The Chelsea Development Squad have been drawn to face Forest Green Rovers away in the second round of this season’s Papa John’s Trophy, with ties to be played on the week commencing 29 November.
Forest Green are currently three points clear at the top of the League Two table after 15 games, but were knocked out of the FA Cup in the first round by non-league St Albans City last week.
Chelsea reached the first knockout round by finishing second in Southern Group E, with a 2-1 win at Bristol Rovers sandwiched by draws against Cheltenham Town and Exeter City, who finished top on goal difference.
The Papa John’s Trophy sees leading Academy sides competing against senior teams from the bottom two divisions of the Football League, with these early rounds divided into Northern and Southern sections.
We have already bettered last season’s performance in the competition, when we failed to progress from our group, with our best run taking us to the semi-finals in 2017/18.