Deams of treading the Wembley turf can begin in earnest for the sides in League One and League Two.
The road to Wembley begins in the Football League Trophy
Deams of treading the Wembley turf can begin in earnest for the sides in League One and League Two.
The Johnstone Paint's Trophy provides those sides in the lower reaches of the football ladder with an ideal opportunity to experience the highs of competitive action at the home of English football.
Paul Ince led the MK Dons to victory over Grimsby in 2008, with Roberto Di Matteo now charged with the task of successfully defending the trophy.
The Dons have been handed a bye in the first round of the southern section this year, along with Cheltenham, Gillingham, Hereford, Luton, Peterborough, Walsall and Wycombe.
There are a number of intriguing ties to look forward to, though, with League Two new-boys Exeter and Aldershot handed home ties against Shrewsbury and Swindon respectively.
Elsewhere, there are all League One clashes between Millwall and Colchester, Northampton and Brighton and Southend and Leyton Orient.
In the Northern side of the draw, Bury, Carlisle, Chester, Darlington, Huddersfield, Lincoln, Rochdale and Rotherham have all been handed a bye.
That means that the ganes featuring League One title favourites Leeds and Leicester catch the eye.
The Whites face a West Yorkshire derby against Bradford, while Nigel Pearson's Foxes travel to Hartlepool.
Johnstone Paint's Trophy first round draw:
Northern Section First Round
Oldham v Morecambe
Crewe v Macclesfield
Stockport v Port Vale
Tranmere v Accrington Stanley
Chesterfield v Grimsby
Scunthorpe v Notts County
Leeds v Bradford
Hartlepool v Leicester
Southern Section First Round
Bournemouth v Bristol Rovers
Brentford v Yeovil
Exeter v Shrewsbury
Aldershot v Swindon
Millwall v Colchester
Northampton v Brighton
Southend v Leyton Orient
Dag & Red v Barnet
Ties will be played week commencing 1st September.
