West Ham United’s U21s will start their 2024/25 Bristol Street Motors Trophy campaign away at EFL League One outfit Reading after the Irons' first two group-stage ties were scheduled.
The young Hammers will travel to the Select Car Leasing Stadium for the first of three games in Southern Group H on Tuesday 20 August, with kick-off set for 7pm BST.
Following that opening tie, in the competition that pits clubs from EFL Leagues One and Two with 16 teams representing Premier League Academies, Mark Robson’s charges will then face Newport County at Rodney Parade at 7pm BST on Tuesday 17 September, subject to the Welshmen’s progress in the Carabao Cup.
The date and time of West Ham’s final group clash away at Cheltenham Town will be confirmed in due course.
As per competition rules, the young Irons will play all three group matches away from home, with the top two in each of the 16 regionalised groups, eight Southern and eight Northern, going through to the knockout stages.
Newport and Cheltenham will host West Ham in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy for a second season in a row, with the Hammers' respective 1-0 and 4-0 triumphs preceding an eventual round of 16 exit at the hands of tournament runners-up Wycombe Wanderers in 2023/24.
The Irons also previously won 2-1 at Cheltenham Town in the group-stage in 2022/23, and came from three goals down to triumph 5-4 in an incredible group-stage tie at Newport County in 2019/20.
West Ham first entered the EFL Trophy in 2016/17, when it was expanded for the first time to include Category One Academy sides representing Premier League and Championship clubs.
Ever-presents over the previous eight seasons, the Irons reached the knockout stages in 2017/18 and 2020/21, when they were eliminated by Luton Town and Peterborough United respectively in the round of 32.
Ticket details for each of the fixtures will be announced in due course.
West Ham United U21s Bristol Street Trophy Southern Group H fixtures
Reading, Select Car Leasing Stadium, Tuesday 20 August, 7pm BST
Newport County, Rodney Parade, Tuesday 17 September, 7pm BST
Cheltenham Town, The Completely-Suzuki Stadium, TBC
