Hatters’ League Two return is mapped out
THE beginning of the new EFL season and County’s first back in the Football League since 2011 - drew closer this week, as The Hatters learned of their League Two schedule for the 202/23 campaign.
Dave Challinor’s promotion favourites will play host to Barrow on the opening day of the season, with a packed Edgeley Park expected to welcome the National League champions back into the EFL on Saturday 30th July.
A trip to Stevenage follows the weekend after, before County return to the Carabao Cup with a visit to old National League foes Harrogate Town in the first round.
The regular season ends with a tantalising home clash against Hartlepool
United - with no love lost between the two sides after Challinor’s acrimonious exit from the North East to join County last year.
County fans won’t have far to travel over the festive period, meanwhile, with Cheshire rivals
Crewe Alexandra making the short journey to Edgeley Park on Boxing Day, before County travel to Walsall on 29th December.
National League playoff winners Grimsby Town then play host to The Hatters on New Year’s Day to round off the festive schedule.
Meanwhile, in Papa John’s Trophy action, County will do battle in the group stage of the competition with League One sides Port Vale and Shrewsbury - with the group completed by Wolves U21s.
Three group games per side are to be played in total, with Wolves’ youngsters and one of the remaining two sides to visit Edgeley Park.
Confirmation on the exact make-up of the fixtures is to follow prior to the start of the season.
Following on from the EFL fixture announcement, County have also discovered our opponents in both the Carabao Cup and Papa John’s Trophy.
Wolverhampton Wanderers U21s were confirmed as our final opponents in Group C of the
Papa John’s Trophy, joining League One sides Port Vale and Shrewsbury Town. County will face each side in the group once, two at home and one away, with the top two sides in the group qualifying for the next round.
The Carabao Cup First Round draw for the club’s first game in the competition since 2010 will see County take on fellow League 2 side Harrogate Town.
The tie will take place at Harrogate’s CNG Stadium on the week commencing 8th August.
If the match is level after 90 minutes, the game will be decided by a penalty shootout.