SWINDON Town will face League One sides Reading and Exeter City in Group G of the 2023-24 EFL Trophy, it has been announced.

Town have met the Grecians plenty of times in recent seasons - including in the 2020-21 EFL Trophy group stage - but the competitive clash with Reading will be Swindon's first since 2002.

Thursday's draw, to take place live on Sky Sports at 11:30am, will decide which Premier League U21 team joins the trio as well as the order in which games will be played.

As an EFL club, Town will play two of their three matches at home in the group stage, with invited academy sides away from home in all three matches.

Thursday's draw will then see one of Arsenal, Aston Villa, Brighton and Hove Albion, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur or West Ham United's U21s join Swindon, Reading, and Exeter in Group G.

Swindon failed to progress from the group stage last season following defeats to Bristol Rovers, Plymouth Argyle, and Crystal Palace U21s.

Town made it through to the knock-out stages in 2021-22 but lost at home to Colchester United.

EFL TROPHY KEY DATES

Group stage match day one – w/c September 4, 2023

Group stage match day two – w/c October 9, 2023

Group stage match day three – w/c November 11, 2023

Round of 32 – w/c December 4, 2023

Round of 16 – w/c January 8, 2024

Quarter final – w/c January, 29 2024

Semi final – w/c February 19, 2024

Final – Sunday April 7, 2024

SCHEDULE FOR FIXTURE RELEASE DAY

9am – League Two fixture release

11:30am – EFL Trophy group-stage draw

2:30pm – League Cup first-round draw