Enter Scottish And Welsh Sides In Football League Trophy

Enter Scottish And Welsh Sides In Football League Trophy

I think the English Football League should invite Celtic sides into the English Football League Trophy. 

I think that it would be great if there were cross border club trophies played between club sides from Scotland, Wales, England, and Ireland. 

I do not support a merger of the British and Irish leagues as that would destroy our football history and national identity. I would prefer it if we kept our own leagues and European qualification.

But on top of European and domestic football, that we have cross border cup trophies. Like the old Anglo-Scottish Cup type format. My idea is that all the Scottish Premier sides who have not qualified for Europe are given entry into the Football League Trophy. Plus selected sides from the Welsh Cymru Premier, the League of Ireland and Northern Ireland Football League. 

The Football League Trophy is the trophy played by English Football League One and English Football League Two sides. 

I think it would be great idea if Scottish, Welsh and Irish sides could play in the Football League Trophy by invitation. 

I recognize Irish sides might find it difficult to play in the English Football League Trophy. But I do not accept that Scottish and Welsh sides of a certain level would find it too tough to play in the Football League Trophy. 

My idea is that every Scottish Premier side is big enough to travel to England. And every EFL side is big enough to travel to even Northern Scotland, and Western Wales.

Plus if 3 or 4 sides were selected from the Welsh Cymru Premier, then all of those sides would benefit so much from playing EFL sides that they would be able to afford to play EFL sides in an EFL Trophy.

UEFA allowed English, Welsh and Irish sides in the Scottish Challenge Cup. So UEFA would surely be OK for Scottish, and Welsh sides to play in the EFL Trophy.

Some people would claim only English Football League sides should play in the EFL Trophy. My answer to that would be EPL Academy sides have played in the EFL Trophy. And in the past English non-league sides have played in the EFL Trophy. Plus EPL sides play in the English Football League Cup.

People would say that only English sides should play in the EFL trophy. My answer ot that would be that Welsh sides have played in the trophy. My view is that it would add to the status and scope of the trophy if selected Scottish and Welsh sides were invited into the trophy. 

It would cause great cross border banter.

I am not pretending that this trophy would be like Real Madrid v Barcelona. But it would be fun cross border matches.

I think the Scottish clubs would see it as an alternative to when they have not qualified for European football. The chance to play relatively big English sides. The chance to play a part in English football history. The chance to play in big English stadiums. The chance to travel on mass to beautiful English towns and cities. The chance to exploit the passion of the English - Scottish rivalry. The chance to win a cross border trophy. The chance to play different sorts of teams to who they normally play. It would be great for Scottish sides to play top English sides with big stadia.

I think the English sides would also get to exploit the passion of the Scottish - English rivalry. Many teams in EFL League One and EFL League Two have not played in Europe for decades or not at all. So they would get the chance to play against sides in a competitive trophy that they have not played before. They would have the chance to travel to beautiful landscapes and towns and cities in Scotland and Wales.

And it would cost relatively little for EFL sides to take part in this trophy. It would not be too much of a challenge for EFL sides to even travel to Northern Scotland. And every EFL side is capable of travelling to Welsh soccer clubs. 

But in short this would be a fun trophy for English and Scottish sides to test themselves against.

For the Welsh sides this trophy would be off the map transformational. It would be amazing for clubs like The New Saints and Connah's Quay Nomads to play against EFL sides in a competitive trophy. The Welsh love English football. And any trip from any EFL side would be massive for any Welsh Cymru Premier side.

Some would argue Welsh sides would find travel tough. But they would make so much money and status from playing Scottish Premiership and EFL sides that it would counter the cost. It would be transformational for the Welsh sides. It could take them to the next level. It would be massive for Welsh sides. 

This trophy could have great games like Aberdeen v Sunderland, The New Saints v Shrewsbury Town, Dundee United v Aberystwyth, Ross County v Tranmere Rovers, 

Dundee v Carlisle United, Accrington Stanley v Hibernian, Heart of Midlothian v Fleetwood Town, Doncaster Rovers v St Mirren, St Johnstone v Sheffield Wednesday.

Even if English Premier League Academy sides still played in the trophy. Many academy sides would be massive draws for all Scottish Premiership sides other than maybe Celtic or Rangers. Celtic and Rangers get to often play in the group stages of European trophies, so they would not be so impressed with playing academy sides.

But I believe that the academy sides of teams like Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Newcastle United, Everton, Aston Villa and other big English sides with academies would be massive draws, for all Scottish sides other than Celtic or Rangers.

I really think most Scottish Premiership teams would pack out their ground for even the academy side of Man Utd, Man City and Liverpool. 

I think it would be fantastic to play cross border trophies with the English as on top of domestic and European football.

The Scottish Premiership sides who do not qualify for Europe, would benefit from playing in the English Football League Trophy.

I would be happy for Irish sides to play in the EFL Trophy. But I accept that it is difficult for even many full time sides to travel to Ireland.