Our young Blues have been drawn in Southern Group G and our first fixture in the competition is away at Sutton United this evening with Mark Robinson’s men looking to get off to a good start.

Our opponents

Tonight’s opponents have had a mixed start to the season with two wins, two draws and two defeats from their opening six games of the season, though they are unbeaten in their last two games.

Currently sitting 13th in League Two, The Us will provide our boys with a stern test at the VBS Community Stadium tonight.

Mark Robinson’s words

Mark Robinson, who was in charge of AFC Wimbledon for two separate campaigns in the competition, gave his thoughts on how managing the Academy in the tournament will be a different test.

'I am really looking forward to seeing how our lads deal with the challenges this competition brings,' he told us.

'As first team manager at my previous club, we had the youngest squad in the country so every game was a learning experience anyway but you only have to look at a lot of the results the Under-21 teams experience to see these games offer very different challenges to our normal games programme.'

He went on to add: 'Having the ability to overcome these tests is absolutely fundamental if our lads are going to have a career in the game. It would be great if there is a good-sized, noisy crowd as well. Performing under these different pressures is brilliant for our players.'

Mason Burstow's words

Mason Burstow signed for our development squad earlier in the year but he was loaned back to Charlton for the remainder of last season. The young striker has featured in all the development squad games so far and is keen to impress in a competition which gave him recognition.

'I have settled in well, the boys are a great bunch of people and I fit in well,' he said. 'I am just working hard to progress every day and work towards achieving the targets I set myself as well as the coaching team.'

He added: 'I am looking forward to this game in a competition that I know well and it will be a real battle between technical ability and physical strength. We need to be ready to compete and fight for every ball.'

Burstow found the net on three occasions as Charlton were quarter-finalists in last year's competition.

Chelsea Papa Johns Trophy group stage dates

All our group stage fixtures will be completed by Tuesday 18 October and any changes to the dates of any games will be notified. All three games in the group stage are played away by the invited Academy teams. The top two advance to the knockout round.

Matchday 1: vs Sutton United (A) – Wednesday 31 August 2022.

Matchday 2: vs Oxford United (A) – Tuesday 4 October 2022.

Matchday 3: vs Leyton Orient (A) – Tuesday 18 October 2022.