More than 60,000 fans are set to descend on Wembley Stadium on Sunday for the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Final between Grimsby Town and Milton Keynes Dons.

This weekend's match will be the 25th final of The Football League Trophy, The League's cup competition for clubs from Leagues 1 and 2.

In reflecting on the Trophy's current state of health, Football League Chairman Lord Mawhinney said: "This competition is in great shape, probably the best in its 25 year history.

"Following the changes we made to the competition's format we have seen crowds rise by 21 per cent this season. Largely, because clubs are using these matches to bring a new family audience to midweek cup football.

"As a competition it gives clubs from Leagues 1 and 2 the chance to earn their own piece of cup glory. This is important to clubs as opportunities to win trophies are limited.

"It is even more important to supporters, as demonstrated by the long queues for tickets in Milton Keynes and Grimsby in the lead-up to this match."

The two finalists are set for a financial windfall from Sunday's match with each club set to earn around £350,000 in gate receipts. The winning club will also receive total competition prize money of £100,000.

Northern clubs have held the upper hand over their Southern counterparts, with 14 of the 24 finals to date having been won by the winners of the Northern Section.

Seven clubs have won the competition twice; Birmingham City, Blackpool, Bristol City, Port Vale, Stoke City, Swansea City and Wigan Athletic. No club has won it three times.

Bristol City and Carlisle United have each appeared in 4 finals.

The first final was held at Hull City's Boothferry Park ground and saw Bournemouth, managed by Harry Redknapp, triumph 2-1 over a Tigers' side that included former England Manager Steve McClaren. The crowd for that first final was 6,544.

The competition made its Wembley debut the following season. Having missed out on a Wembley final by one year Redknapp will finally manage a side at the home of English football for the first time in next weekend's FA Cup semi-finals.

The highest attendance at a final is 80,841 for Wolves v Burnley in 1988.

A crowd of over 75,000 attended the last Wembley final (2000) between Bristol City and Stoke City, more than attended the game between England and Brazil at the same stadium a few weeks later.