ALL THE TROPHY FACTS & FIGURES

YOUNG PLAYERS

Over 2,300 players under the age of 21 appeared on team sheets across all 64 teams in the competition. Two thirds of those players are English. In addition, 90% of the players named in the starting XI’s of the invited teams were under 21.

ATTENDANCES

Attendances in the group stages were up 14% compared to 2016/17 and up 8% overall with a total of 194,000 people watching a Checkatrade Trophy match live in 2017/18, excluding Sunday’s final. This compares to 177,850 in 2015/16 and 144,384 in 2014/15.

REVENUE

The prize pot for the season was increased, with a total of £1.92 million (of the £3million) having been allocated in prize money for the group stage. With the introduction of the £20k participation fee, every EFL Club has received prize money in the competition this season. This compares to 96% in 2016/17 and 52% in 2015/16. Following the completion of Semi-Final matches, the following sums have been allocated: £1,420,000 to League One Clubs £1,100,000 to League Two Clubs £290,000 to Category 1 Clubs

STRENGTH OF THE EFL

In the Group Stages, U21 teams won only 10 of their 48 matches against EFL opposition, while just four of the 16 invited teams progressed to Round Two.

TEAM STATS

(courtesy of OPTA) This is Lincoln City’s first ever appearance in the EFL Trophy final, whilst Shrewsbury have reached this stage once before, losing 2-1 to Rotherham United in 1996. This is the Imps’ first ever visit to Wembley. Conversely, Shrewsbury have played there on three previous occasions and lost every time – that 1996 EFL Trophy final and two League Two Play-Off final defeats in 2007 and 2009. This will be the third ever meeting between these two teams in this competition. The Shrews have won both of the previous two, win ning 1-0 in November 1991 and 2-1 in November 2002.