By Nathan Jackson
July 25 2007

The draw for the first round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy will be made on the morning that the Imps face Shrewsbury Town at home, with the first round being played in the first week of September. City will hope to get past the first round for the first time since the 2003/4 season, although it is not yet known if City will be regionalised or given a bye.

City's recent record in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy has been awful in recent years, going out in the first round to Doncaster Rovers, Tranmere Rovers and Grimsby Town. Our best run in the last few years was making the quarters finals back in the 2003/4 season, going out to a Kevin Sandwith goal away at Halifax.

The last time City made any decent progression in the competition was back in the 2000/1 season when the Imps made the Northern Final, beating Morecambe, Blackpool, Hartlepool and Chesterfield before finally being defeated by Port Vale over 2 legs.

The latest attempt by the Imps to make the final of this competition will commence in the first full week of September with a likely date to be the 4th. City will know their opponents for that date within the next few weeks as the draw is made on the morning of the opening game of the season against Shrewsbury.

It is likely to be regionalised like last season, with the Imps potentially facing trips to Leeds, Doncaster, Bradford or Huddersfield. Alternatively they could just go back to the simple North/South situation of a few years ago, meaning a nice trip to Carlisle could be on the cards.

Draw Dates

Round 1 - 11th August
Round 2 - 8th September
Area Quarter Final - 13th October
Area Semi Final - 17th November

Round Dates

Round 1 - 4th/5th September
Round 2 - 9th/10th October
Area Quarter Final - 13th/14th November
Area Semi Final - 8th/9th January
Area Final 1 - 19th/20th February
Area Final 2 - 26th/27th February
Final - 30th March