2020–21 Professional U23 Development League

The 2020–21 Professional U23 Development League was the ninth season of the Professional Development League system.

Burnley U23s,[1] Crystal Palace U23s[2] and Leeds United U23s[3] joined the Premier League 2 for the 2020–21 season after gaining category one status academies. Prior to the start of the season Swansea City left the league after downgrading their academy to category two.[4]

## Premier League 2

[edit]

Football league season

Premier League 2Season| 2020–21

|

Champions| Division 1
Manchester City U23s (1st Title)
Division 2
Leeds United U23s (1st Title)
Promoted| Leeds United U23s
Crystal Palace U23s
Relegated| Southampton U23s
Matches played| 341
(338 RS, 3 PO)
Goals scored| 1,134 (3.33 per match)
(1,127 RS, 7 PO)
Top goalscorer| Liam Delap Manchester City U23s (24 goals)
Biggest home win| Crystal Palace U23s 6–0 Reading U23s
(9 November 2020)
Leeds United U23s 7–1 Fulham U23s
(21 December 2020)
Manchester City U23s 7–1 Southampton U23s
(15 March 2021)
Leicester City U23s 7–1 Southampton U23s
(19 April 2021)
Biggest away win| Sunderland U23s 0–6 Middlesbrough U23s
(19 October 2020)
Blackburn Rovers U23s 0–6 Manchester United U23s
(6 November 2020)
Highest scoring| Manchester United U23s 6–4 Blackburn Rovers U23s
(5 February 2021)
Longest winning run| 9 Matches Leeds United U23s
Longest unbeaten run| 18 Matches Manchester City U23s
Longest winless run| 10 Matches Southampton U23s
Longest losing run| 8 Matches Southampton U23s
Highest attendance| 3,000 Crystal Palace U23s 0–0 Sunderland U23s
(24 May 2021) Play Off Final
Lowest attendance| 0 Most matches were behind closed doors due to covid

← 2019–20

2021–22 →

### Division 1

[edit]

#### Table

[edit]

As of match played 10 May 2021[5]
Pos | Club | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1 | Manchester City U23s (C) | 24 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 79 | 30 | +49 | 56
2 | Chelsea U23s | 24 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 50 | 36 | +14 | 42
3 | Tottenham Hotspur U23s | 24 | 11 | 5 | 8 | 45 | 44 | +1 | 38
4 | Blackburn Rovers U23s | 24 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 48 | 41 | +7 | 37
5 | Everton U23s | 24 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 44 | 28 | +16 | 36
6 | Derby County U23s | 24 | 11 | 3 | 10 | 43 | 49 | –6 | 36
7 | Liverpool U23s | 24 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 48 | 50 | –2 | 35
8 | Manchester United U23s | 24 | 10 | 4 | 10 | 58 | 59 | –1 | 34
9 | Brighton & Hove Albion U23s | 24 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 36 | 42 | –6 | 30
10 | Arsenal U23s | 24 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 37 | 43 | –6 | 26
11 | West Ham United U23s | 24 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 32 | 48 | –16 | 24
12 | Leicester City U23s | 24 | 6 | 4 | 14 | 41 | 55 | –14 | 22
13 | Southampton U23s (R) | 24 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 29 | 65 | –36 | 16

#### Results

[edit]

Home \ Away  | ARS | BLA | B&H | CHE | DER | EVE | LEI | LIV | MNC | MNU | SOU | TOT | WHU

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Arsenal U23s |  | 0–3  | 5–0  | 2–2  | 3–1  | 1–0  | 2–1  | 0–1  | 0–2  | 3–3  | 1–2  | 0–1  | 1–2
Blackburn Rovers U23s | 0–6  |  | 1–1  | 2–4  | 0–2  | 1–1  | 4–0  | 2–2  | 2–1  | 2–2  | 5–1  | 2–3  | 4–1
Brighton & Hove Albion U23s | 2–2  | 1–2  |  | 2–0  | 3–1  | 2–2  | 0–4  | 1–0  | 1–3  | 2–5  | 3–0  | 1–5  | 6–1
Chelsea U23s | 3–0  | 1–0  | 0–0  |  | 3–2  | 2–1  | 2–1  | 2–3  | 2–2  | 6–1  | 3–1  | 3–2  | 1–0
Derby County U23s | 2–3  | 3–5  | 1–1  | 2–1  |  | 1–3  | 2–1  | 2–1  | 0–4  | 2–6  | 3–1  | 1–0  | 3–2
Everton U23s | 1–1  | 2–1  | 1–1  | 2–0  | 4–1  |  | 3–0  | 1–1  | 1–2  | 3–1  | 4–0  | 0–0  | 2–1
Leicester City U23s | 1–1  | 1–3  | 1–1  | 1–1  | 1–2  | 2–4  |  | 0–2  | 1–6  | 4–2  | 7–1  | 1–3  | 2–1
Liverpool U23s | 4–0  | 1–2  | 3–2  | 3–1  | 1–4  | 1–0  | 2–2  |  | 2–7  | 3–6  | 0–0  | 3–4  | 1–1
Manchester City U23s | 4–1  | 1–1  | 2–1  | 2–2  | 3–3  | 3–1  | 4–0  | 3–2  |  | 3–0  | 7–1  | 4–1  | 5–0
Manchester United U23s | 3–0  | 6–4  | 0–0  | 4–2  | 1–3  | 2–1  | 0–2  | 3–5  | 2–2  |  | 3–1  | 4–2  | 2–3
Southampton U23s | 2–2  | 0–1  | 0–1  | 1–4  | 1–0  | 0–5  | 5–2  | 1–2  | 5–2  | 1–2  |  | 1–1  | 2–2
Tottenham Hotspur U23s | 1–1  | 1–1  | 1–1  | 1–4  | 1–2  | 2–1  | 1–5  | 4–1  | 1–6  | 3–0  | 2–1  |  | 3–0
West Ham United U23s | 2–2  | 0–0  | 2–3  | 1–1  | 0–0  | 2–1  | 3–1  | 2–4  | 0–1  | 2–0  | 3–1  | 1–2  |

Updated to match(es) played on 3 May 2021. Source: Premier League 2 Division 1 results
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

### Division 2

[edit]

#### Table

[edit]

As of match played 10 May 2021[6]
Pos | Club | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1 | Leeds United U23s (P) | 24 | 18 | 2 | 4 | 62 | 29 | +33 | 56
2 | Stoke City U23s | 24 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 41 | 30 | +11 | 45
3 | Crystal Palace U23s (P) | 24 | 11 | 3 | 10 | 45 | 41 | +4 | 36
4 | Wolverhampton Wanderers U23s | 24 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 40 | 36 | +4 | 36
5 | Sunderland U23s | 24 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 42 | 41 | +1 | 35
6 | Middlesbrough U23s | 24 | 10 | 4 | 10 | 44 | 35 | +9 | 34
7 | Burnley U23s | 24 | 10 | 4 | 10 | 38 | 41 | –3 | 34
8 | Reading U23s | 24 | 10 | 2 | 12 | 41 | 54 | –13 | 32
9 | Aston Villa U23s | 24 | 9 | 4 | 11 | 46 | 48 | -2 | 31
10 | Fulham U23s | 24 | 9 | 3 | 12 | 38 | 46 | –8 | 30
11 | Norwich City U23s | 24 | 7 | 4 | 13 | 32 | 40 | –8 | 25
12 | West Bromwich Albion U23s | 24 | 7 | 4 | 13 | 37 | 49 | –12 | 25
13 | Newcastle United U23s | 24 | 7 | 4 | 13 | 31 | 47 | –16 | 25

#### Results

[edit]

Home \ Away  | AST | BUR | CRY | FUL | LEE | MID | NEW | NOR | REA | STK | SUN | WBA | WOL

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Aston Villa U23s |  | 2–3  | 4–4  | 2–3  | 1–2  | 1–1  | 1–1  | 3–0  | 1–2  | 3–4  | 0–2  | 2–1  | 4–0
Burnley U23s | 2–2  |  | 0–1  | 2–1  | 1–4  | 3–2  | 1–3  | 2–2  | 3–1  | 1–2  | 3–2  | 3–1  | 0–0
Crystal Palace U23s | 0–1  | 1–0  |  | 2–3  | 2–0  | 3–2  | 3–0  | 4–0  | 6–0  | 2–2  | 1–2  | 3–3  | 2–1
Fulham U23s | 4–1  | 1–4  | 5–2  |  | 1–1  | 3–1  | 2–2  | 0–2  | 0–3  | 1–2  | 2–0  | 1–0  | 0–2
Leeds United U23s | 3–2  | 5–2  | 4–1  | 7–1  |  | 1–0  | 2–1  | 2–0  | 3–0  | 1–0  | 2–0  | 2–1  | 2–2
Middlesbrough U23s | 4–1  | 3–0  | 0–1  | 1–0  | 2–4  |  | 2–1  | 0–3  | 2–3  | 2–0  | 1–1  | 0–1  | 1–1
Newcastle United U23s | 1–2  | 0–2  | 2–0  | 2–1  | 4–3  | 2–2  |  | 0–2  | 1–2  | 3–2  | 0–4  | 3–2  | 0–3
Norwich City U23s | 2–3  | 0–0  | 3–0  | 0–0  | 0–2  | 1–3  | 0–1  |  | 3–0  | 2–1  | 2–3  | 2–2  | 1–2
Reading U23s | 3–1  | 0–2  | 2–1  | 0–4  | 3–2  | 2–4  | 3–2  | 1–3  |  | 1–3  | 0–2  | 5–2  | 5–0
Stoke City U23s | 0–2  | 0–1  | 1–0  | 1–0  | 4–0  | 2–0  | 2–1  | 2–1  | 4–1  |  | 0–0  | 4–3  | 3–1
Sunderland U23s | 2–3  | 3–0  | 3–4  | 5–3  | 1–3  | 0–6  | 1–1  | 3–1  | 2–1  | 1–1  |  | 2–3  | 2–1
West Bromwich Albion U23s | 3–1  | 2–1  | 1–2  | 1–2  | 0–5  | 0–1  | 1–0  | 3–2  | 1–1  | 0–1  | 3–1  |  | 2–4
Wolverhampton Wanderers U23s | 1–3  | 3–2  | 2–0  | 3–0  | 0–2  | 1–4  | 4–0  | 3–0  | 2–2  | 3–0  | 0–0  | 1–1  |

Updated to match(es) played on 16 April 2021. Source: [1]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

##### Play-offs

[edit]

| Semi-finals | | | Final |

|
|
|
|
|

|  |  |  | | |  |  |  |
| 2 | Stoke City U23s | 0 | |
| 5 | Sunderland U23s | 2 |
| | 3 | Crystal Palace U23s | 0 (5)(p) |
|  |
| | | 5 | Sunderland U23s | 0 (3) |
| 3 | Crystal Palace U23s | 3 |

| 4 | Wolverhampton Wanderers U23s | 2 |

#### Semifinals

[edit]

17 May 2021

13:00

Crystal Palace U23s| 3–2 (a.e.t.)| Wolverhampton Wanderers U23s

|
|

* Street 7'
* Rich-Baghuelou 36'
* Omilabu 100'

| Report |

* Corbeanu 47', 75'

Selhurst Park, Selhurst

Attendance: 1,031

Referee: Lewis Smith

* * *

17 May 2021

13:00

Stoke City U23s| 0–2| Sunderland U23s

|
|

| Report |

* Hawkes 56'
* Younger 65'

Bet365 Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent

Attendance: 1,481

Referee: Martin Woods

#### Final

[edit]

24 May 2021

Crystal Palace U23s| 0–0| Sunderland U23s

|
|

|  |
Penalties

* Street
* Hannam
* Boateng
* Gordon
* Omilabu

| 5–3 |

* Hackett
* Harris
* Neil
* Taylor

Selhurst Park, Selhurst

Attendance: 3,000

Referee: Tom Reeves

## Professional Development League

[edit]

Football league season

U23 Professional Development LeagueSeason| 2020–21

|

Champions| Birmingham City U23s (1st Title)
Matches played| 228
(225 RS, 3 PO)
Goals scored| 726 (3.18 per match)
(717 RS, 9 PO)
Top goalscorer| Louis Britton Bristol City U23s (16 Goals)
Biggest home win| Queens Park Rangers U23s 5–0 Ipswich Town U23s
(22 September 2020)
Millwall U23s 6–1 Colchester United U23s
( 15 December 2020)
Sheffield United U23s 5–0 Birmingham City U23s
(12 March 2021)
Cardiff City U23s 6–1 Wigan Athletic U23s
(30 March 2021)
Biggest away win| Wigan Athletic U23s 1–11 Birmingham City U23s
(10 May 2021)
Highest scoring|  Wigan Athletic U23s 1–11 Birmingham City U23s
(10 May 2021)
Longest winning run| 7 Matches Sheffield United U23s
Longest unbeaten run| 9 Matches Sheffield United U23s
Longest winless run| 9 Matches Colchester United U23s
Longest losing run| 8 Matches Colchester United U23s

← 2019–20

2021–22 →

The 2020-2021 Professional Development League season is the ninth campaign of post-EPPP Under-23 football's second tier, designed for those academies with Category 2 status. A total of 18 teams are 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 for a total of 25 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. Nottingham Forest and Millwall are the defending regional champions.

18 Teams competed in the league this season, a record low with 3 fewer teams than last season. Swansea City U23s dropped down to Category Two status in August 2020 and will join the South division this season after 5 years in the Premier League 2,[4] while Burnley U23s,[7] Crystal Palace U23s,[8] and founding member Leeds United U23s[9] joined the Premier League 2 for the 2020–21 season after gaining Category One status Academies after 3 seasons in the league for Burnley U23s, 7 seasons in the league for Crystal Palace U23s and 8 seasons in the league for founding member Leeds United U23s respectively. Bolton Wanderers U23s[10] also left dropping down to Category Three after 5 seasons in the league.

### Tables

[edit]

#### North Division

[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Sheffield United U23s | 25  | 17  | 4  | 4  | 60  | 22  | +38  | 55  | Qualification for Knock-out stage
2  | Birmingham City U23s | 25  | 15  | 2  | 8  | 67  | 42  | +25  | 47
3  | Nottingham Forest U23s | 25  | 12  | 6  | 7  | 46  | 30  | +16  | 42  |
4  | Barnsley U23s | 25  | 11  | 8  | 6  | 36  | 28  | +8  | 41
5  | Hull City U23s | 25  | 12  | 3  | 10  | 36  | 32  | +4  | 39
6  | Wigan Athletic U23s | 25  | 11  | 3  | 11  | 32  | 54  | −22  | 36
7  | Coventry City U23s | 25  | 9  | 7  | 9  | 43  | 31  | +12  | 34
8  | Sheffield Wednesday U23s | 25  | 8  | 5  | 12  | 32  | 41  | −9  | 29
9  | Crewe Alexandra U23s | 25  | 6  | 7  | 12  | 27  | 45  | −18  | 25

Source: [citation needed]

#### South Division

[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Bristol City U23s | 25  | 16  | 2  | 7  | 51  | 35  | +16  | 50  | Qualification for Knock-out stage
2  | Ipswich Town U23s | 25  | 12  | 6  | 7  | 44  | 41  | +3  | 42
3  | Cardiff City U23s | 25  | 10  | 2  | 13  | 43  | 42  | +1  | 32  |
4  | Watford U23s | 25  | 9  | 5  | 11  | 37  | 50  | −13  | 32
5  | Charlton Athletic U23s | 25  | 9  | 4  | 12  | 46  | 48  | −2  | 31
6  | Millwall U23s | 25  | 8  | 6  | 11  | 31  | 35  | −4  | 30
7  | Swansea City U23s | 25  | 6  | 8  | 11  | 33  | 47  | −14  | 26
8  | Queens Park Rangers U23s | 25  | 6  | 5  | 14  | 27  | 42  | −15  | 23
9  | Colchester United U23s | 25  | 3  | 7  | 15  | 26  | 52  | −26  | 16

Source: [citation needed]

### Knock-out stage

[edit]

Semi-finals

14 May 2021

19:00

Bristol City U23s| 1–2 (a.e.t.)| Birmingham City U23s

|
|

* Edwards 26'

| Report |

* George 48' (pen.)
* Redmond 119'

Ashton Gate, Bristol

* * *

17 May 2021

19:00

Sheffield United U23s| 4–0| Ipswich Town U23s

|
|

* Brooks 25'
* Osula 32', 36', 41'

| Report |

Brammall Lane, Sheffield

Attendance: Behind Closed Doors

Professional Development League National Final

24 May 2021

19:00

Sheffield United U23s| 0–2| Birmingham City U23s

|
|

|  |

* George 6', 15'

Brammall Lane, Sheffield

## See also

[edit]

* 2020–21 in English football

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Clarets Academy granted Category 1 status by the Premier League". Burnley Express. 6 July 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
2. ^ "Category 1 Academy status approved". Crystal Palace FC. 9 July 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
3. ^ "LEEDS UNITED ACADEMY AWARDED CATEGORY ONE STATUS". Leeds United. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
4. ^ a b "Swansea City's academy blow and what the future holds as pathway that brought through glut of stars is downgraded". Wales Online. 2 September 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
5. ^ "PREMIER LEAGUE 2 DIVISION ONE". Soccerway. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
6. ^ "PREMIER LEAGUE 2 DIVISION TWO". Soccerway. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
7. ^ "Clarets Academy granted Category 1 status by the Premier League". Burnley Express. 6 July 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
8. ^ "Category 1 Academy status approved". Crystal Palace FC. 9 July 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
9. ^ "LEEDS UNITED ACADEMY AWARDED CATEGORY ONE STATUS". Leeds United. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
10. ^ "Bolton announce plans to step down to category three academy". Bolton News. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2024.

* v
* t
* e

2020–21 in English men's football

« 2019–20

2021–22 »

National teams|

* Senior (2020–21 UEFA Nations League group stage), (UEFA Euro 2020 finals), (2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying round)
* U21 (UEFA Euro 2021 qualifying round, finals)
* U19 (UEFA Euro 2021 qualifying round, finals)
* U17 (UEFA Euro 2021 qualifying round, finals)

League
competitions|

| Level 1|

* Premier League

|

Levels 2–4|

* English Football League (Championship, League One, League Two, play-offs)

Levels 5–6|

* National League (National, North, South)

Levels 7–8|

* Isthmian League (Premier, North, South Central, South East)
* Northern Premier League (Premier, North West, South East)
* Southern League (Premier Central, Premier South, One Central, One South)

Levels 9–10|

* Combined Counties League (Premier, One)
* East Midlands Counties League (level 10 only)
* Eastern Counties League (Premier, One North, One South)
* Essex Senior League (level 9 only)
* Hellenic League (Premier, One East, One West)
* Midland League (Premier, One)
* Northern Counties East League (Premier, One)
* Northern League (One, Two)
* North West Counties League (Premier, One North, One South)
* Southern Combination League (Premier, One)
* Southern Counties East League (Premier, One)
* South West Peninsula League (Premier East, Premier West \- level 10 only)
* Spartan South Midlands League (Premier, One)
* United Counties League (Premier, One)
* Wessex League (Premier, One)
* Western League (Premier, One)
* West Midlands (Regional) League (Premier \- level 10 only)

Cup
competitions|

| FA cups|

* FA Cup (Qualifying rounds, Final)
* FA Community Shield
* FA Trophy (2020 Final) (2021 Final)
* FA Vase (2020 Final) (2021 Final)

|

EFL cups|

* EFL Cup (Final)
* EFL Trophy (2020 Final) (2021 Final)

Youth
competitions|

| Under-23|

* Professional U23 Development League
* Premier League Cup

|

Under-18|

* Professional U18 Development League
* FA Youth Cup

Club seasons

Premier
League|

* Arsenal
* Aston Villa
* Brighton & Hove Albion
* Burnley
* Chelsea
* Crystal Palace
* Everton
* Fulham
* Leeds United
* Leicester City
* Liverpool
* Manchester City
* Manchester United
* Newcastle United
* Sheffield United
* Southampton
* Tottenham Hotspur
* West Bromwich Albion
* West Ham United
* Wolverhampton Wanderers

Championship|

* Barnsley
* Birmingham City
* Blackburn Rovers
* Bournemouth
* Brentford
* Bristol City
* Cardiff City
* Coventry City
* Derby County
* Huddersfield Town
* Luton Town
* Middlesbrough
* Millwall
* Norwich City
* Nottingham Forest
* Preston North End
* Queens Park Rangers
* Reading
* Rotherham United
* Sheffield Wednesday
* Stoke City
* Swansea City
* Watford
* Wycombe Wanderers

League One|

* Accrington Stanley
* AFC Wimbledon
* Blackpool
* Bristol Rovers
* Burton Albion
* Charlton Athletic
* Crewe Alexandra
* Doncaster Rovers
* Fleetwood Town
* Gillingham
* Hull City
* Ipswich Town
* Lincoln City
* Milton Keynes Dons
* Northampton Town
* Oxford United
* Peterborough United
* Plymouth Argyle
* Portsmouth
* Rochdale
* Shrewsbury Town
* Sunderland
* Swindon Town
* Wigan Athletic

League Two|

* Barrow
* Bolton Wanderers
* Bradford City
* Cambridge United
* Carlisle United
* Cheltenham Town
* Colchester United
* Crawley Town
* Exeter City
* Forest Green Rovers
* Grimsby Town
* Harrogate Town
* Leyton Orient
* Mansfield Town
* Morecambe
* Newport County
* Oldham Athletic
* Port Vale
* Salford City
* Scunthorpe United
* Southend United
* Stevenage
* Tranmere Rovers
* Walsall

National League|

* Wrexham

* Summer 2020 transfers
* Winter 2020–21 transfers

* v
* t
* e

Professional Development League

U21/U23|

* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24
* 2024–25

U18|

* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24
* 2024–25

*[Pos]: Position
*[Pld]: Played
*[W]: Won
*[D]: Drawn
*[L]: Lost
*[GF]: Goals for
*[GA]: Goals against
*[GD]: Goal difference
*[Pts]: Points
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template