Trophy Renamed

By: Richard Lord
Date: 15/05/2006

THE Football League Trophy - formerly known as the LDV Vans Trophy and Auto Windscreen Shield - has acquired a new sponsor, reports the BBC.

The trophy, which the Mariners won in 1998, has been re-named the Johnstone's Paint Trophy in accordance with a seven-figure deal between the company and the Football League.

League Chairman Lord Mawhinney said: "This is excellent news and provides a real end-of-season boost for League clubs. All supporters want to see their club competing for silverware and the Johnstone's Paint Trophy gives clubs from Leagues One and Two a cup competition that realistically they can win."

Swansea City were this season's winners, but only after LDV Vans had already withdrawn their sponsorship of the competition.

In April 1998, Paul Groves lifted the Auto Windscreen Shield at Wembley after Grimsby's 2-1 success over Bournemouth. The Mariners had knocked out Chesterfield, Hull, Scunthorpe, Blackpool and Burnley to reach the final.

However, the Mariners haven't enjoyed much success in the competition since. They have been knocked out at the earliest stage for the past three seasons.

Sheffield Wednesday, Carlisle (in the Conference at the time) and Morecambe have all enjoyed victories over Grimsby since the Blundell Park outfit dropped from the first division

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