Premier Academy League
Encyclopedia
The Premier Academy League (sometimes abbreviated as FAPAL) 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. It sits above the second tier of youth football, The Football League Youth Alliance
, which is for the remaining Football League clubs and some Football Conference
clubs with Centre of Excellence. The most successful team is Arsenal
, having won 5 titles.
as the top level of youth football. Clubs fielded Under-18 teams, with up to three Under-19 players allowed per match. 16 teams were split into Northern and Southern conferences of 8 teams each; teams played others within their own conference twice and teams from the other conference once. At the end of the season all the teams were paired into rounds of play-offs played over two legs in a knockout system. The inaugural winners were Arsenal
, who beat Tottenham Hotspur
2-1 on aggregate in the final.
The competition was revamped in 1998 with the introduction of the Football Association
's Academy system and renamed the FA Premier Academy League. The competition was divided into Under-19 and Under-17 sections, and more teams were admitted - 32 in total, split into four conferences (two Southern, two Northern) of eight teams each. Teams played those within their own conference twice and the team from the other conference in their region once, again with play-offs between all teams at the end.
The U19 competition was expanded to 40 teams in five groups of 8 in 1999-00, before being reorganised into four groups of ten in 2000-01. The play-off format was revamped in 2003-04, with only the four group winners proceeding to the play-offs.
The league was reorganised yet again in 2004-05
season, with the league being reformed as a single Under-18 competition (players are aged under 18 on the preceding 31 August), with up to 3 Under-19 outfield players and 1 Under-19 goalkeeper allowed per team per match. Teams also compete at an Under-16 level in identically formed groups, but these are played as friendlies – no league table is maintained and no play-offs are contested. This format has remained to the present day.
(d) - defunct
Football in England
Association football is a national sport in England, where the first modern set of rules for the code were established in 1863, which were a major influence on the development of the modern Laws of the Game...
England
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...
. It is contested between the Academy sides of The Premier League and some Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
clubs, including Welsh side Cardiff City. It sits above the second tier of youth football, The Football League Youth Alliance
Football League Youth Alliance
The Football League Youth Alliance is the second tier of youth football competition in England, beneath the FA Premier Academy League...
, which is for the remaining Football League clubs and some Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
clubs with Centre of Excellence. The most successful team is Arsenal
Arsenal F.C. Academy
Arsenal Football Club Academy are the youth team of Arsenal Football Club. They currently play in the FA Premier Academy League, the highest level of youth football in England...
, having won 5 titles.
History
The league was founded as the FA Premier Youth League in 1997, replacing regionally-based youth leagues such as the South East Counties LeagueSouth East Counties League
The South East Counties League was a football league for the youth teams of clubs from Southern England.The competition grew out of the Middlesex Youth Invitation Cup set up in the 1950s by the Middlesex FA and was formerly known as the South East Counties Youth Football League...
as the top level of youth football. Clubs fielded Under-18 teams, with up to three Under-19 players allowed per match. 16 teams were split into Northern and Southern conferences of 8 teams each; teams played others within their own conference twice and teams from the other conference once. At the end of the season all the teams were paired into rounds of play-offs played over two legs in a knockout system. The inaugural winners were Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, who beat Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
2-1 on aggregate in the final.
The competition was revamped in 1998 with the introduction of the Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
's Academy system and renamed the FA Premier Academy League. The competition was divided into Under-19 and Under-17 sections, and more teams were admitted - 32 in total, split into four conferences (two Southern, two Northern) of eight teams each. Teams played those within their own conference twice and the team from the other conference in their region once, again with play-offs between all teams at the end.
The U19 competition was expanded to 40 teams in five groups of 8 in 1999-00, before being reorganised into four groups of ten in 2000-01. The play-off format was revamped in 2003-04, with only the four group winners proceeding to the play-offs.
The league was reorganised yet again in 2004-05
2004-05 in English football
The 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League...
season, with the league being reformed as a single Under-18 competition (players are aged under 18 on the preceding 31 August), with up to 3 Under-19 outfield players and 1 Under-19 goalkeeper allowed per team per match. Teams also compete at an Under-16 level in identically formed groups, but these are played as friendlies – no league table is maintained and no play-offs are contested. This format has remained to the present day.
Current participants
The participants for the 2009-10 season in the Under-18 League are:| Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Birmingham City F.C. Reserves and Academy Birmingham City F.C. Reserves and Academy are the reserve team and the youth development system respectively of Birmingham City Football Club. The reserve team, established in 1879, played in the Premier Reserve League South in the 2009–10 season but have not entered a league since... Bristol City F.C. Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City... Cardiff City F.C. Academy The Cardiff City F.C. Academy is the youth academy currently set up at Cardiff City in order to discover and nurture young talent. The academy has a range of players from ages seven to 18.-Information:... Coventry City F.C. Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry... Leicester City F.C. Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester... Milton Keynes Dons F.C. .Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire... 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... 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... |
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.... 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... Crewe Alexandra F.C. Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club... Finch Farm Finch Farm is the training ground for Everton F.C., in the Liverpool suburb of Halewood.The School of Science is the nickname given to the complex by some supporters, referring to a long-standing nickname for the club. The training ground houses both the Everton first team and the youth academy... 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... 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... 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... 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... |
Barnsley F.C. Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's... 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... Huddersfield Town F.C. Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One... Leeds United A.F.C. Reserves and Youth Team Leeds United Reserves are the reserve team of Leeds United A.F.C.. The manager of the reserves is Neil Redfearn and they currently play at the first team's home ground, Elland Road. In previous seasons, the reserves have played at York City's Bootham Crescent and the South Leeds Stadium... Newcastle United F.C. Reserves and Academy Newcastle United F.C. Reserves and Academy are the reserve and academy teams for the Premier League club Newcastle United.The reserve team plays in the Premier Reserve League North. It also participates in the Northumberland Senior Cup each season... Nottingham Forest F.C. Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship... Sheffield Wednesday F.C. Academy Sheffield Wednesday Football Club Youth Academy are the youth team of Sheffield Wednesday. Their Under-18 team play in the highest level of youth football in England, The FA Premier Academy League.... Sheffield United F.C. Academy Sheffield United Football Club Youth Academy are the youth team of Sheffield United. The Under-18 team play in the highest level of youth football in England, The FA Premier Academy League Group D.... |
Current structure
All teams play each other in the group twice and play 10 inter-group fixtures, producing 28 games a season. The four group winners enter the playoffs, which is a straight knockout format.Past winners
| FA Premier Youth League (Under-18) | References | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | Arsenal U18s Arsenal F.C. Academy Arsenal Football Club Academy are the youth team of Arsenal Football Club. They currently play in the FA Premier Academy League, the highest level of youth football in England... |
||
| FA Premier Academy League | |||
| Under-19 | Under-17 | ||
| 1998–99 | West Ham United West Ham United F.C. West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current... U19s |
Blackburn Rovers 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.... U17s |
|
| 1999-00 | West Ham United West Ham United F.C. West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current... U19s |
Arsenal U17s Arsenal F.C. Academy Arsenal Football Club Academy are the youth team of Arsenal Football Club. They currently play in the FA Premier Academy League, the highest level of youth football in England... |
|
| 2000–01 | Nottingham Forest Nottingham Forest F.C. Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship... U19s |
Ipswich Town 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.... U17s |
|
| 2001–02 | Arsenal U19s Arsenal F.C. Academy Arsenal Football Club Academy are the youth team of Arsenal Football Club. They currently play in the FA Premier Academy League, the highest level of youth football in England... |
Newcastle United U17s Newcastle United F.C. Reserves and Academy Newcastle United F.C. Reserves and Academy are the reserve and academy teams for the Premier League club Newcastle United.The reserve team plays in the Premier Reserve League North. It also participates in the Northumberland Senior Cup each season... |
|
| 2002–03 | Blackburn Rovers 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.... U19s |
Leeds United U17s Leeds United A.F.C. Reserves and Youth Team Leeds United Reserves are the reserve team of Leeds United A.F.C.. The manager of the reserves is Neil Redfearn and they currently play at the first team's home ground, Elland Road. In previous seasons, the reserves have played at York City's Bootham Crescent and the South Leeds Stadium... |
|
| 2003–04 | Southampton U19s Southampton F.C. Academy Southampton Football Club Academy or Saints Academy is the youth organisation run by Southampton Football Club to encourage and develop young footballers in the South of England... |
Aston Villa U17s 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... |
|
| Premier Academy League (Under-18) | |||
| 2004–05 | Blackburn Rovers 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.... U18s |
||
| 2005-06 | Southampton U18s Southampton F.C. Academy Southampton Football Club Academy or Saints Academy is the youth organisation run by Southampton Football Club to encourage and develop young footballers in the South of England... |
||
| 2006–07 | Leicester City U18s | ||
| 2007–08 Premier Academy League 2007-08 The 2007–08 Premier Academy League season is the tenth since its establishment, and the fourth under the current name and make-up. Aston Villa were crowned the 2007–08 Premier Academy League Champions after beating Manchester City 2–0 in the Play-off Final, with goals from James Collins and Chris... |
Aston Villa U18s | ||
| 2008–09 | Arsenal U18s Arsenal F.C. Academy Arsenal Football Club Academy are the youth team of Arsenal Football Club. They currently play in the FA Premier Academy League, the highest level of youth football in England... |
||
| 2009–10 | Arsenal U18s Arsenal F.C. Academy Arsenal Football Club Academy are the youth team of Arsenal Football Club. They currently play in the FA Premier Academy League, the highest level of youth football in England... |
||
| 2010–11 2010–11 Premier Academy League The 2010–11 Premier Academy League Under–18 season is the fourteenth edition since the establishment of The Premier Academy League, and the seventh under the current make-up.... |
Everton U18s Everton F.C. Reserves and Academy -Reserves:Everton Reserves compete in the Premier Reserve League Northern Section and play their matches at the Halton Stadium in Widnes as part of an arrangement with Halton Borough Council. Matches are held mid-week, commonly Monday or Tuesday nights... |
||
List of winners
| Team | U18 titles |
U19 (d) titles |
U17 (d) titles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal youth Arsenal F.C. Academy Arsenal Football Club Academy are the youth team of Arsenal Football Club. They currently play in the FA Premier Academy League, the highest level of youth football in England... |
3 | 1 | 1 |
| Blackburn Rovers 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.... youth |
1 | 1 | 1 |
| Aston Villa youth | 1 | 1 | |
| Southampton youth Southampton F.C. Academy Southampton Football Club Academy or Saints Academy is the youth organisation run by Southampton Football Club to encourage and develop young footballers in the South of England... |
1 | 1 | |
| Everton youth Everton F.C. Reserves and Academy -Reserves:Everton Reserves compete in the Premier Reserve League Northern Section and play their matches at the Halton Stadium in Widnes as part of an arrangement with Halton Borough Council. Matches are held mid-week, commonly Monday or Tuesday nights... |
1 | ||
| West Ham United West Ham United F.C. West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current... youth |
2 | ||
| Nottingham Forest Nottingham Forest F.C. Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship... youth |
1 | ||
| Leicester City Leicester City F.C. Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester... youth |
1 | ||
| Ipswich Town 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.... youth |
1 | ||
| Newcastle United youth Newcastle United F.C. Reserves and Academy Newcastle United F.C. Reserves and Academy are the reserve and academy teams for the Premier League club Newcastle United.The reserve team plays in the Premier Reserve League North. It also participates in the Northumberland Senior Cup each season... |
1 | ||
| Leeds United youth Leeds United A.F.C. Reserves and Youth Team Leeds United Reserves are the reserve team of Leeds United A.F.C.. The manager of the reserves is Neil Redfearn and they currently play at the first team's home ground, Elland Road. In previous seasons, the reserves have played at York City's Bootham Crescent and the South Leeds Stadium... |
1 | ||
(d) - defunct
See also
- Premier Reserve League
- FA Youth CupFA Youth CupThe Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
- Football League Youth AllianceFootball League Youth AllianceThe Football League Youth Alliance is the second tier of youth football competition in England, beneath the FA Premier Academy League...
- Premier League
- The Football LeagueThe Football LeagueThe Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...