The
Johnstone’s Paint Trophy has long been the subject of discussion among football
fans, players, managers and most of all the media.
The
competition has been re-branded more times than anyone cares to remember and it
is not until the latter stages that teams really start to take it seriously. Another
nail in the coffin of its popularity seemed to arrive recently when the ridiculous
rule was implemented, that states a team must start with a certain proportion
of players from the previous league game.
Despite all
these supposed downsides, the competition should be treated with more respect
than it is currently given. Other than an outlandish run in the FA or League Cup
or promotion (which usually is achieved by teams that have large budgets and
are able to rotate line-ups throughout the campaign), the JPT provides the only
realistic opportunity for so-called “smaller clubs” to win silverware.
The prime
example of setting the competition on a high pedestal is Carlisle United. The
Cumbrian club and their supporters would be the first to admit that they are unlikely
to ever have the budget or playing squad to achieve promotion to the second
tier, therefore a larger prominence is always set on the JPT, shown by the fact
they have reached six finals since its inception in 1984.
Some suggest
scrapping the JPT, but what would that mean for clubs such as Carlisle? The
promise of running out at Wembley is one that all players should aspire to, no
matter what competition it is played under.
There is plenty
of positives to look upon. A knock-out competition, that is set regionally
therefore saving time on travelling (especially important for supporters) and
games that are decided on penalties if scores are level after 90 minutes (signalling
an end to unnecessary extra-time)
The JPT may
not be everyone’s cup of tea but it certainly has a role to play for the clubs that
are in the lower tiers; and that is to provide a platform for winning
silverware – no matter what the competition.
Surely that
is the ultimate aim for any professional?
