Newcastle U21s handed all-away Group F path in Vertu Trophy
Newcastle United’s Under-21s know their opponents for the 2025/26 Vertu Trophy, and the route is as tough as it is familiar. The young Magpies will face Huddersfield Town, Mansfield Town and Harrogate Town in Group F of the Northern section — with all three fixtures to be played away from home.
The draw was made live on Thursday afternoon and sets up a mix of tests for an academy side that wants to show it can handle senior EFL opposition. Huddersfield bring size and experience, Mansfield have recent form against Newcastle at this level, and Harrogate’s compact style has caused problems before.
Fixture dates and kick-off times have been confirmed:
- Tuesday, 2 September — Huddersfield Town (7.45pm BST)
- Wednesday, 15 October — Mansfield Town (7.45pm BST)
- Tuesday, 11 November — Harrogate Town (7.45pm GMT)
There’s recent history here. Newcastle’s youngsters met Mansfield in last season’s group and lost 3-0, a night that underlined how ruthless League One and Two sides can be in this competition. Go back to 2021/22 and Harrogate also beat United’s academy team 2-0. Those results will be in the back of a few minds, and there’s no risk of anyone taking this group lightly.
Last term, Newcastle couldn’t get out of a group that included Bradford City, Rotherham United and Mansfield. It’s a reminder of how fine the margins can be in a format where even a draw can turn into a penalty shootout for a bonus point. But there’s a brighter benchmark too: in 2018/19, Newcastle won all three group games, edged Macclesfield on penalties at St James’ Park, and then ran into Sunderland in the last-16 in front of more than 16,000 at the Stadium of Light.
Format, history and what this Group F means
The Vertu Trophy brings together 16 invited Premier League academy sides and clubs from League One and League Two, split into Northern and Southern sections. Academy sides play all group matches away to protect competitive balance. The group stage is three games per team, with the top two going through to the knockout rounds. If a match is level after 90 minutes, it goes straight to penalties, with a bonus point for the shootout winner.
That twist matters. In a tight group, one shootout can define a campaign. For Newcastle, it’s about starting sharp at Huddersfield in early September, keeping clean sheets, and making set-pieces count — the bread-and-butter areas where senior EFL teams tend to dominate.
Huddersfield will set the tone. They’re usually physical, well-drilled, and comfortable playing at tempo. Newcastle’s young back line will need to manage the first 20 minutes, play through pressure, and avoid giving up cheap free-kicks. If they can quiet the game, they have the technical tools to nick a result.
Mansfield away in mid-October might be the group’s swing fixture. The young Magpies still remember the 3-0 loss there last season. Expect a response built on discipline out of possession and faster transitions. Win the midfield second balls and the picture changes quickly.
Harrogate in November can be awkward. They press in bursts and like to turn games into scrappy battles. On a cold night, the key is composure — make the extra pass, keep the distances between the lines tight, and force the game into Newcastle’s rhythm rather than Harrogate’s.
Selection-wise, academy sides must start a core of U21 players, with limited over-age slots allowed. That gives Newcastle some flexibility to sprinkle experience through the spine if needed, but the focus remains on development: exposing young players to senior intensity, different styles, and real pressure with points on the line.
For the club’s pathway, this competition still feels valuable. It tests center-backs against strikers who relish contact, challenges midfielders to play forward under a press, and asks wide players to win duels with little space. It’s also a chance for goalkeepers to manage crowds, time, and momentum — the small in-game details that academy football can’t fully replicate.
Beyond progression, the targets are simple and measurable: improve game management late on, reduce soft concessions from set-plays, and turn territory into shots on target. If Newcastle tick those boxes, Group F is there to be taken — and a place in the knockouts is very much in reach.
Dates are set, the routes are clear, and it’s three away nights to prove a point. For the young Magpies, this is exactly the kind of test they’ve been waiting for.
