All nine teams that have won the EFL Trophy and promotion in the same season as Birmingham and Peterborough eye Wembley glory

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League One duo Birmingham City and Peterborough United will meet at Wembley for the 2025 Vertu Trophy final on Sunday.

It could be an outstanding week for Blues in pursuit of cup glory, with Birmingham fans ‘hungry’ for more success. That’s all while Posh aim to defend their crown, having beaten Wycombe Wanderers last season.

The English Football League Trophy, officially known as the Vertu Trophy has had many names in recent years, including the Papa Johns Trophy, the Bristol Street Motors Trophy, but is now commonly referred to as the Vertu Trophy.

It is an annual English football knockout competition open to all clubs in League One and League Two, but also some U-21 teams from the Premier League and the Championship. The current competition begins with 16 regional groups, each containing four teams and divided between northern and southern sections.

Alfie May’s reaction to promotion says it all, really, but the job isn’t finished for his side. You can see how Birmingham and Peterborough got to the final here in our guide to Wembley. Both have the opportunity to make history, and Peterborough could be first team to retain trophy, too.

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The teams to win the EFL Trophy and promotion in the same season

Should Posh win, they would also become the joint-most successful team in EFL Trophy history with their third win matching Bristol City’s achievement. While Birmingham are chasing records in the league, they can secure a league and EFL Trophy double.

It would mean that feat is secured for the first time in 30 years and only the ninth time ever. Blues would be the first to do so for the second time, however. Here, we take a look at each of the other teams to complete the league and cup double in the same season.

Wolverhampton Wanderers (1987/88)

The competition was still relatively new when Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley met at Wembley. It was goals from Andy Mutch and Robbie Dennison that won Graham Turner’s side the tie on the day during a 2-0 win.

Having fallen short of promotion in 1986/87 via a failed play-off bid, Wolves ended their short stay in the Fourth Division by going up as champions in the same season as they won the trophy, becoming the first team to do so.

Birmingham City (1994/95)

Substitute Paul Tait was the hero for Birmingham when they edged out Carlisle United in 1995. Much like they are hoping for a repeat of in 2025, the celebrations didn’t end there. This time, Blues are looking for a double victory the other way around after winning the title this week.

Two-time winners Birmingham bounced back to the then top-flight at the first time of asking, taking top spot in Division Two, sealing promotion on the final day of the season against Huddersfield Town in a memorable campaign for Blues fans.

Carlisle United (1996/97)

With defeat to Blues two years prior on their minds, Carlisle were looking to right those wrongs when they returned to Wembley in 1997 to face Colchester United in the same final. Inexplicably, it ended goalless after 120 minutes.

It was the Cumbrians who were victorious in the shoot-out, with Carlisle then going on to clinch automatic promotion from the Third Division that same year, finishing third in the standings behind Fulham and Wigan Athletic.

Grimsby Town (1997/98)

Grimsby Town made their debut at the National Stadium in the competition against AFC Bournemouth in a 2-1 win after extra time. Wayne Burnett wrote himself into folklore forever thanks to his goal on 112 minutes.

However, it was straight back to the job at hand in the league for Alan Buckley’s men. Grimsby missed out on a top two finish, finishing third in the Second Division, meaning the play-offs would decide their fate. Upon their second trip to Wembley in a matter of weeks, they narrowly overcame Northampton Town 1-0.

MK Dons (2007/08)

Under the management of Paul Ince, MK Dons had a season to remember at the end of 2008. His side went on a run to make it all the way to the then Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Final, beating Grimsby 2-0. It proved to be just the start for Ince’s rejuvenated side.

That’s because the Dons ascended from League Two, putting the season prior’s play-off woes behind them to secure the title in League Two. They finished five clear of Peterborough and 15 clear of fourth-place Stockport County in the automatic promotion places.

Bristol City (2014/15)

After enduring a 12-year wait to lift a trophy, Bristol City put a stop to their silverware drought and go down as one of the most dominant League One sides to this day. The Robins put their name on the trophy for a record third time, having won the competition in 1986 and again in 2003.

Steve Cotterill’s side struck either side of the break to beat Sky Bet League One rivals Walsall 2-0 in front of over 70,000 supporters. They then pushed through in the league to get over the line in, finishing the term 16 games unbeaten to return to the Championship, where they have remained since.

Barnsley (2015/16)

Barnsley were treated to two trips to Wembley in 2016, with the Reds reaching the EFL Trophy Final and the League One play-off final. Incredibly, they were on the right side of the score-line on both occasions at the home of football.

Paul Heckingbottom’s side had to do things the hard way after it appeared as though relegation to League Two could be a real possibility in the Christmas period. But, after getting themselves into contention for the top six, they went on to beat Millwall 3-1 in the final.

Rotherham United (2021/22)

Only a couple of seasons ago, Rotherham United achieved victory in the Papa Johns Trophy, but also sealed a promotion double in the process. They saw off Sutton United 4-2 at Wembley but took that momentum into their league campaign.

Paul Warne’s side went on to finish second in League One behind Wigan and book their place in the Championship for 2022/23. That ensured they bounced back up at the first time of asking, which has been Rotherham’s speciality over the last decade now.

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The financial reward for winning the Vertu Trophy

Since 1981, sides in League One and Two have competed for the EFL Trophy. It has become more prestigious and financially rewarding since then.

According to the EFL website, the eventual winners of the Vertu Trophy will earn more than just the glory and silverware, but a decent financial kitty to go alongside it, particularly for a Peterborough side who will not taste the financial reward of promotion.

They have every right to feel optimistic about their chances, in spite of the gap between the teams in the league. That could see them receive £100,000 prize money for their glory, with the losing team collecting £50,000 to go with their runners-up medals.

You can read all you need to know about the finances involved in the Vertu Trophy final in our guide.