The 2023–24 Professional U21 Development League was the 12th season of the Professional Development League system.
Season | 2023–24 |
---|---|
Champions | Tottenham Hotspur U21s |
Matches played | 275 (260 RS, 15 PO) |
Goals scored | 1,104 (4.01 per match) (1026 RS, 78 PO) |
Top goalscorer | Will Lankshear Tottenham Hotspur U21s (18 goals) (5 playoffs) (23 total goals) |
Biggest home win | Manchester United U21s 10–1 Stoke City U21s (26 August 2023) |
Biggest away win | Leeds United U21s 1–7 Crystal Palace U21s (3 November 2023) Manchester City U21s 0–6 Norwich City U21s (17 December 2023) Newcastle United U21s 1–7 Chelsea U21s (8 March 2024) |
Highest scoring | Manchester United U21s 10-1 Stoke City U21s (26 August 2023) |
Longest winning run | 11 Matches Tottenham Hotspur U21s August 12, 2023–January 27, 2024 |
Longest unbeaten run | 12 Matches Tottenham Hotspur U21s 12 August 2023–17 February 2024 |
Longest winless run | 12 Matches Leeds United U21s 22 September 2023–8 April 2024 |
Longest losing run | 5 Matches Leeds United U21s 19 February 2024-8 April 2024 |
Highest attendance | 4,182 Tottenham Hotspur U21s 3–1 Sunderland U21s (26 May 2024) |
Lowest attendance | 32 Reading U21s 3–0 Manchester City U21s (26 April 2024) |
← 2022–23 2024–25 →
All statistics correct as of 20 March 2024. |
The Premier League 2 changed format for 2023–24 with one division instead of two.[1]
Premier League 2
editTable
editPos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Tottenham Hotspur U21s (C) | 20 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 54 | 28 | +26 | 46 | Qualification to the Elimination Playoffs and Premier League International Cup |
2 | West Ham United U21s | 20 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 53 | 29 | +24 | 42 | |
3 | Fulham U21s | 20 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 52 | 30 | +22 | 38 | |
4 | Chelsea U21s | 20 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 53 | 32 | +21 | 36 | |
5 | Arsenal U21s | 20 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 47 | 33 | +14 | 36 | |
6 | Reading U21s | 20 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 35 | 35 | 0 | 35 | |
7 | Sunderland U21s | 20 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 45 | 32 | +13 | 34 | |
8 | Liverpool U21s | 20 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 34 | 27 | +7 | 33 | |
9 | Crystal Palace U21s | 20 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 49 | 42 | +7 | 31 | |
10 | Wolverhampton Wanderers U21s | 20 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 39 | 36 | +3 | 31 | |
11 | Middlesbrough U21s | 20 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 38 | 39 | −1 | 31 | |
12 | Manchester United U21s | 20 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 56 | 43 | +13 | 29 | |
13 | Brighton & Hove Albion U21s | 20 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 35 | 38 | −3 | 29 | Qualification to the Elimination Playoffs |
14 | Nottingham Forest U21s | 20 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 30 | 33 | −3 | 28 | |
15 | Blackburn Rovers U21s | 20 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 41 | 58 | −17 | 27 | |
16 | Aston Villa U21s | 20 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 40 | 48 | −8 | 25 | |
17 | Southampton U21s | 20 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 43 | 47 | −4 | 24 | |
18 | Norwich City U21s | 20 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 43 | 42 | +1 | 23 | |
19 | Stoke City U21s | 20 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 38 | 55 | −17 | 23 | |
20 | Leicester City U21s | 20 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 33 | 41 | −8 | 20 | |
21 | West Bromwich Albion U21s | 20 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 24 | 36 | −12 | 19 | |
22 | Newcastle United U21s | 20 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 29 | 46 | −17 | 19 | |
23 | Manchester City U21s | 20 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 32 | 50 | −18 | 18 | |
24 | Leeds United U21s | 20 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 28 | 48 | −20 | 18 | |
25 | Everton U21s | 20 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 25 | 40 | −15 | 17 | |
26 | Derby County U21s | 20 | 5 | 1 | 14 | 30 | 38 | −8 | 16 |
Results
editElimination Playoffs
editRound of 16 | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||||||||||
1 | Tottenham Hotspur U21s | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
16 | Aston Villa U21s | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Tottenham Hotspur U21s | 3 (5) | |||||||||||||||||
8 | Liverpool U21s | 3 (4) | |||||||||||||||||
8 | Liverpool U21s | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
9 | Crystal Palace U21s | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Tottenham Hotspur U21s | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Chelsea U21s | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Arsenal U21s | 6 | |||||||||||||||||
12 | Manchester United U21s | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Arsenal U21s | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Chelsea U21s | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Chelsea U21s | 5 | |||||||||||||||||
13 | Brighton & Hove Albion U21s | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Tottenham Hotspur U21s | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Sunderland U21s | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Reading U21s | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
11 | Middlesbrough U21s | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Reading U21s | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
14 | Nottingham Forest U21s | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Fulham U21s | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
14 | Nottingham Forest U21s | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Reading U21s | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Sunderland U21s | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Sunderland U21s | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | Wolverhampton Wanderers U21s | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Sunderland U21s | 3 (5) | |||||||||||||||||
2 | West Ham United U21s | 3 (3) | |||||||||||||||||
2 | West Ham United U21s | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
15 | Blackburn Rovers U21s | 1 |
Round of 16
editArsenal U21s | 6–2 | Manchester United U21s |
---|---|---|
|
Report |
Chelsea U21s | 5–4 (a.e.t.) | Brighton & Hove Albion U21s |
---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Reading U21s | 2–0 | Middlesbrough U21s |
---|---|---|
|
Report |
Tottenham Hotspur U21s | 4–3 (a.e.t.) | Aston Villa U21s |
---|---|---|
|
Report |
Fulham U21s | 0–2 | Nottingham Forest U21s |
---|---|---|
Report |
|
Quarterfinals
editArsenal U21s | 2–3 | Chelsea U21s |
---|---|---|
Lewis-Skelly 13' Butler-Oyedeji 55' |
Report | Diego Moreira 45+2', 80', 90+5' |
Reading U21s | 3–1 | Nottingham Forest U21s |
---|---|---|
Wareham 8' (pen.) Clarke 33', 67' |
Report | Esapa Osong 38' |
Tottenham Hotspur U21s | 3–3 (a.e.t.) | Liverpool U21s |
---|---|---|
Report |
|
|
Penalties | ||
5–4[6] |
Semifinals
editReading U21s | 3–4 (a.e.t.) | Sunderland U21s |
---|---|---|
Report |
|
Final
editProfessional Development League
editSeason | 2023–24 |
---|---|
Champions | Sheffield United U21s |
Matches played | 313 (310 RS, 3 PO) |
Goals scored | 1,200 (3.83 per match) (1189 RS, 11 PO) |
Top goalscorer | Daniel Adu-Adjei AFC Bournemouth U21s, Patrick Casey Charlton Athletic U21s (18 Goals) |
Biggest home win | Millwall U21s 7–0 Watford U21s (March 11, 2024), Queens Park Rangers U21s 7–0 Crewe Alexandra U21s (April 9, 2024) |
Biggest away win | Ipswich Town U21s 1–8 Charlton Athletic U21s (February 13, 2024) |
Highest scoring | Fleetwood Town U21s 4–6 Crewe Alexandra U21s (September 26, 2023), Charlton Athletic U21s 5–5 Cardiff City U21s (November 27, 2023), Ipswich Town U21s 7–3 Swansea City U21s (February 20, 2024) |
Longest winning run | 5 Matches Millwall U21s Sheffield United U21s |
Longest unbeaten run | 10 Matches Birmingham City U21s |
Longest winless run | 14 Matches Colchester United U21s |
Longest losing run | 11 Matches Colchester United U21s |
← 2022–23 2024–25 → |
The Professional Development League 2 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 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 will progress to a knockout stage to determine the overall league champion. Millwall are the defending champions.
21 Teams competed in the league this season, one more team than the previous season. Reading U21s regained Category One status in the summer leaving the league after one solitary season.[12] Meanwhile, AFC Bournemouth U21s,[13] and Fleetwood Town U21s[14] join the league for the very first time as both Academies reaches Category Two status for the 2023-24 season.
Tables
editNorth Division
editPos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sheffield United U21s | 30 | 19 | 6 | 5 | 83 | 34 | +49 | 63 | Qualification for Knock-out stage |
2 | Birmingham City U21s | 30 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 59 | 36 | +23 | 55 | |
3 | Sheffield Wednesday U21s | 30 | 16 | 6 | 8 | 58 | 34 | +24 | 54 | |
4 | Barnsley U21s | 30 | 17 | 3 | 10 | 65 | 44 | +21 | 54 | |
5 | Hull City U21s | 30 | 14 | 3 | 13 | 59 | 63 | −4 | 45 | |
6 | Burnley U21s | 30 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 53 | 57 | −4 | 42 | |
7 | Fleetwood Town U21s | 30 | 13 | 3 | 14 | 48 | 58 | −10 | 42 | |
8 | Peterborough United U21s | 30 | 7 | 6 | 17 | 47 | 73 | −26 | 27 | |
9 | Wigan Athletic U21s | 30 | 7 | 5 | 18 | 44 | 66 | −22 | 26 | |
10 | Coventry City U21s | 30 | 7 | 5 | 18 | 41 | 67 | −26 | 26 | |
11 | Crewe Alexandra U21s | 30 | 5 | 4 | 21 | 37 | 90 | −53 | 19 |
South Division
editPos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Millwall U21s | 29 | 17 | 8 | 4 | 80 | 45 | +35 | 59 | Qualification for Knock-out stage |
2 | Swansea City U21s | 29 | 16 | 3 | 10 | 72 | 49 | +23 | 51 | |
3 | AFC Bournemouth U21s | 29 | 16 | 3 | 10 | 60 | 45 | +15 | 51 | |
4 | Queens Park Rangers U21s | 29 | 14 | 7 | 8 | 66 | 43 | +23 | 49 | |
5 | Ipswich Town U21s | 29 | 14 | 4 | 11 | 63 | 59 | +4 | 46 | |
6 | Watford U21s | 29 | 10 | 7 | 12 | 45 | 66 | −21 | 37 | |
7 | Bristol City U21s | 29 | 10 | 5 | 14 | 43 | 63 | −20 | 35 | |
8 | Charlton Athletic U21s | 29 | 9 | 4 | 16 | 63 | 64 | −1 | 31 | |
9 | Cardiff City U21s | 29 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 55 | 66 | −11 | 31 | |
10 | Colchester United U21s | 29 | 9 | 4 | 16 | 48 | 67 | −19 | 31 |
Knock-out stage
editSemi-finals
Professional Development League National Final
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Reformatting of Premier League 2 for 2023/24 explained". Premier League. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- ^ "WE'RE BACK! OUR ACADEMY REGAINS CATEGORY ONE STATUS". Reading F.C. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
- ^ "U21s drawn against Chelsea in PL2 quarter-final". Arsenal F.C. 7 May 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
- ^ "U21 Quarter Final Details Confirmed". Reading F.C. 7 May 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
- ^ "Under-21s to host Liverpool at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – tickets available now". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 7 May 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
- ^ "Under-21s march on after shoot-out success against Liverpool". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "SAFC U21s 3-3 West Ham United U21s (5-3 pens)". Sunderland A.F.C. 13 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- ^ "PL2 play-offs: Quarter-finals confirmed". Sunderland A.F.C. 7 May 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
- ^ "Stoppage-time Nile John winner hands Under-21s victory over Chelsea". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- ^ "Away derby for Under-21s in PL2 semis". Chelsea F.C. 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ "PL2 Play-Off semi-final confirmed". Sunderland A.F.C. 14 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
- ^ "We're back! Our Academy regains Category One status". Reading F.C. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
- ^ "AFC Bournemouth awarded category 2 status". vitalfootball.co.uk. 18 July 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
- ^ "Town confirm Category Two status has been awarded to the Club's Academy". Fleetwood Town FC.
- ^ "Millwall's Under 21s suffer extra-time Semi-Final defeat". Millwall F.C. 18 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- ^ "Dixon double sends Blues Under-21s into national final". Birmingham City F.C. 17 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.