SPFL Development League
| Founded | 1998 (as Scottish Premier under-18 League) |
|---|---|
| Country | Scotland |
| Divisions | 1 |
| Number of clubs | 17 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Domestic cup | 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
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]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 2015,[10] 2016,[11] and 2017,[12] the winners of the Under-17 league were Celtic; in 2018, Hamilton won the title,[13] and Rangers were the 2019 champions.[14]
Winners
[edit | edit source]SFL Youth League
[edit | edit source]| Season[15] | 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
[edit | edit source]| Season | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | Aberdeen | Celtic |
| 1999–00 | Celtic | Dundee United |
| 2000–01[16] | Heart of Midlothian | Livingston |
| 2001–02 | Rangers | Celtic |
| 2002–03 | Celtic | Rangers |
SPL Under-19 League
[edit | edit source]| 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
[edit | edit source]| Season | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2012–13 | Celtic | Aberdeen |
| 2013–14 | Celtic | Rangers |
SPFL Development League
[edit | edit source]| Season | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | Aberdeen[17] | Celtic |
| 2015–16 | Celtic[18] | Hamilton Academical |
| 2016–17 | Ross County[19] | Hamilton Academical |
| 2017–18 | Hibernian[20] | Dundee |
Other Competitions (SFL / SPFL era)
[edit | edit source]Although the Scottish Premier League (SPL) superseded the Scottish Football League (SFL) as the top division in 1998, the SFL continued to run an under-18 league until 2003, when the age group was split into under-17's and under-19's.[21] The SFL also ran a cup competition (not to be confused with the SFA Youth Cup) for the various age groups.[21] After the SFL ceased operation in 2013, with the foundation of the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) in 2013, an under-19 league and cup competition was run alongside the new under-20 league.[22] There were also West and East Development Divisions operating under the main SPFL Development League between 2014 and 2018.[22] Club Academy Scotland (CAS), organised and managed by the Scottish Football Association (SFA), began operating youth leagues with under-17 the top age group in 2014.[23] The under-17 age range was raised to under-18 by CAS in 2018.[23]
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References
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- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Development League kicks off Archived 12 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine, SPFL
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- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Scottish Football Historical Archive Mirror – SFL/SPL/SPFL Youth Leagues
- ^ AFC Heritage – 2000–01 SPL Under-18 League Table
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Youngsters win SFL u19s League Cup Final, Stenhousemuir FC, 14 May 2012
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Livingston's under-17 side complete double, Scottish Football League, 8 May 2012
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Hamilton Accies' kids are alright as under-18s lift league title, Andy McGilvray, Daily Record, 25 May 2023
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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External links
[edit | edit source]- League fixtures Archived 26 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine