Shrewsbury Town will once again be playing games in the Central League Cup during the 2019/20 season.
The games will allow the development team to get some good matches in against decent opposition. The side will be predominately made up from the U18s but will also allow players who aren't in the first team starting eleven to get games.
The draw has seen Town in Group 1 of the competition along with Doncaster Rovers, Huddersfield Town, Rochdale and Rotherham United.
Town manager Sam Ricketts believes the games will be useful to help bring on the young players and also to get the first team game time.
"They are good games to have as a bridging gap for a few first-team lads who need minutes around that time, but it's also a chance for young players to come up", said Sam.
"It's a bit like the old reserve leagues where you get the youth team playing with some senior players and it gives them the opportunity to impress and show what they are all about.
"It continues what we are trying to do with Dave Longwell, we are building a very tight bridge between the first team and Academy.
"We try to use the young lads when we can and they come up and train with us when they can to help integrate the first team and academy as much as we can."
The games will most probably be taken by David Longwell and Joe Parkinson to allow Sam and his coaches to watch on from the stands.
"It will probably be David and Joe taking the games as the side will be mostly made up of lads from the Academy", said Sam.
"I'll generally take a back seat for these games and watch them from up high.
"If anyone had the choice they would watch the game from up high as you get a better view and understanding of the game from there."
Games
Date: Tuesday 1st October, Huddersfield v Shrewsbury Town
Time: 1.00pm
Venue: PPG Canalside, HD2 1YJ
Shrewsbury Town FC v Rochdale
Date: 26th November 2019
K.O. 1:00pm
Venue: Montgomery Waters Meadow, SY2 6ST
Date: Tuesday 17th December – Rotherham United v Shrewsbury Town (13:00 KO)
Venue: Roundwood Pavilion, S62 6LA
Shrewsbury Town FC v Doncaster Rovers
Date: 14th January 2020
K.O 1:00pm
Venue: Montgomery Waters Meadow, SY2 6ST
Ticket details for the home games will be released in due course.