FA Premier Reserve League
Encyclopedia
The Premier Reserve League (officially known as The Barclays Premier Reserve League for sponsorship
reasons) is the reserve team
league for the top English
football
teams in the Premier League. The league is split into a northern and a southern division.
The league in its current form started out in 1999, replacing The Central League in the north and The Football Combination in the south as the top level of reserve-team football, although these competitions still continue for lower-level teams.
Teams are not relegated from the Premier Reserve League based on their final league position, but on the league position of their respective clubs' senior teams. If a senior team is relegated from the Premier League, then the reserve team is relegated from the Premier Reserve League and replaced by the reserve team of the promoted team from the Championship
.
From 2004–05 onwards, the League held its first play-off between the champions of the two sections. Northern Champions Manchester United Reserves beat Southern Champions Charlton Athletic Reserves 4–2 at The Valley. In the 2005–06 Play-off, held at Old Trafford
, Manchester United Reserves beat Tottenham Hotspur Reserves 2–0. The 2007 final, held at the Madejski Stadium
, Reading beat Bolton 2–0. Liverpool Reserves beat Aston Villa Reserves 3–0 in the 2008 final at Anfield
. Aston Villa reached the final again next season and beat Sunderland 3–1 at Villa Park
. In the 2009–10 Play-off, held again at Old Trafford
, Manchester United beat Aston Villa 3–2 in a penalty shoot-out after the game ended 3–3. In the 2010-11
playoff Chelsea defeated Blackburn 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out after the game ended 1-1 at Stamford Bridge
.
NB Manchester City Reserves
, Queens Park Rangers Reserves
, Stoke City Reserves
and Tottenham Hotspur Reserves are not entering the competition in 2011–12.
English football sponsorship
Corporate sponsorship of major English football competitions dates back to the early 1980s, although minor competitions such as the Watney Cup and Texaco Cup were sponsored during the early 1970s....
reasons) is the reserve team
Reserve team
Large professional sports clubs often have far more players under contract than could possibly play in a match. As a result, many of these clubs create second teams composed of players who need playing time, but have little hope of playing on the first team. The players on this second team are...
league for the top English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
teams in the Premier League. The league is split into a northern and a southern division.
The league in its current form started out in 1999, replacing The Central League in the north and The Football Combination in the south as the top level of reserve-team football, although these competitions still continue for lower-level teams.
Teams are not relegated from the Premier Reserve League based on their final league position, but on the league position of their respective clubs' senior teams. If a senior team is relegated from the Premier League, then the reserve team is relegated from the Premier Reserve League and replaced by the reserve team of the promoted team from the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
.
Past winners
| Season | Northern Champions | Southern Champions | Play-off Final Winners |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999–00 | Liverpool Reserves | Derby County Reserves Derby County F.C. Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English... |
– |
| 2000–01 | Everton Reserves Everton F.C. Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football... |
Derby County Reserves Derby County F.C. Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English... |
– |
| 2001–02 | Manchester United Reserves Manchester United F.C. Reserves and Academy Manchester United Football Club Reserves are the reserve team of Manchester United F.C. They play in the North section of the Premier Reserve League. They have been champions four times since the league's inauguration in 1999; in 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2010... |
Ipswich Town Reserves Ipswich Town F.C. Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02.... |
– |
| 2002–03 | Sunderland Reserves Sunderland A.F.C. Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League... |
Watford Reserves Watford F.C. Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade... |
– |
| 2003–04 FA Premier Reserve League 2003-04 The 2003-04 Premier Reserve League season was the fifth since its establishment and featured 14 teams in the Northern League - won by Aston Villa Reserves - and 15 teams in the Southern League - won by Charlton Athletic Reserves.-League table:... |
Aston Villa Reserves Aston Villa F.C. Reserves and Academy Aston Villa Reserves are the reserve team of Aston Villa, they have been part of the FA Premier Reserve League since its foundation in 1999 and are current holders of the Premier Reserve League South title. The team plays its home games at Villa Park - during the months of Autumn and Spring - and... |
Charlton Athletic Reserves Charlton Athletic F.C. Reserves Charlton Athletic F.C. Reserves were the reserve team of Charlton Athletic. From 1999 until 2007, Charlton Reserves were members of the FA Premier Reserve League Southern however due to the relegation of the first team at the end of the 2006/2007 season, from the Premier League to the Football... |
– |
| 2004–05 FA Premier Reserve League 2004-05 The 2004-05 Premier Reserve League season was the sixth since its establishment and featured 15 teams in the Northern League - won by Manchester United Reserves - and 15 teams in the Southern League - won by Charlton Athletic Reserves.-League table:... |
Manchester United Reserves Manchester United F.C. Reserves and Academy Manchester United Football Club Reserves are the reserve team of Manchester United F.C. They play in the North section of the Premier Reserve League. They have been champions four times since the league's inauguration in 1999; in 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2010... |
Charlton Athletic Reserves Charlton Athletic F.C. Reserves Charlton Athletic F.C. Reserves were the reserve team of Charlton Athletic. From 1999 until 2007, Charlton Reserves were members of the FA Premier Reserve League Southern however due to the relegation of the first team at the end of the 2006/2007 season, from the Premier League to the Football... |
Manchester United Reserves Manchester United F.C. Reserves and Academy Manchester United Football Club Reserves are the reserve team of Manchester United F.C. They play in the North section of the Premier Reserve League. They have been champions four times since the league's inauguration in 1999; in 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2010... |
| 2005–06 FA Premier Reserve League 2005-06 The 2005-06 Premier Reserve League season was the seventh since its establishment, and the last to feature more than twenty teams. The Northern League was won by Manchester United Reserves, while the Southern League was won by Tottenham Hotspur Reserves.... |
Manchester United Reserves Manchester United F.C. Reserves and Academy Manchester United Football Club Reserves are the reserve team of Manchester United F.C. They play in the North section of the Premier Reserve League. They have been champions four times since the league's inauguration in 1999; in 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2010... |
Tottenham Hotspur Reserves | Manchester United Reserves Manchester United F.C. Reserves and Academy Manchester United Football Club Reserves are the reserve team of Manchester United F.C. They play in the North section of the Premier Reserve League. They have been champions four times since the league's inauguration in 1999; in 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2010... |
| 2006–07 FA Premier Reserve League 2006-07 The 2006-07 Premier Reserve League season was the eighth since its establishment. Reigning champions of the Northern Division Manchester United have won two consecutive Northern Premier Reserve League titles and three in total but are looking to become the first side ever to win three years in a row... |
Bolton Wanderers Reserves Bolton Wanderers F.C. Reserves and Academy -Reserve team:Bolton Wanderers Reserves play in the Barclays Premiership Reserve League North. They also participate in the Manchester Senior Cup, although in recent years the teams entered in this competition have featured an increasing number of youth players.Bolton Wanderers Reserves play their... |
Reading Reserves Reading F.C. Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship... |
Reading Reserves Reading F.C. Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship... |
| 2007–08 Premier Reserve League 2007-08 The 2007–08 Premier Reserve League season is the ninth since its establishment. The events in the senior leagues during the 2006–07 season saw Watford, Charlton and Sheffield United all relegated and replaced by the promoted teams Birmingham, Derby County, and Sunderland.Northern Champions... |
Liverpool Reserves | Aston Villa Reserves Aston Villa F.C. Reserves and Academy Aston Villa Reserves are the reserve team of Aston Villa, they have been part of the FA Premier Reserve League since its foundation in 1999 and are current holders of the Premier Reserve League South title. The team plays its home games at Villa Park - during the months of Autumn and Spring - and... |
Liverpool Reserves |
| 2008–09 | Sunderland Reserves Sunderland A.F.C. Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League... |
Aston Villa Reserves Aston Villa F.C. Reserves and Academy Aston Villa Reserves are the reserve team of Aston Villa, they have been part of the FA Premier Reserve League since its foundation in 1999 and are current holders of the Premier Reserve League South title. The team plays its home games at Villa Park - during the months of Autumn and Spring - and... |
Aston Villa Reserves Aston Villa F.C. Reserves and Academy Aston Villa Reserves are the reserve team of Aston Villa, they have been part of the FA Premier Reserve League since its foundation in 1999 and are current holders of the Premier Reserve League South title. The team plays its home games at Villa Park - during the months of Autumn and Spring - and... |
| 2009–10 2009–10 Premier Reserve League The 2009–10 Premier Reserve League was the eleventh season since the establishment of the Premier Reserve League... |
Manchester United Reserves Manchester United F.C. Reserves and Academy Manchester United Football Club Reserves are the reserve team of Manchester United F.C. They play in the North section of the Premier Reserve League. They have been champions four times since the league's inauguration in 1999; in 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2010... |
Aston Villa Reserves Aston Villa F.C. Reserves and Academy Aston Villa Reserves are the reserve team of Aston Villa, they have been part of the FA Premier Reserve League since its foundation in 1999 and are current holders of the Premier Reserve League South title. The team plays its home games at Villa Park - during the months of Autumn and Spring - and... |
Manchester United Reserves Manchester United F.C. Reserves and Academy Manchester United Football Club Reserves are the reserve team of Manchester United F.C. They play in the North section of the Premier Reserve League. They have been champions four times since the league's inauguration in 1999; in 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2010... |
| 2010–11 2010–11 Premier Reserve League -Final:-Premier Reserve League North Group A:-Premier Reserve League North Group B:-Premier Reserve League South:-Promotion and relegation:*Teams relegated from the Premier Reserve League at the end of this season:* Birmingham City F.C.... |
Blackburn Rovers Reserves Blackburn Rovers F.C. Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.... |
Chelsea Reserves | Chelsea Reserves |
From 2004–05 onwards, the League held its first play-off between the champions of the two sections. Northern Champions Manchester United Reserves beat Southern Champions Charlton Athletic Reserves 4–2 at The Valley. In the 2005–06 Play-off, held at Old Trafford
Old Trafford (football)
Old Trafford is a football stadium in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England, and the home of Manchester United. With a capacity of 75,811, Old Trafford is the second-largest football stadium in England after Wembley, the third-largest in the United Kingdom and the eleventh-largest in Europe...
, Manchester United Reserves beat Tottenham Hotspur Reserves 2–0. The 2007 final, held at the Madejski Stadium
Madejski Stadium
The Madejski Stadium is a stadium in Reading, Berkshire, England. The stadium is the home of Reading Football Club and to the rugby union club London Irish as tenants. It also provides the finish for the Reading Half Marathon...
, Reading beat Bolton 2–0. Liverpool Reserves beat Aston Villa Reserves 3–0 in the 2008 final at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
. Aston Villa reached the final again next season and beat Sunderland 3–1 at Villa Park
Villa Park
Villa Park may mean:United Kingdom* Villa Park, an association football stadium in Birmingham, EnglandUnited States* Villa Park, California, a small city in Orange County* Villa Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago in DuPage County...
. In the 2009–10 Play-off, held again at Old Trafford
Old Trafford (football)
Old Trafford is a football stadium in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England, and the home of Manchester United. With a capacity of 75,811, Old Trafford is the second-largest football stadium in England after Wembley, the third-largest in the United Kingdom and the eleventh-largest in Europe...
, Manchester United beat Aston Villa 3–2 in a penalty shoot-out after the game ended 3–3. In the 2010-11
2010–11 Premier Reserve League
-Final:-Premier Reserve League North Group A:-Premier Reserve League North Group B:-Premier Reserve League South:-Promotion and relegation:*Teams relegated from the Premier Reserve League at the end of this season:* Birmingham City F.C....
playoff Chelsea defeated Blackburn 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out after the game ended 1-1 at Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge (stadium)
Stamford Bridge is a football stadium in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, West London, and is the home of Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the Moore Park Estate also known as Walham Green and is often referred to as simply The Bridge...
.
Winners table
| Team | Regional titles |
National titles |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester United Reserves Manchester United F.C. Reserves and Academy Manchester United Football Club Reserves are the reserve team of Manchester United F.C. They play in the North section of the Premier Reserve League. They have been champions four times since the league's inauguration in 1999; in 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2010... |
4 | 3 |
| Aston Villa Reserves Aston Villa F.C. Reserves and Academy Aston Villa Reserves are the reserve team of Aston Villa, they have been part of the FA Premier Reserve League since its foundation in 1999 and are current holders of the Premier Reserve League South title. The team plays its home games at Villa Park - during the months of Autumn and Spring - and... |
4 | 1 |
| Liverpool Reserves | 2 | 1 |
| Chelsea Reserves | 1 | 1 |
| Reading Reserves Reading F.C. Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship... |
1 | 1 |
| Sunderland Reserves Sunderland A.F.C. Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League... |
2 | 0 |
| Derby County Reserves Derby County F.C. Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English... |
2 | 0 |
| Charlton Athletic Reserves Charlton Athletic F.C. Reserves Charlton Athletic F.C. Reserves were the reserve team of Charlton Athletic. From 1999 until 2007, Charlton Reserves were members of the FA Premier Reserve League Southern however due to the relegation of the first team at the end of the 2006/2007 season, from the Premier League to the Football... |
2 | 0 |
| Blackburn Rovers Reserves Blackburn Rovers F.C. Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.... |
1 | 0 |
| Tottenham Hotspur Reserves | 1 | 0 |
| Bolton Wanderers Reserves Bolton Wanderers F.C. Reserves and Academy -Reserve team:Bolton Wanderers Reserves play in the Barclays Premiership Reserve League North. They also participate in the Manchester Senior Cup, although in recent years the teams entered in this competition have featured an increasing number of youth players.Bolton Wanderers Reserves play their... |
1 | 0 |
| Everton Reserves Everton F.C. Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football... |
1 | 0 |
| Ipswich Town Reserves Ipswich Town F.C. Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02.... |
1 | 0 |
| Watford Reserves Watford F.C. Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade... |
1 | 0 |
Current participants
The Premier Reserve League was restructured for the 2006–07 season, with only reserve teams of members of the Premier League taking part in the competition. The sixteen members of the Premier Reserve League for the 2011–12 season are:| Premier Reserve League North | Premier Reserve League South |
|---|---|
| Blackburn Rovers Reserves Blackburn Rovers F.C. Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.... |
Arsenal Reserves Arsenal F.C. Reserves Arsenal Reserves are the reserve team of Arsenal Football Club.They have been members of the FA Premier Reserve League Southern Division since its foundation in 1999. They play their home games at Underhill Stadium, which is also the home of Barnet FC. The team mainly consists of Under-21 players... |
| Bolton Wanderers Reserves Bolton Wanderers F.C. Reserves and Academy -Reserve team:Bolton Wanderers Reserves play in the Barclays Premiership Reserve League North. They also participate in the Manchester Senior Cup, although in recent years the teams entered in this competition have featured an increasing number of youth players.Bolton Wanderers Reserves play their... |
Aston Villa Reserves Aston Villa F.C. Reserves and Academy Aston Villa Reserves are the reserve team of Aston Villa, they have been part of the FA Premier Reserve League since its foundation in 1999 and are current holders of the Premier Reserve League South title. The team plays its home games at Villa Park - during the months of Autumn and Spring - and... |
| Everton Reserves Everton F.C. Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football... |
Chelsea Reserves |
| Liverpool Reserves | Fulham Reserves Fulham F.C. Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season... |
| Manchester United Reserves Manchester United F.C. Reserves and Academy Manchester United Football Club Reserves are the reserve team of Manchester United F.C. They play in the North section of the Premier Reserve League. They have been champions four times since the league's inauguration in 1999; in 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2010... |
Norwich City Reserves Norwich City F.C. Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The... |
| Newcastle United Reserves | Swansea City Reserves Swansea City A.F.C. Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position... |
| Sunderland Reserves Sunderland A.F.C. Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League... |
West Bromwich Albion Reserves West Bromwich Albion F.C. West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands... |
| Wigan Athletic Reserves Wigan Athletic F.C. Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW... |
Wolverhampton Wanderers Reserves Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at... |
NB Manchester City Reserves
Manchester City F.C. Reserves and Academy
Manchester City is represented at Reserve level by the Elite Development Squad, also referred to as just the Elite Squad, or EDS, a predominantly 'Under-21' side that replaced the previous Reserve team in a move to focus on youth development post-academy...
, Queens Park Rangers Reserves
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
, Stoke City Reserves
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
and Tottenham Hotspur Reserves are not entering the competition in 2011–12.
See also
- Premier Academy LeaguePremier Academy LeagueThe Premier Academy League is the top level of youth football in England. It is contested between the Academy sides of The Premier League and some Football League clubs, including Welsh side Cardiff City...
- Premier League
- The Central League
- The Football Combination