West Ham United U21s will start their 2023/24 EFL Trophy campaign away to EFL League One outfit Bristol Rovers.
The Hammers will travel to Memorial Stadium for the first of three away games in Southern Group H on Tuesday 19 September.
In the competition, which pits clubs from EFL Leagues One and Two with 16 teams representing Premier League Academies, the U21s will then face League One outfit Newport County on Tuesday 31 October, before the group-stage finale at League One Cheltenham Town on Tuesday 7 November.
As per competition rules, West Ham will play all three group matches away from home, with the top two in each of the 16 groups going through to the knockout stages.
Since entering for the first time in 2016/17, when a 17-year-old Declan Rice started our inaugural tie at Coventry City, the furthest the U21s have gone in the competition was the Southern section round of 16, which the young Irons reached in 2017/18 and 2020/21.
Last season, West Ham United U21s finished on six points alongside the top two in Group C but, even after memorable wins over Cheltenham Town and Walsall, were eliminated from the 2022/23 edition on goal difference.
Ticket details will be announced in due course.
U21s Group H fixtures
Tuesday 19 September - Bristol Rovers (A), 7.45pm
Tuesday 31 October - Newport County (A), 7.30pm
Tuesday 7 November - Cheltenham Town (A), 7.30pm
