2023–24 Professional U18 Development League

The 2023–24 Professional U18 Development League was the 12th season of the Professional Development League system. There were 26 teams competing, divided into North and South divisions according to their region.

Reading regained Category One status in the summer.

North

Results

South

Results

National Final

Season statistics

Top goalscorers

Hat-tricks

;Note
(H) – Home; (A) – Away

Professional Development League 2

The 2023–24 season was the 12th edition of the Professional Development League 2, an under-18 football's second tier, designed for those academies with Category 2 status. The league was 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 30 games played for the North Division, while the South Division played 29 games. The sides finishing in the top two positions in both regions at the end of the season progressed to a knockout stage to determine the overall league champion. Barnsley were the defending national champions while AFC Bournemouth and Fleetwood Town joined the division for the 2023–24 season.

Tables

North Division

South Division

Knock-out stage

Semi-finals

Professional Development League Two Play-Off Final

EFL Youth Alliance

The Football League Youth Alliance sometimes known as League 3 is run by the English Football League under the auspices of the EFL Youth Alliance. 45 teams were scheduled to competed this season, however one team was expelled before the season began. Notts County returned to the league after a 3-season absence, while Wrexham returned to the league after a four-season absence because both teams clubs were promoted back to the Football League. AFC Bournemouth and Fleetwood Town both left because their academies were promoted to Category 2 and as a result both teams joined the U18 Professional Development League 2. Because their parent club was relegated from the National League in their first season, Scunthorpe United were expelled from the league because there was no way their parent club could not promote back to the football league in time. Meanwhile Southend United did not participate because their parent club lost their EPPP license. For clubs that get relegated to the National League, they have two years to gain promotion back to the EFL. Otherwise, they lose their license with the League.

League stage

North-East Division

North-West Division

South-East Division

South-West Division

Merit League Stage

The teams in the Southeast and Southwest Divisions played another ten games to determine the champions of Merit League One and Merit League Two.

Merit League One

Merit League Two

Northeast Division 2nd Phase

Only 4 or 5 games were played but they were added in the regular season averages.

North-East Merit Championship Group

These games include the regular season matches.

North-East Merit Lower Table Round

See also

* 2023–24 in English football

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:2023-24 Professional U18 Development League
2023–24 in English football leagues