Birmingham City goal keeper Ryan Allsop has supported Blues since childhood, having been in the Wembley stands to watch Birmingham defeat Arsenal for the League Cup in 2011.

"I remember I used to have soccer school on Saturday mornings and I'd rush home, have lunch and then go to the game with my dad," Allsop told BBC Radio WM.

"I'd always want to go in the Blues shop. I remember getting a shirt and a Beau Brummie [mascot].

"My favourite player was Peter Ndlovu but I loved them all really, Gary Rowett, Martin Grainger, Darren Purse, Michael Johnson, Ian Bennett, Martin O'Connor, Dele Adebola, Stern John, Stan Lazaridis, all these sort of players."

This won't be his first foray onto the revered Wembley pitch - but that doesn't mean it's not unique to the man from Birmingham.

"I've played at Wembley twice before, for Wycombe Wanderers in the League One play-off final and for Lincoln City when it was the Checkatrade Trophy. And I've been on the positive side both times."

"To play at Wembley is a dream - but to do it for your boyhood club is something else."

Darren Carter
Ex-Birmingham midfielder on BBC Radio WM

Yes you want to embrace the atmosphere here at Wembley but you haven't come here to lose and I'm sure Chris Davies will have instilled that into his side.

Birmingham have players littered with experience but this Peterborough side are dangerous.

Glenn Speller
BBC Sport England at Wembley

Here's something you don't see every day, well certainly for the past two or three weeks - it's raining at Wembley!

The sun has been out for much of the day albeit it has been a touch chilly but the skies have darkened over the past hour or so.

No prizes for guessing who didn't bring his coat today...

Who do you fancy to be crowned 2025 Vertu Trophy champions then folks?

Thumbs up for Birmingham, thumbs down for Peterborough.

You can also have your say using #bbcefl on X.

Glenn Speller
BBC Sport England at Wembley

Image source, Rex Features

There may not be a place in Europe up for grabs for the winners this afternoon but there is some history to be had.

For Birmingham they can pull off a unique double of the League One title and the EFL Trophy as well as moving level with Bristol City as being the only clubs to have won the competition three times.

As for Peterborough, they are aiming to become the first team to retain the trophy while they also have the chance to become just the second club to win it on three occasions.

If Posh can get the win then boss Darren Ferguson would also become the first manager to lift the trophy three times.

For those fans of fun facts, along with Ferguson, Lou Macari, Steve McMahon and Kenny Jackett have also won it twice.

Image source, Rex Features

Swedish defender Oscar Wallin had not yet joined Peterborough United when they lifted the trophy last year, having signed for the side in August.

Having been named in the starting XI, Wallin is guaranteed a role to play in the final and it's a rather big deal for the Swede.

With his family making the trip overseas to come and see him in action inside England's biggest stadium, the 23-year-old says the allure of Wembley stretches beyond the British Isles.

"As a Swede we all tend to have our favourite team in England and follow English football," Wallin told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

"We know all the cup finals are played at Wembley, so it's going to be really fun, probably a lot of emotions and feelings, hopefully some positive ones as well.

"A lot of friends and family have reached out to tell me how excited they are as well for this big game. I have some family members coming over to the game, so I think they are as excited as I am."

Image source, Rex Features

Striker Jay Stansfield is among the six changes added to Chris Davies' Birmingham City starting XI from the midweek match.

He's joined by Paik Seung-Ho, Kieran Dowell, Keshi Anderson, Ethan Laird and Ben Davies.

Tuesday's goalscorers Taylor Gardner-Hickman and Alfie May rotate to the bench alongside Marc Leonard and Luke Harris.

Alfons Sampsted and club captain Krystian Bielik are missing from the squad so Christoph Klarer will be the one to bear the armband.

Birmingham XI: Allsop, Laird, Klarer, Davies, Cochrane, Paik, Tomoki, Dowell, Willumsson, Anderson, Stansfield.

Subs: Peacock-Farrell, Hanley, Gardner-Hickman, Leonard, Harris, May, Jutkiewicz.

Image source, Rex Features

Having been defeated by Blues on Tuesday, Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson makes four changes to his side.

Hector Kyprianou comes back in to captain the side, with James Dornelly and Oscar Wallin joining the back line.

Returning in goal is Jed Steer, having missed out in midweek due to a slight knock.

Reserve keeper Nicholas Bilokapic moves to bench alongside Mahamadou Susoho however Tayo Edun, Sam Hughes and Carl Johnston are missing.

The trio are cup tied having played for Charlton Athletic, Stockport County and Fleetwood Town respectively earlier on in the competition.

Peterborough XI: Steer, Dornelly, Fernandez, Wallin, Mills, Kyprianou, Collins, Poku, Mothersille, Odoh, Jones.

Subs: Bilokapic, Conn-Clarke, De Havilland, Hayes, Katongo, Lindgren, Susoho

Glenn Speller
BBC Sport England at Wembley

Image source, Rex Features

The noise levels just went up several decibels inside the stadium with the arrival of the Birmingham team from the tunnel for their warm-ups.

They were given a rapturous welcome with the odd shout of 'championees' which is a reference to them winning the League One title yesterday.

Peterborough's players have been out for a fair few minutes before their opponents, going through their preparations in front of their supporters.

Posh fans may be outnumbered here but are making themselves heard, which is quite an achievement anyway above the Wembley sound system!

Image source, Getty Images

In 1992 Peterborough defeated Stockport County at Wembley in the third-division play-off final to claim promotion.

It's a day that has lived long in the memories of Mick Halsall, who captained the side to victory on that special day.

"I hardly got a kick in that game but it was about getting over the line and no doubt the lads will be thinking the same on Sunday," the 63-year-old told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

"It was absolutely amazing and it was [the same] for the next few weeks. When we could celebrate out among the special fans in Peterborough it was a special day. It meant everything to the fans and hopefully they can do the same on Sunday."

Having begun his career at Birmingham City, the former midfielder admits to feeling "torn" and thinks it will be a "tough" task for Peterborough to get over the line against a high-flying Birmingham side.

But Halsall also believes it's not just a question of quality but also of mettle.

"It's how you cope with the occasion. They are a young side and you hope they won't be overawed by it," he added.

Birmingham part owner and NFL legend Tom Brady is at the game today.

Wonder what he had for his lunch? Pint and a pie maybe?

Image source, Rex Features

Glenn Speller
BBC Sport England at Wembley

Image source, Getty Images

Arriving at Wembley early there were plenty of Birmingham fans in evidence and why not, they've already had a brilliant weekend after being crowned League One champions without kicking a ball.

There have been queues from both sets of supporters to have their pictures taken with Barry Fry who is so synonymous with both clubs while Blues chair Tom Wagner has also been mingling.

This competition may have its detractors because of the introduction of under-21 sides but there can be no doubt if your team gets to the national stadium that is all forgotten about and people are here to enjoy themselves.

Peterborough's season has been more fraught than that of their opponents but becoming the first team to retain this trophy through all its various incarnations would be something to shout about on the way back to Cambridgeshire.

Birmingham's season has been extraordinary.

They not only sealed a return to the Championship on Tuesday, but they were also crowned League One champions on Saturday without even playing!

Already, Blues have cause for celebration but the season is not done yet. They could also beat both the League One record points total of 103, currently held by West Midlands rivals Wolves, as well as the overall EFL record of 106 held by Reading.

That's not to mention the trophy the can lift today - something midfielder Paik Seung-ho says his side have had their eye on since the beginning of the season.

"At the start of the season, we spoke about making the year really special," Paik told BBC Radio WM.

"One of the goals was to go to the final of the EFL Cup and do everything to win it. We achieved to go to the final, just one game left so we will see what happens.

"It's something really special for me, for my family and for Birmingham also."

An incredible 47 points separate the two sides in the League One table.

Birmingham are already champions, Posh aren't yet safe.

But this is a cup final... time to forget about the league for the next couple of hours.

Image source, Getty Images

Birmingham City boss Chris Davies expects that Peterborough will be feeling like a "wounded animal" after their loss to Blues on Tuesday.

Many Blues fans stayed at London Road after the match to celebrate their promotion to the Championship.

Though as to what Davies will be feeling as walks out onto the pitch alongside his title-winning squad, the 40-year-old reckons it will be "extremely special".

"I'll have my family there but the feeling of 50,000 Blues inside that stadium, it will be great," Davies told BBC Radio WM.

"Like most of these sort of things, you don't really soak it in too much in the moment, it will be in the days and weeks and months to come, so I'm sure I'll be actually super focused on what's coming in the game.

"But to get a team there [to Wembley] and lead them out is something that I'll treasure."

Image source, Rex Features

Last year's victory over Wycombe Wanderers was not Peterborough's first time raising the EFL Trophy.

They previously won in 2014 under the guidance of boss Darren Ferguson before he departed in 2015 to join Doncaster Rovers, enjoying another spell with Posh between 2019-2022 before returning again a year later.

Though Ferguson - who also lifted the trophy as player with Wrexham in 2005 - admits that 2024's victory felt more satisfying that the first.

"I didn't enjoy it [the game against Chesterfield]. I enjoyed last year much more. I felt like we played like I wanted us to," Ferguson told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

"Harrison [Burrows] all the way through; scoring two at Wembley, captain, lifting the trophy. It's great memories, that.

"You are making memories. These don't go away, you look back at it and no one can take it away from you."

Image source, PA Media

Fans of both clubs are now piling into Wembley with just under an hour to go until kick-off.

We've heard from plenty of supporters on Wembley Way, now let's get to the pre-match build-up...

If Peterborough United win today, could it all be down to a hard-boiled egg?

Supporter Kevin Chapman has eaten an egg before all four of Peterborough's previous appearances at Wembley - and they've won every time.

The 42-year-old said: "Of all the times we've been, this is the one where I'm least confident going in.

"If it wasn't for the eggs, I'd be expecting a pretty miserable day."

There is only one rule... the egg must be eaten on the stadium's iconic steps.

So, will Posh poach the victory or crack under pressure?

Image source, Kevin Chapman

Dotty McLeod
BBC Cambridgeshire

Joanne and William are a mother and son from Peterborough who will be sitting only a couple of blocks away from the managers.

She has been supporting Peterborough United for more than 40 years.

"I've lived in Peterborough all my life," she said.

The pair are hopeful for another win.

She said: "We did it last year and we can do it again.

"Today is a new game, hopefully because they [Birmingham] won promotion yesterday and they are still celebrating, so hopefully that will be in our favour today."

This is not William's first time at Wembley but he's hoping to see a big win for Posh, and is predicting a score of 3-1.

Chloe Hughes
BBC News

Father and son Bik and Mick Singh are the founders of Blues 4 All - a supporters group for Birmingham City.

"It’s a generational thing for us, my dad took us to Blues matches as a kid," Bik told the BBC.

"When I went to school, everyone else was supporting other clubs, there weren’t many of us going to games. It's in my DNA.

"That feeling that I get being part of the whole Blues family, if I could put it in a bottle and sell it, I’d be a very very rich man."

Mickey said: I’ve got my grandkids here today, I’ve got my son here today, I’ve got my daughters here… it’s a generational thing that we’ve done as a family."

"I’ve been going to Blues for 64 years nearly, it’s a long time."