It will be a night of high-stakes football at the VBS Community Stadium in south London, as Sutton United welcome Leeds United’s Under-21s for the inaugural National League Cup Final on Tuesday 29 April at 19:00 BST.
What is the National League Cup?
It is a midweek competition launched this season for 32 teams: 16 Under-21 teams from clubs participating in Premier League 2 and 16 senior teams from the National League, the first tier of non-league football.
The National League Cup is designed to give young players from Premier League and EFL clubs additional opportunities to test themselves against senior opposition, with the aim of further aiding elite player development.
It also offers an opportunity for National League clubs to play regular matches against the best Under-21 teams in England at their own stadiums, with this additional exposure intended to improve the playing and spectator experience, as well as the clubs’ growth and sustainability.
There is a combined £1million prize fund from the Premier League that will be distributed only to National League clubs, who also keep all gate receipts from the competition fixtures.
So, how did the finalists get there?
Sutton United, who are currently mid-table in the National League, finished second in their four-team Group D behind Braintree Town. They pulled off a statement win in the quarter-finals, defeating a strong Manchester United Under-21 side 3-0.
After a goalless draw against Braintree, whom they hadn’t faced in the group stage, it all came down to penalties in the semi-final, where Sutton held their nerve.
Leeds’ Under-21s also had to dig deep to reach the final. They too finished second in their group, level on eight points with Newcastle United and Boston United, but progressed on goal difference. From there, they powered past Aldershot Town (3-1) in the quarter-final and edged Altrincham (2-1) in the semi-final.
Leeds were helped by the attacking presence of Rhys Chadwick-Chaplin, the competition’s current top scorer with four goals.
This isn’t the first time the two clubs have met. They have faced each other twice in the FA Cup, firstly in 1970, and then 47 years later, with Sutton knocking out the then-Championship side.
You can see all the National League Cup results here.
How fans can watch the final
Fans can attend the final in person. Tickets are available on the Sutton United website here.
As an added attraction, the Premier League Trophy will be on display, offering a rare and exciting opportunity for fans to get up close to one of football’s most iconic prizes.
How the Premier League has supported Sutton
The VBS Community Stadium will be more than ready for the big occasion, having benefited from significant investment in recent years through the Premier League Stadium Fund and Football Foundation.
After they sealed promotion to EFL League Two, Sutton United were awarded a Premier League Stadium Fund grant of more than £240,000 for a large-scale redevelopment of their stadium. This included major work on the stands and pitch to meet EFL entry requirements.
Crystal Palace's Women’s Super League side moved in at the start of the 2023/24 season after a separate grant enabled Sutton United to upgrade to a hybrid pitch (combining natural grass with synthetic fibres). The team attracted a record crowd for a Palace Women’s match at Sutton when 1,757 supporters watched them host Man Utd in their final game of 2024.
On top of that, Sutton continue to receive ongoing support from the Premier League via the National League Trust to fund their vital community work.
With new facilities, a buzzing crowd, and silverware on the line, the National League Cup Final is shaping up to be an occasion to remember.
