Papa John's Trophy 2022/23: Format, fixtures, results, teams & dates for 2022/23 competition
By Euan Burns
The Papa John's Trophy represents the best chance of a trip to Wembley and some silverware for lots of clubs in English football. It used to be known as the EFL Trophy before the sponsorship led to a name change.
Despite that, it is treated with a certain amount of derision due to the inclusion of Premier League U21 sides. Rotherham are the current holders but 64 teams will compete to reach the final at Wembley on Sunday, March 19, 2023.
Papa John's Trophy 2022/23 teams
The Papa John's Trophy is contested each year by teams from League One, League Two, and some invited academy teams from the Premier League and the Championship.
Many fans of League One and League Two clubs do not like the fact that academy teams from bigger clubs play in the tournament as the teams can occasionally feature players well above the level of the tournament, whilst also not providing a proper cup spectacle.
To avoid playing overly weak lineups in the tournament, EFL clubs must field four players that meet the following requirements:
- Any player who started the previous or following first-team fixture
- Any player who is in the top 10 players at the club who have made the most starting appearances in league and domestic cup competitions that season
- Any player with 40 or more first-team appearances in their career
- Any player on loan from a Premier League club or any EFL 'Category One' Academy club
- A club can play any eligible goalkeeper in the competition
League One sides
- Plymouth Argyle
- Ipswich Town
- Sheffield Wednesday
- Peterborough United
- Portsmouth
- Bolton Wanderers
- Derby County
- Barnsley
- Charlton Athletic
- Shrewsbury Town
- Port Vale
- Exeter City
- Wycombe Wanderers
- Lincoln City
- Fleetwood Town
- Oxford United
- Bristol Rovers
- Cambridge United
- Cheltenham Town
- Accrington Stanley
- MK Dons
- Morecambe
- Forest Green Rovers
- Burton Albion
League Two teams
- Leyton Orient
- Stevenage
- Northampton Town
- Barrow
- Bradford City
- Swindon Town
- Carlisle Town
- Salford City
- Mansfield Town
- Tranmere Rovers
- Doncaster Rovers
- Walsall
- Grimsby Town
- Stockport County
- AFC Wimbledon
- Crewe Alexandra
- Sutton United
- Newport County
- Rochdale
- Crawley Town
- Harrogate Town
- Gillingham
- Hartlepool United
- Colchester United
Invited U21 sides
- Arsenal U21
- Aston Villa U21
- Brighton U21
- Chelsea U21
- Crystal Palace U21
- Everton U21
- Leeds United U21
- Leicester City U21
- Liverpool U21
- Manchester City U21
- Manchester United U21
- Newcastle United U21
- Southampton U21
- Tottenham U21
- West Ham U21
- Wolves U21
Papa John's Trophy 2022/23 format
There is a geographical divide for the invited U21 teams who have been split into Northern and Southern sections with one U21 side in each group.
Overall there are four teams per group, meaning there are 16 groups. Teams play each other once and the U21 side is always away from home. It's three points for a win but if a game ends in a draw after 90 minutes, both teams get one point but there is still a penalty shootout for which the winner gets another point.
The top two teams in each group progress to the Round of 32 and the group winners are drawn against a group runner-up from the same region. The Round of 16 draw is unseeded but still regional.
From the quarter-final stage, there is no seeding or regional consideration which means those from the Northern section can face the Southern section teams.
The Papa John's Trophy will represent a chance to watch live football outside of League One and below during the World Cup as the first knockout round is on November 30 and the next is December 14.
The quarter-finals are set for January 11 and the semi-finals are on February 1. All Papa John's Trophy games are on iFollow but the semi-finals and final will be shown on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event.
Papa John’s Trophy 2022/23 groups
Northern Group A
Position | Team | Played | Win | Won after penalties | Loss after penalties | Loss | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Everton U21 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
2 | Morecambe | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 4 |
3 | Harrogate | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 4 |
4 | Hartlepool | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -4 | 4 |
Northern Group B
Position | Team | Played | Win | Won after penalties | Loss after penalties | Loss | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Bolton | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 7 |
2 | Tranmere | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 5 |
3 | Leeds U21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 4 |
4 | Crewe Alexandra | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -4 | 2 |
Northern Group C
Position | Team | Played | Win | Won after penalties | Loss after penalties | Loss | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Port Vale | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 9 |
2 | Wolves U21 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
3 | Stockport | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -1 | 3 |
4 | Shrewsbury | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -6 | 0 |
Northern Group D
Position | Team | Played | Win | Won after penalties | Loss after penalties | Loss | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Salford | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
2 | Accrington Stanley | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
3 | Rochdale | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
4 | Liverpool U21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
Northern Group E
Position | Team | Played | Win | Won after penalties | Loss after penalties | Loss | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Lincoln | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
2 | Barnsley | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
3 | Doncaster | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 5 |
4 | Newcastle U21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -4 | 1 |
Northern Group F
Position | Team | Played | Win | Won after penalties | Loss after penalties | Loss | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Grimsby | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
2 | Mansfield | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 5 |
3 | Man City U21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
4 | Derby | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Northern Group G
Position | Team | Played | Win | Won after penalties | Loss after penalties | Loss | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Manchester United U21 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
2 | Barrow | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
3 | Fleetwood Town | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
4 | Carlisle | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -3 | 2 |
Northern Group H
Position | Team | Played | Win | Won after penalties | Loss after penalties | Loss | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Burton Albion | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 9 |
2 | Bradford | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -2 | 4 |
3 | Sheffield Wednesday | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -1 | 3 |
4 | Leicester U21 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -4 | 2 |
Southern Group A
Position | Team | Played | Win | Won after penalties | Loss after penalties | Loss | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Colchester United | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
2 | Charlton | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
3 | Gillingham | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 5 |
4 | Brighton U21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
Southern Group B
Position | Team | Played | Win | Won after penalties | Loss after penalties | Loss | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | AFC Wimbledon | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
2 | Portsmouth | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 6 |
3 | Crawley | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
4 | Aston Villa U21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -9 | 0 |
Southern Group C
Position | Team | Played | Win | Won after penalties | Loss after penalties | Loss | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | MK Dons | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
2 | Cheltenham | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
3 | West Ham U21 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
4 | Walsall | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -4 | 0 |
Southern Group D
Position | Team | Played | Win | Won after penalties | Loss after penalties | Loss | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Stevenage | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 9 |
2 | Peterborough | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
3 | Wycombe | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | -3 | 4 |
4 | Tottenham U21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -4 | 1 |
Southern Group E
Position | Team | Played | Win | Won after penalties | Loss after penalties | Loss | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Plymouth | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 |
2 | Bristol Rovers | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 7 |
3 | Crystal Palace U21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -1 | 3 |
4 | Swindon | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -7 | 0 |
Southern Group F
Position | Team | Played | Win | Won after penalties | Loss after penalties | Loss | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Forest Green Rovers | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
2 | Newport County | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
3 | Exeter City | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -3 | 3 |
4 | Southampton U21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -4 | 0 |
Southern Group G
Position | Team | Played | Win | Won after penalties | Loss after penalties | Loss | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Chelsea U21 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
2 | Sutton | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
3 | Oxford United | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
4 | Leyton Orient | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -4 | 3 |
Southern Group H
Position | Team | Played | Win | Won after penalties | Loss after penalties | Loss | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ipswich | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
2 | Arsenal U21 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
3 | Cambridge | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
4 | Northampton Town | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -10 | 0 |
Papa John’s Trophy 2022/23 round of 32
Northern Section
- 22 November 2022 - Burton Albion 1-1 (5–4 p) Tranmere Rovers
- 22 November 2022 - Lincoln City 1-1 (4–3 p) Morecambe
- 22 November 2022 - Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 0-0 (1–4 p) Manchester United U21
- 22 November 2022 - Grimsby Town 0-1 Accrington Stanley
- 22 November 2022 - Salford City 1-0 Bradford City
- 22 November 2022 - Bolton Wanderers 3-2 Barrow
- 23 November 2022 - Port Vale 2-1 Barnsley
- 30 November 2022 - Everton U21 vs Mansfield Town
Southern Section
- 22 November 2022 - Forest Green Rovers 1-1 (3–4 p) Cheltenham Town
- 22 November 2022 - Milton Keynes Dons 3-1 Newport County
- 22 November 2022 - Plymouth Argyle 3-2 Charlton Athletic
- 22 November 2022 - Stevenage 3–2 Arsenal U21
- 22 November 2022 - Peterborough United 2-4 Chelsea U21
- 22 November 2022 - AFC Wimbledon 1-0 Sutton United
- 22 November 2022 - Ipswich Town 0-2 Portsmouth
- 23 November 2022 - Colchester United 1-2 Bristol Rovers
Papa John’s Trophy 2022/23 round of 16
The draw for the round of 16 in the Papa John's Trophy 2022/23 was held on 24 November 2022.
Northern Section
- 13 December 2022 - Bolton Wanderers 4-0 Manchester United U21
- 13 December 2022 - Lincoln City 4-2 Everton U21
- 13 December 2022 - Burton Albion 2-4 Accrington Stanley
- 20 December 2022 - Salford City 1-0 Port Vale
Southern Section
- 13 December 2022 - Portsmouth 3-0 Stevenage
- 13 December 2022 - Cheltenham Town 4-0 Chelsea U21
- 13 December 2022 - Bristol Rovers 4-1 Milton Keynes Dons
- 21 December 2022 - Plymouth Argyle 3-3 (4-3 p) AFC Wimbledon
Papa John’s Trophy 2022/23 quarter finals
The Papa John's Trophy 2022/23 quarter final draw took place on 15 December 2022. The teams were no longer separated by geographical locations.
- 10 January 2023 - Lincoln City 2-2 (1-3 p) Accrington Stanley
- 10 January 2023 - Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Portsmouth
- 10 January 2023 - Bristol Rovers 0-2 Plymouth Argyle
- 10 January 2023 - Cheltenham Town 3-1 Salford City
Papa John’s Trophy 2022/23 semi finals
Plymouth, Cheltenham, Accrington Stanley and Bolton all reached the final four of the Papa John’s Trophy 2022/23.
- 21 February 2023 - Plymouth Argyle 1-1 (3-2p) Cheltenham Town
- 22 February 2023 - Accrington Stanley 0-2 Bolton Wanderers
Papa John’s Trophy 2022/23 final
The Papa John’s Trophy 2022/23 final took place at Wembley on 2 April 2023 and featured Plymouth and Bolton, who triumphed over Cheltenham and Accrington Stanley respectively in the semi finals.
- 2 April 2023 - Bolton Wanderers 4-0 Plymouth Argyle