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SPFL Development League

December 20, 2023

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

SPFL Development League
Founded1998; 25 years ago (1998)
(as Scottish Premier under-18 League)
CountryScotland
Divisions1
Number of teams17
Level on pyramid1
Domestic cup(s)Scottish Youth Cup
Current championsHibernian
(2017–18)

History edit

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

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

SFL Youth League edit

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

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

SPFL Under-20 League edit

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

SPFL Development League edit

Other Competitions (SFL / SPFL era) edit

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]

References edit

  1. ^ "SPL to create Under-20 league". STV Sport. 12 April 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  2. ^ "U20 League fixtures". 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". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 7 July 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  5. ^ "Development League East & West fixtures". 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. 18 September 2014.
  9. ^ "Academy Teams". Hearts Youth Development Committee. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  10. ^ a b "Celtic Under-17s book European place with title triumph". Celtic FC. 20 May 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  11. ^ a b "Aitchison fires in a hat-trick as Celtic U17s seal league title". Celtic FC. 29 May 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  12. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "Gers Are Under-18 Champs!". Rangers FC. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  15. ^ Scottish Football Historical Archive Mirror – SFL/SPL/SPFL Youth Leagues
  16. ^ AFC Heritage – 2000–01 SPL Under-18 League Table
  17. ^ "DONS WIN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE". SPFL. 30 April 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
    "DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE ROUND-UP". SPFL. 7 May 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
    "ABERDEEN RECEIVE U20 TROPHY". SPFL. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  18. ^ "CELTIC SEAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE TITLE". SPFL. 4 April 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
    "CELTIC UNBEATEN IN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE". SPFL. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  19. ^ "ROSS COUNTY WIN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE". SPFL. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
    "ROSS COUNTY SET TO RECEIVE U20 TROPHY". SPFL. 16 May 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
    "ROSS COUNTY RECEIVE U20 TROPHY". SPFL. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  20. ^ "Hibs clinch the SPFL Development League title". Edinburgh Evening News. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
    "HIBERNIAN WIN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE". SPFL. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
    "HIBERNIAN RECEIVE DEV LEAGUE TROPHY". SPFL. 1 May 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  21. ^ a b c d . Scottish Football League. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  22. ^ a b c d "SPFL Winners 2013–19". SPFL. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  23. ^ a b "CAS Regulations 2019" (PDF). Aprefs. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  24. ^ "Cameron aims to cap big month with a vital victory". Herald Scotland. 30 April 1999. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  25. ^ "Sore Defeat For Hillcoat's Men". Clyde F.C. 18 May 2004. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  26. ^ "LEAGUE TITLE JOY FOR UNDER 17s". SJFC. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  27. ^ "Congratulations to Livingston under-19's". Scottish football league. 19 April 2011. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  28. ^ "U17 YOUTH DIVISION CHAMPIONS 2010/11". SPFL. 16 May 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  29. ^ . Scottish football league. 17 May 2011. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  30. ^ Youngsters win SFL u19s League Cup Final, Stenhousemuir FC, 14 May 2012
  31. ^ . Scottish Football League. 13 December 2011. Archived from the original on 26 June 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  32. ^ Livingston's under-17 side complete double, Scottish Football League, 8 May 2012
  33. ^ "Under 19s: Forfar Athletic Under 19's 2 Hamilton Accies Under 19's 5". Forfar Athletic F.C. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  34. ^ "Celtic Under-17s win SPFL U19 league title". SPFL. 15 December 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  35. ^ "CELTIC LIFT U19 LEAGUE CUP". SPFL. 18 May 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  36. ^ "U20 TITLE JOY FOR AIRDRIE". SPFL. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  37. ^ "FORFAR SECURE U20 TITLE". SPFL. 12 April 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  38. ^ "Morton Under-20s 1 – 0 Ayr United Under-20s". GMFC. 28 April 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  39. ^ "STIRLING WIN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE EAST". SPFL. 12 April 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  40. ^ a b "Stevenson praises U17s after league title win". SJFC. 5 June 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  41. ^ "QOS WIN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE WEST". SPFL. 22 March 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  42. ^ "ROVERS WIN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE EAST". SPFL. 26 April 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  43. ^ "MORTON WIN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE WEST". SPFL. 26 April 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  44. ^ "ROVERS RETAIN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE EAST". SPFL. 10 April 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  45. ^ "u17s win Elite Youth League". Hamilton Academical Football Club. 13 May 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  46. ^ "U17 LEAGUE WINNERS TO BE HONOURED". Inverness CT. 10 August 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  47. ^ McPartlin, Patrick (30 May 2022). "Hibs confirmed Under-18 league champions and will play European football next season". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 30 May 2022.

External links edit

  • League fixtures

December 20, 2023
spfl, development, league, level, youth, football, scotland, which, contested, various, formats, between, 1998, 2018, founded1998, years, 1998, scottish, premier, under, league, countryscotlanddivisions1number, teams17level, pyramid1domestic, scottish, youth, . The SPFL Development League was the top level of youth football in Scotland which was contested in various formats between 1998 and 2018 SPFL Development LeagueFounded1998 25 years ago 1998 as Scottish Premier under 18 League CountryScotlandDivisions1Number of teams17Level on pyramid1Domestic cup s Scottish Youth CupCurrent championsHibernian 2017 18 Contents 1 History 1 1 European competition 2 Winners 2 1 SFL Youth League 2 2 SPL Under 18 League 2 3 SPL Under 19 League 2 4 SPFL Under 20 League 2 5 SPFL Development League 3 Other Competitions SFL SPFL era 4 References 5 External linksHistory editA 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 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 editSFL Youth League edit Season 15 Winner Runner up1993 94 Aberdeen Celtic1994 95 Celtic Aberdeen1995 96 Rangers Celtic1996 97 Dundee United Celtic1997 98 Aberdeen Dundee UnitedSPL Under 18 League edit Season Winner Runner up1998 99 Aberdeen Celtic1999 00 Celtic Dundee United2000 01 16 Heart of Midlothian Livingston2001 02 Rangers Celtic2002 03 Celtic RangersSPL Under 19 League edit Season Winner Runner up2003 04 Celtic Rangers2004 05 Celtic Motherwell2005 06 Celtic Motherwell2006 07 Rangers Celtic2007 08 Rangers Celtic2008 09 Hibernian Heart of Midlothian2009 10 Celtic Motherwell2010 11 Celtic Heart of Midlothian2011 12 Celtic Heart of MidlothianSPFL Under 20 League edit Season Winner Runner up2012 13 Celtic Aberdeen2013 14 Celtic RangersSPFL Development League edit Season Winner Runner up2014 15 Aberdeen 17 Celtic2015 16 Celtic 18 Hamilton Academical2016 17 Ross County 19 Hamilton Academical2017 18 Hibernian 20 DundeeOther Competitions SFL SPFL era editAlthough 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 Season 21 22 Competition Winner1998 99 SFL Under 18 Youth Division A AberdeenSFL Under 18 Youth Division B Falkirk 24 1999 2000 SFL Under 18 Youth Division A CelticSFL Under 18 Youth Division B AirdrieoniansSFL Under 18 Youth Division C Falkirk2000 01 No competition2001 02 SFL Under 18 Youth Division Ayr UnitedSFL Under 18 Youth League Cup Stirling Albion2002 03 SFL Under 18 Youth Division Ayr UnitedSFL Under 18 Youth League Cup Ross County2003 04 SFL Under 19 Youth Division Ross CountySFL Under 19 Youth League Cup Queen s ParkSFL Under 17 Youth Division FalkirkSFL Under 17 Youth League Cup Hamilton Academical 25 2004 05 SFL Under 19 Youth Division St JohnstoneSFL Under 19 Youth League Cup Queen s ParkSFL Under 17 Youth Division MortonSFL Under 17 Youth League Cup Ross County2005 06 SFL Under 19 Youth Division DundeeSFL Under 19 Youth League Cup St JohnstoneSFL Under 17 Youth Division StenhousemuirSFL Under 17 Youth League Cup Raith Rovers2006 07 SFL Under 19 Youth Division Ross CountySFL Under 19 Youth League Cup East FifeSFL Under 17 Youth Division Airdrie UnitedSFL Under 17 Youth League Cup Airdrie United2007 08 SFL Under 19 Youth Division LivingstonSFL Under 19 Youth League Cup Raith RoversSFL Under 17 Youth Division Queen s ParkSFL Under 17 Youth League Cup Cowdenbeath2008 09 SFL Under 19 Youth Division LivingstonSFL Under 19 Youth League Cup LivingstonSFL Under 17 Youth Division St Johnstone 26 SFL Under 17 Youth League Cup Queen of the South Season 21 22 Competition Winner2009 10 SFL Under 19 Youth Division LivingstonSFL Under 19 Youth League Cup Partick ThistleSFL Under 17 Youth Division Queen s ParkSFL Under 17 Youth League Cup Queen s Park2010 11 SFL Under 19 Youth Division Livingston 27 SFL Under 17 Youth Division Ayr United 28 SFL Under 17 Youth League Cup Livingston 29 2011 12 SFL Under 19 Youth DivisionSFL Under 19 Youth League Cup Stenhousemuir 30 SFL Under 17 Youth Division Livingston 31 SFL Under 17 Youth League Cup Livingston 32 2012 13 SFL Under 19 Youth DivisionSFL Under 19 Youth League Cup Hamilton Academical 33 SFL Under 17 Youth DivisionSFL Under 17 Youth League Cup2013 14 SPFL Under 19 League Celtic 34 SPFL Under 19 League Cup Celtic 35 2014 15 SPFL Development League West Airdrieonians 36 SPFL Development League East Forfar Athletic 37 CAS Under 17 Elite Youth League Celtic 10 2015 16 SPFL Development League West Greenock Morton 38 SPFL Development League East Stirling Albion 39 CAS Under 17 Elite Youth League Celtic 11 CAS Under 17 Development League St Johnstone 40 2016 17 SPFL Development League West Queen of the South 41 SPFL Development League East Raith Rovers 42 CAS Under 17 Elite Youth League Celtic 12 CAS Under 17 Development League St Johnstone 40 2017 18 SPFL Development League West Greenock Morton 43 SPFL Development League East Raith Rovers 44 CAS Under 17 Elite Youth League Hamilton Academical 45 CAS Under 17 Development League Inverness CT 46 2018 19 CAS Under 18 Elite Youth League Rangers 14 2021 22 CAS Under 18 Elite Youth League Hibernian 47 References edit SPL to create Under 20 league STV Sport 12 April 2012 Retrieved 1 August 2012 U20 League fixtures spfl co uk SPFL 6 August 2013 Retrieved 6 August 2013 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 Development League fixture list spfl co uk SPFL 7 July 2014 Retrieved 7 July 2014 Development League East amp West fixtures spfl co uk SPFL 14 July 2014 Retrieved 14 July 2014 Development League kicks off SPFL Reserve Leagues for season 2018 19 SPFL 23 July 2018 Retrieved 23 July 2018 UEFA Youth League retained and expanded UEFA 18 September 2014 Academy Teams Hearts Youth Development Committee Retrieved 4 February 2017 a b Celtic Under 17s book European place with title triumph Celtic FC 20 May 2015 Retrieved 30 May 2017 a b Aitchison fires in a hat trick as Celtic U17s seal league title Celtic FC 29 May 2016 Retrieved 4 February 2017 a b European football once more for Celtic s U17 champions Celtic FC 25 May 2017 Retrieved 30 May 2017 u17s win Elite Youth League Hamilton Academical Football Club 13 May 2018 Retrieved 24 July 2018 a b Gers Are Under 18 Champs Rangers FC 3 May 2019 Retrieved 15 June 2019 Scottish Football Historical Archive Mirror SFL SPL SPFL Youth Leagues AFC Heritage 2000 01 SPL Under 18 League Table DONS WIN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE SPFL 30 April 2016 Retrieved 14 June 2019 DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE ROUND UP SPFL 7 May 2016 Retrieved 14 June 2019 ABERDEEN RECEIVE U20 TROPHY SPFL 6 May 2016 Retrieved 14 June 2019 CELTIC SEAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE TITLE SPFL 4 April 2016 Retrieved 14 June 2019 CELTIC UNBEATEN IN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE SPFL 6 May 2016 Retrieved 14 June 2019 ROSS COUNTY WIN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE SPFL 4 May 2017 Retrieved 14 June 2019 ROSS COUNTY SET TO RECEIVE U20 TROPHY SPFL 16 May 2017 Retrieved 14 June 2019 ROSS COUNTY RECEIVE U20 TROPHY SPFL 17 May 2017 Retrieved 14 June 2019 Hibs clinch the SPFL Development League title Edinburgh Evening News 17 April 2018 Retrieved 17 April 2018 HIBERNIAN WIN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE SPFL 17 April 2018 Retrieved 15 June 2019 HIBERNIAN RECEIVE DEV LEAGUE TROPHY SPFL 1 May 2018 Retrieved 15 June 2019 a b c d Youth Winners Scottish Football League Archived from the original on 30 September 2011 Retrieved 30 September 2011 a b c d SPFL Winners 2013 19 SPFL Retrieved 14 June 2019 a b CAS Regulations 2019 PDF Aprefs Retrieved 15 June 2019 Cameron aims to cap big month with a vital victory Herald Scotland 30 April 1999 Retrieved 14 June 2019 Sore Defeat For Hillcoat s Men Clyde F C 18 May 2004 Retrieved 3 August 2019 LEAGUE TITLE JOY FOR UNDER 17s SJFC Retrieved 13 June 2019 Congratulations to Livingston under 19 s Scottish football league 19 April 2011 Archived from the original on 1 February 2013 Retrieved 30 September 2011 U17 YOUTH DIVISION CHAMPIONS 2010 11 SPFL 16 May 2011 Retrieved 14 June 2019 Livingston lift third trophy of the season Scottish football league 17 May 2011 Archived from the original on 22 May 2011 Retrieved 30 September 2011 Youngsters win SFL u19s League Cup Final Stenhousemuir FC 14 May 2012 Livi win Title Scottish Football League 13 December 2011 Archived from the original on 26 June 2013 Retrieved 15 December 2011 Livingston s under 17 side complete double Scottish Football League 8 May 2012 Under 19s Forfar Athletic Under 19 s 2 Hamilton Accies Under 19 s 5 Forfar Athletic F C 22 May 2013 Retrieved 3 August 2019 Celtic Under 17s win SPFL U19 league title SPFL 15 December 2013 Retrieved 13 June 2019 CELTIC LIFT U19 LEAGUE CUP SPFL 18 May 2014 Retrieved 13 June 2019 U20 TITLE JOY FOR AIRDRIE SPFL 21 April 2015 Retrieved 13 June 2019 FORFAR SECURE U20 TITLE SPFL 12 April 2015 Retrieved 13 June 2019 Morton Under 20s 1 0 Ayr United Under 20s GMFC 28 April 2018 Retrieved 14 June 2019 STIRLING WIN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE EAST SPFL 12 April 2016 Retrieved 13 June 2019 a b Stevenson praises U17s after league title win SJFC 5 June 2017 Retrieved 15 June 2019 QOS WIN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE WEST SPFL 22 March 2017 Retrieved 14 June 2019 ROVERS WIN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE EAST SPFL 26 April 2017 Retrieved 14 June 2019 MORTON WIN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE WEST SPFL 26 April 2018 Retrieved 15 June 2019 ROVERS RETAIN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE EAST SPFL 10 April 2018 Retrieved 15 June 2019 u17s win Elite Youth League Hamilton Academical Football Club 13 May 2018 Retrieved 15 June 2019 U17 LEAGUE WINNERS TO BE HONOURED Inverness CT 10 August 2018 Retrieved 15 June 2019 McPartlin Patrick 30 May 2022 Hibs confirmed Under 18 league champions and will play European football next season Edinburgh Evening News Retrieved 30 May 2022 External links editLeague fixtures Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title SPFL Development League amp oldid 1152248524, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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