Revamped Trophy continues to bring unwanted records

The mass exodus would begin the moment the factories, mills and schools closed their doors each summer, a direct train link making Morecambe a more attractive proposition to Bradfordians than its more feted neighbour Blackpool.

Affordable foreign travel eventually killed off this lucrative tourist market for the Lancashire seaside town. All these years on, Football League tinkering is threatening to do the same to a competition that, until the advent of the play-offs 30 years ago, was the only realistic route to Wembley for clubs from the bottom two divisions.

Just 827 supporters turned out last night to see Bradford, who had already qualified, cement pole position – and home advantage in the next round – thanks to a double from Haris Vuckic that denied the Shrimpers the required two-goal winning margin to dislodge the visitors at the top of Group C.

It wasn’t the bitterly cold weather keeping the fans away. Far from it, in fact. The Checkatrade Trophy, to give the former Associate Members Cup its new sponsored title, is proving so unpopular that new unwanted records are being set with each round of games. Two-thirds of Tuesday’s 24 ties were watched by crowds of less than 1,000, a damning indictment on the tinkering that was last summer voted through by League clubs whose only excuse can surely be being temporarily blinded by the prize money pot being swelled by 300 per cent to just short of £2m. Whoever came up with these ill-thought-out initiatives clearly had as much understanding of what makes football fans tick as the pollsters did about how the USA would vote in this week’s Presidential election.

Penalty shoot-outs after drawn group games for an extra ‘bonus’ point? No thanks.

Inviting Academy teams from the Premier League to take part? Forget it.

How about introducing a group stage that elongates the first round from one night in August to a three month slog? This week’s shocking attendances surely answer that.

Worse could still be to come, however, for both Bradford and Doncaster Rovers, Yorkshire’s other qualifier after sealing top spot in Group E on Tuesday.

The final – and perhaps most preposterous of all – ‘improvements’ is the regional draws of the Trophy up until the final being abandoned from the third round onwards this season.

For now, Doncaster and Bradford will await today’s 10.30am second round draw knowing home advantage is guaranteed next month.

In City’s case, though, it was a close run thing with it needing a free-kick from Vuckic eight minutes from time to prevent Morecambe leapfrogging Stuart McCall’s men in the table.

Vuckic had given the Bantams the lead shortly after half-time with a clinical finish but that merely stung the Shrimpers into action.

Pulling the strings for the hosts was Paul Mullin, brought off the bench at the interval. First, his trickery and quick feet on the Bradford right created sufficient space to fire past Rouven Sattelmaier.

Then, after City had been caught upfield by a wretched Filipe Morais corner, Mullins released Jack Dunn with a sublime pass that, ultimately, led to Cole Stockton firing in from close range.

Stockton then made it 3-1 with a swift turn and shot that saw the ball fly in off the post but the Bantams had the last word thanks to Vuckic’s exquisite free-kick.

Sheffield United closed their account in the Checkatrade Trophy with a 4-2 win at non-league Grimsby Town last night.

The Blades trailed at half-time, courtesy of Kayden Jackson, in front of just 597 supporters.

Whatever the outcome, both teams entered the game knowing they would not progress from the group stages.

But a youthful United side staged a comeback, with goals from 17-year-old Regan Slater on debut, an Andrew Boyce own goal, and Jack O’Connell.

Craig Disley cut the deficit, before Leon Clarke made it 4-2.