rovers; Walsall.
Northern Section – East: Bradford City; Burton Albion; Hartlepool United; Huddersfield Town; Northampton Town; Scunthorpe United; Sheffield United; Sheffield Wednesday.
Southern Section – West: AFC Bournemouth; Bristol Rovers; Cheltenham Town; Exeter City; Hereford United; Plymouth Argyle; Torquay United; Wycombe Wanderers.
Southern Section – East: Barnet; Brentford; Colchester United; Crawley Town; Dagenham & Redbridge; Leyton Orient; Milton Keynes Dons; Southend United.
For more information about the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy click on www.johnstonespainttrophy.com