Welcome to the EFL Trophy: A Predictable Flop That Nobody Asked For

This article originally appeared on VICE Sports UK.

Following its opening round of games on Tuesday night, the Checkatrade Trophy has generated considerable press coverage. It is fair to say that absolutely none of it has been positive, but any attention is good – right?

Initially named the EFL Trophy – you may wish to joke about it sounding like an award handed out by an energy supplier, or by far-right street protest dicks – it became the Checkatrade Trophy in deference to its new sponsors, who are not shy of defending the product on social media.

The EDF Trophy Checkatrade Trophy is contested by Football League clubs from levels three and four, as well as a selection of academy sides from the Premier League and Championship. As such, it is seen as living manifestation of B-Teams in the football pyramid, a move long considered anathema to the English game. Little surprise that this has gone down like a weighty lead turd.

Of course, the competition is not a bouncing new baby boy, more a gruesome re-working of the slowly dying Johnstone's Paint Trophy. This is a corpse re-animated with an extra arm stitched on to its arse, and a few earlobes inside its mouth. It's a rebirth that no one really wanted, but sod what you think, football fans, you're having it anyway.

That, however, is not an approach likely to attract great numbers of supporters to attend games. Indeed, there is considerable anger about the new format, with protest groups formed and angry fans mobilised – or demobilised, as the case may be. In particular, the Against League 3 group have been vocal in their opposition, with fans using the hashtag #BTeamBoycott on Twitter to voice their solidarity. This bore fruit on the opening night of the new format, with poor attendances blighting the EDL Trophy Checkatrade Trophy.

The numbers are truly damning. Fleetwood Town had a paltry 392 supporters at their Highbury Stadium when they played Blackburn's under-23 side. By way of contrast, their opening Johnstone's Paint Trophy match last season drew a comparatively healthy crowd of 1,267.

There were lacklustre numbers elsewhere: Bolton had a record-low attendance of 1,540 for their meeting with Everton under-23s at a stadium that can hold in excess of 28,000 (as BoltonNews.co.uk put it, "fans boycotted the Checkatrade Trophy in their droves"). Meanwhile Wimbledon pulled in 461 for the visit of Swansea under-23s, while Accrington Stanley had 585 at the Crown Ground when Crewe came to visit. 1,198 watched Port Vale's meeting with Derby under-21s, the Valiants' lowest attendance in 30 years.

Above: swathes of empty seats at Bolton's Macron Stadium

To add to the farcical nature of opening night, a pair of managers named themselves as subs, despite having long called time on their playing careers. 43-year-old Wycombe Wanderers boss Gareth Ainsworth came on against Northampton, marking a return to the pitch three years after his official retirement (he even set up a goal). Exeter manager Paul Tisdale also named himself on the bench, though he did not end his own exile from competitive football. Ethan Ampadu – 28 years his junior – was also among the Exeter subs, one of several pre-GCSE students named in squads up and down the country.

Clearly, these are not good signs: fans are actively staying away from games and lower-league managers are treating them semi-seriously at best. Perhaps there is a different mentality at the Premier League and Championship sides who are fielding youngsters – after all, the stated intention of their inclusion is to blood developing English talent. That said, a 36-year-old from Poland, a 29-year-old Tunisian, and a 27-year-old Spaniard all appeared in Leicester's side, while a 28-year-old Frenchman bagged a hat-trick for Norwich under-23s. None of them are ever likely to be of use to Big Sam.

While some lower-league fans turned out because they support their side "through thick and thin", that reasoning seems dubious given that B-teams pose a genuine threat to the long-term sustainability of small football clubs.

It's clear that more people stayed away than made the trip. Perhaps they did so in readiness for tonight's closing of the Transfer Window, which is of course more important than the real football. Or maybe they have called bullshit on an idea which has almost no support among the people who come through the gates. It would seem they have spoken with their feet – and those in positions of power would be wise to listen to the eery silence in their stadiums.

@Jim_Weeks