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

Premier League 2
Season2020–21
ChampionsDivision 1
Manchester City U23s (1st Title)
Division 2
Leeds United U23s (1st Title)
PromotedLeeds United U23s
Crystal Palace U23s
RelegatedSouthampton U23s
Matches341
(338 RS, 3 PO)
Goals1,134 (3.33 per match)
(1,127 RS, 7 PO)
Top goalscorer
Overall
Liam Delap Manchester City U23s (24 Goals)
Division 1
Liam Delap Manchester City U23s (24 Goals)
Division 2
Josh Hawkes Sunderland U23s (14 Goals)
Biggest home winCrystal 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 winSunderland U23s 0–6 Middlesbrough U23s
(19 October 2020)
Blackburn Rovers U23s 0–6 Manchester United U23s
(6 November 2020)
Highest scoringManchester United U23s 6–4 Blackburn Rovers U23s
(5 February 2021)
Longest winning run9 Matches Leeds United U23s
Longest unbeaten run18 Matches Manchester City U23s
Longest winless run10 Matches Southampton U23s
Longest losing run8 Matches Southampton U23s
Highest attendance3,000 Crystal Palace U23s 0–0 Sunderland U23s
(24 May 2021) Play Off Final
Lowest attendance0 Most matches were behind closed doors due to covid

Division 1

Table

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

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

Table

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

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
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

Crystal Palace U23s3–2 (a.e.t.)Wolverhampton Wanderers U23s
  • Street 7'
  • Rich-Baghuelou 36'
  • Omilabu 100'
 Report
Attendance: 1,031
Referee: Lewis Smith
Stoke City U23s0–2Sunderland U23s
Report
Attendance: 1,481
Referee: Martin Woods

Final

Crystal Palace U23s0–0Sunderland U23s
Penalties
 5–3
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Tom Reeves

Hat-tricks

As of 24 May 2021
Player For Against Result Date Division Ref.
Gabriel Kyeremateng4 Stoke City U23s Leeds United U23s 4–0 (H) 14 September 2020 Division 2 [7]
Isaac Fletcher Middlesbrough U23s Sunderland U23s 6–0 (A) 19 October 2020 Division 2 [8]
Moritz Bauer Stoke City U23s Reading U23s 4–1 (H) 26 October 2020 Division 2 [9]
Jack Stretton Derby County U23s West Ham United U23s 3–2 (H) 2 November 2020 Division 1 [10]
Dan N'Lundulu Southampton U23s Manchester City U23s 5–2 (H) 7 November 2020 Division 1 [11]
Fabio Carvalho Fulham U23s Crystal Palace U23s 5–2 (H) 4 December 2020 Division 2 [12]
Nathan Tella Southampton U23s Leicester City U23s 5–2 (H) 12 December 2020 Division 1 [13]
Ethon Varian Stoke City U23s West Bromwich Albion U23s 4–3 (H) 21 December 2020 Division 2 [14]
Crysencio Summerville Leeds United U23s Burnley U23s 4–1 (A) 11 January 2021 Division 2 [15]
Liam Delap Manchester City U23s Derby County U23s 4–0 (A) 18 January 2021 Division 1 [16]
Folarin Balogun Arsenal U23s Brighton & Hove Albion U23s 5–0 (H) 22 January 2021 Division 1 [17]
Louie Barry Aston Villa U23s Norwich City U23s 3–2 (A) 22 January 2021 Division 2 [18]
Joe Hugill4 Manchester United U23s Liverpool U23s 6–3 (A) 30 January 2021 Division 1 [19]
Sion Spence Crystal Palace U23s Norwich City U23s 4–0 (H) 1 February 2021 Division 2 [20]
Shola Shoretire Manchester United U23s Blackburn Rovers U23s 6–4 (H) 5 February 2021 Division 1 [21]
Nathan Broadhead Everton U23s Manchester United U23s 3–1 (H) 22 February 2021 Division 1 [22]
Cole Palmer Manchester City U23s West Ham United U23s 5–0 (H) 8 March 2021 Division 1 [23]
Liam Delap Manchester City U23s Southampton U23s 7–1 (H) 15 March 2021 Division 1 [24]
Joe Gelhardt Leeds United U23s West Bromwich Albion U23s 5–0 (A) 22 March 2021 Division 2 [25]
Mipo Odubeko West Ham United U23s Manchester United U23s 3–2 (A) 9 April 2021 Division 1 [26]
Jacob Wakeling Leicester City U23s Southampton U23s 7–1 (H) 19 April 2021 Division 1 [27]
Liam Delap Manchester City U23s Tottenham Hotspur U23s 6–1 (A) 7 May 2021 Division 1 [28]
Charlie Whitaker Everton U23s Southampton U23s 4–0 (H) 7 May 2021 Division 1 [29]
Note

(H) – Home; (A) – Away
4 – player scored 4 goals

Professional Development League

U23 Professional Development League
Season2020–21
ChampionsBirmingham City U23s (1st Title)
Regular Season ChampionsSheffield United U23s (1st Title)
Matches228
(225 RS, 3 PO)
Goals726 (3.18 per match)
(717 RS, 9 PO)
Top goalscorer Louis Britton Bristol City U23s (16 Goals)
Biggest home winQueens 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 winWigan 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 run7 Matches Sheffield United U23s
Longest unbeaten run9 Matches Sheffield United U23s
Longest winless run9 Matches Colchester United U23s
Longest losing run8 Matches Colchester United U23s

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,[30] Crystal Palace U23s,[31] and founding member Leeds United U23s[32] 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[33] also left dropping down to Category Three after 5 seasons in the league.

Tables

North Division

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:


South Division

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:

Knock-out stage

Semi-finals

Bristol City U23s1–2 (a.e.t.)Birmingham City U23s
 Report
Sheffield United U23s4–0Ipswich Town U23s
 Report
Attendance: Behind Closed Doors

Professional Development League National Final

Sheffield United U23s0–2Birmingham City U23s

Hat-tricks

As of 24 May 2021
Player For Against Result Date Ref.
Jake Taylor Nottingham Forest U23s Wigan Athletic U23s 5–1 (A) 28 September 2020 [34]
Louis Britton Bristol City U23s Swansea City U23s 3–0 (H) 29 September 2020 [35]
Josh Andrews Birmingham City U23s Ipswich Town U23s 4–5 (H) 16 October 2020 [36]
Zak Brown Ipswich Town U23s Birmingham City U23s 4–5 (A) 16 October 2020 [37]
Josh Thomas Swansea City U23s Nottingham Forest U23s 4–2 (H) 8 November 2020 [38]
Iliman N'Diaye Sheffield United U23s Crewe Alexandra U23s 4–0 (H) 2 December 2020 [39]
Ahmed Salam Hull City U23s Ipswich Town U23s 4–1 (H) 22 March 2021 [40]
Rubin Colwill Cardiff City U23s Wigan Athletic U23s 6–1 (H) 30 March 2021 [41]
Fabio Tavares Coventry City U23s Cardiff City U23s 6–1 (A) 27 April 2021 [42]
William Osula Sheffield United U23s Ipswich Town U23s 4–0 (H) 17 May 2021 [43]
Note

(H) – Home; (A) – Away

See also

References

  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. ^ "U23 REPORT: STOKE CITY 4-0 LEEDS UNITED". Leeds United. 14 September 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  8. ^ "U23S Match Summary: Sunderland v Middlesbrough". Premier League. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  9. ^ "U23s hit Reading for four". Stoke City FC. 26 October 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  10. ^ "U23S Match Summary: Derby County v West Ham United". Premier League. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  11. ^ "U23S Match Summary: Southampton v Manchester City". Premier League. 7 November 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  12. ^ "FULHAM U23 5-2 CRYSTAL PALACE U23". Stoke City FC. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  13. ^ "U23S Match Summary: Southampton v Leicester City". Premier League. 12 December 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  14. ^ "U23S Match Summary: Stoke City v West Bromwich Albion". Premier League. 21 December 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  15. ^ "U23S Match Summary: Burnley v Leeds United". Premier League. 11 January 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  16. ^ "U23S Match Summary: Derby County v Manchester City". Premier League. 18 January 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  17. ^ "U23S Match Summary: Arsenal v Brighton & Hove Albion". Premier League. 22 January 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  18. ^ "U23S Match Summary: Norwich City v Aston Villa". Premier League. 22 January 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  19. ^ "U23S Match Summary: Liverpool v Manchester United". Premier League. 30 January 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  20. ^ "U23S Match Summary: Crystal Palace v Norwich City". Premier League. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  21. ^ "U23S Match Summary: Manchester United v Blackburn Rovers". Premier League. 5 February 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  22. ^ "U23S Match Summary: Everton v Manchester United". Premier League. 22 February 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  23. ^ "U23S Match Summary: Manchester City v West Ham United". Premier League. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  24. ^ "U23S Match Summary: Manchester City v Southampton". Premier League. 15 March 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  25. ^ "U23S Match Summary: West Bromwich Albion v Leeds United". Premier League. 22 March 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  26. ^ "U23S Match Summary: Manchester United v West Ham Manchester United". Premier League. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  27. ^ "U23S Match Summary: Leicester City v Southampton". Premier League. 19 April 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  28. ^ "U23S Match Summary: Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City". Premier League. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  29. ^ "U23S Match Summary: Everton v Southampton". Premier League. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  30. ^ "Clarets Academy granted Category 1 status by the Premier League". Burnley Express. 6 July 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  31. ^ "Category 1 Academy status approved". Crystal Palace FC. 9 July 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  32. ^ "LEEDS UNITED ACADEMY AWARDED CATEGORY ONE STATUS". Leeds United. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  33. ^ "Bolton announce plans to step down to category three academy". Bolton News. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  34. ^ "U23S Match Summary: Wigan Athletic v Nottingham Forest". Youth Hawk. 28 September 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  35. ^ "U23S Match Summary: Bristol City v Swansea City". Youth Hawk. 29 September 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  36. ^ "U23S Match Summary: Birmingham City v Ipswich Town". Youth Hawk. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  37. ^ "U23S Match Summary: Birmingham City v Ipswich Town". Youth Hawk. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  38. ^ "U23S Match Summary: Birmingham City v Ipswich Town". Youth Hawk. 8 November 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  39. ^ "U23S Match Summary: Sheffield United v Crewe Alexandra". Youth Hawk. 2 December 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  40. ^ "U23S Match Summary: Hull City v Ipswich Town". Youth Hawk. 22 March 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  41. ^ "U23S Match Summary: Cardiff City v Wigan Athletic". Youth Hawk. 30 March 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  42. ^ "U23S Match Summary: Cardiff City v Coventry City". Youth Hawk. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  43. ^ "U23S Match Summary: Sheffield United v Ipswich Town". Youth Hawk. 17 May 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
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