Northampton to take on Leicester City in Carabao Cup and Brighton academy side in EFL Trophy

Northampton will visit Leicester City in the First Round of the Carabao Cup and take on the Brighton junior team in the EFL Trophy.

On a busy day in the EFL with the announcement of the new season and draws for the Carabao Cup First Round and the academy sides added to the EFL Trophy, the Cobblers’ fixture list now sees the addition of games against the Foxes and the junior Seagulls.

The Cobblers’ trip to Leicester for the Carabao Cup First Round will serve as the season opener, taking place on the weekend around Saturday August 8th. A specific date, kick-off time, details of TV coverage and ticket information will take place in due course.

Leicester were relegated from last season’s Championship and are preparing for life in League One under the management of Russell Martin, with the relegation happening 10 years on from the Foxes’ famed Premier League title win.

The meeting at the King Power Stadium will be Northampton’s first meeting with Leicester since the 2008/09 season, which was a campaign when both sides were in League One. The Cobblers are yet to win a competitive meeting with Leicester.

Meanwhile, the EFL Trophy group stage has also been rounded off with Brighton and Hove Albion’s academy side added to Northampton’s group.

A pre-draw had confirmed that the Cobblers would be paired in the competition’s Southern Section’s Group G along with League One newboys Cambridge United and Northampton’s fellow League 2 outfit Gillingham.

The opening fixture will take place in September, with specific dates for the three group stage matches to be confirmed in due course.