2022–23 Professional U21 Development League Explained

The 2022–23 Professional U21 Development League is the 11th season of the Professional Development League system.

The Premier League 2 reverted back to a U21 competition ahead of the 2022–23 season.[1] Burnley, Birmingham City and Reading left the league after failing to retain category one academy status.[2] [3] [4]

For the 2022–23 season onwards, player eligibility was restricted to under-21 players (reduced from under-23) born after 1 January 2001. To help with the transition, teams were allowed up to five over-age outfield players (up from three) and one over-age goalkeeper for the 2022-23 season.

Competition:Premier League 2
Season:2022–23
League Topscorer:Carlos Borges
(22 goals)
Matches:182
Total Goals:641
Nextseason:2023–24

Premier League 2

Division 1

Table

Results

Division 2

Table

Results

Play-offs

The date for semi-finals is confirmed as 8 May 2023 at 19:00.[5] [6]
The date for final is confirmed as 15 May 2023 at 19:00.[7]

Semifinals

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Final

Professional Development League

Competition:U21 Professional Development League
Season:2022–23
League Topscorer:Louie Marsh (23 Goals)
Matches:283
Matches Footnote:
(280 RS, 3 PO)
Total Goals:1001
Total Goals Footnote:
(987 RS, 14 PO)
Nextseason:2023–24

The Professional Development League is Under-21 football's second tier, designed for those academies with Category 2 status. The league is split regionally into north and south divisions, with each team facing opponents in their own region twice both home and away and opponents in the other region once resulting in 28 games being played by both divisions. The sides finishing in the top two positions in both regions at the end of the season will progress to a knockout stage to determine the overall league champion. Coventry City are the defending champions.Burnley, Birmingham City returned to the league after failing to retain category one academy status. Reading joined after temporarily dropping to category 2 status.[8] [9] [10]

Tables

South Division

Knock-out stage

Semi-finals----

Professional Development League National Final

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Premier League 2 becomes under-21 competition . Premier League . 27 July 2022.
  2. Web site: CLARETS ACADEMY TO OPERATE AS CATEGORY TWO . Burnley FC . 27 July 2022.
  3. Web site: Blues to operate as Category 2 Academy . Birmingham City . 27 July 2022.
  4. Web site: OUR ACADEMY TO TAKE CATEGORY TWO STATUS IN 2022-23 . Reading FC . 21 July 2022 . 27 July 2022.
  5. News: Leeds United U21 v Aston Villa U21. 2 May 2023 . www.premierleague.com . 2 May 2023.
  6. News: Nottm Forest U21 v West Bromwich Albion U21. 2 May 2023 . www.premierleague.com . 2 May 2023.
  7. News: U21S TICKET AND FIXTURE INFORMATION: NOTTINGHAM FOREST. 11 May 2023 . www.leedsunited.com . 10 May 2023.
  8. Web site: CLARETS ACADEMY TO OPERATE AS CATEGORY TWO . Burnley FC . 27 July 2022.
  9. Web site: Blues to operate as Category 2 Academy . Birmingham City . 27 July 2022.
  10. Web site: OUR ACADEMY TO TAKE CATEGORY TWO STATUS IN 2022-23 . Reading FC . 21 July 2022 . 27 July 2022.