SPFL Development League

SPFL Development League
Founded 1998 (as Scottish Premier under-18 League)
Country Scotland
Divisions 1
Number of teams 17
Level on pyramid 1
Domestic cup(s) Scottish Youth Cup
Current champions Hibernian
(2017–18)

The SPFL Development League was the top level of youth football in Scotland, which was contested in various formats between 1998 and 2018.

History

A youth league was founded as the Scottish Premier under-18 League in 1998. Clubs fielded under-18 teams, with the Scottish Premier Reserve League originally being an under-21 league. The competition was changed in 2003 when it became the Scottish Premier under-19 League. The teams played 22 matches rather than 30.

For the 2012–13 season, the competition changed again, this time to the Scottish Premier under-20 league, there were 15 teams, and teams played 28 matches per season.[1] With the inception of the Scottish Professional Football League for the 2013–14 season, the league become the SPFL U20 League and the number of teams increased to 16.[2] Teams were allowed to field two over-age outfield players and an overage goalkeeper.[3]

The league was renamed the SPFL Development League in 2014, with the number of teams increased to 17.[4] At this time two regional leagues were also introduced, with eight clubs competing in the Development League West and nine clubs competing in the Development League East.[5] The restriction on over-age players was relaxed, with teams now permitted to use five older players in a matchday squad of 18.[6]

The league was dissolved in 2018 and replaced by the SPFL Reserve Leagues.[7]

European competition

From 2015 onwards, the UEFA Youth League provides a qualification route for 'domestic youth champions', in addition to clubs whose senior team reaches the UEFA Champions League group stage.[8] As the age group for the Development League is older than that of the UEFA Group League, Scotland's representative will be the winner of the Under-17 league, which plays competitive fixtures however does not reveal the results and tables publicly to minimise the scrutiny on the young players.[9] In 2014–15,[10] 2015–16,[11] and 2016–17,[12] the winners of the Under-17 league were Celtic; in 2017–18, Hamilton won the title.[13]

Winners

SFL Youth League

Season[14] Winner Runner-up
1993–94 Aberdeen Celtic
1994–95 Celtic Aberdeen
1995–96 Rangers Celtic
1996–97 Dundee United Celtic
1997–98 Aberdeen Dundee United

SPL Under-18 League

Season Winner Runner-up
1998–99 Aberdeen Celtic
1999–00 Celtic Dundee United
2000–01[15] Heart of Midlothian Livingston
2001–02 Rangers Celtic
2002–03 Celtic Rangers

SPL Under-19 League

Season Winner Runner-up
2003–04 Celtic Rangers
2004–05 Celtic Motherwell
2005–06 Celtic Motherwell
2006–07 Rangers Celtic
2007–08 Rangers Celtic
2008–09 Hibernian Heart of Midlothian
2009-10 Celtic Motherwell
2010–11 Celtic Heart of Midlothian
2011–12 Celtic Heart of Midlothian

SPFL Under-20 League

Season Winner Runner-up
2012–13 Celtic Aberdeen
2013–14 Celtic Rangers

SPFL Development League

Season Winner Runner-up
2014–15 Aberdeen Celtic
2015–16 Celtic Hamilton Academical
2016–17 Ross County Hamilton Academical
2017–18 Hibernian[16] Dundee

References

  1. ↑ "SPL to create Under-20 league". STV Sport. 12 April 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  2. ↑ "U20 League fixtures". www.spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 6 August 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  3. ↑ Waddell, Gordon (9 October 2011). "Reserve league football could return as part of SFA plan to revamp Scottish game". Daily Record. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  4. ↑ "Development League fixture list". www.spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 7 July 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  5. ↑ "Development League East & West fixtures". www.spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  6. ↑ Development League kicks off, SPFL
  7. ↑ "Reserve Leagues for season 2018/19". SPFL. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  8. ↑ "UEFA Youth League retained and expanded". UEFA.com. 18 September 2014.
  9. ↑ "Academy Teams". Hearts Youth Development Committee. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  10. ↑ "Celtic Under-17s book European place with title triumph". Celtic FC. 20 May 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  11. ↑ "Aitchison fires in a hat-trick as Celtic U17s seal league title". Celtic FC. 29 May 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  12. ↑ "European football once more for Celtic's U17 champions". Celtic FC. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  13. ↑ "u17s win Elite Youth League". Hamilton Academical Football Club. 13 May 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  14. ↑ Scottish Football Historical Archive Mirror - SFL/SPL/SPFL Youth Leagues
  15. ↑ AFC Heritage - 2000-01 SPL Under-18 League Table
  16. ↑ "Hibs clinch the SPFL Development League title". Edinburgh Evening News. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
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