Premier Academy League

Infobox football league

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pixels = 160
country = ENG
founded = 1997
divisions = 4
teams = 40
relegation = Football League Youth Alliance
levels = 1
domest_cup = FA Youth Cup
champions = Aston Villa U18s
season = 2007–08
current = 2008–09 seasonThe Premier Academy League is the top level of youth football in England. It is contested between the Academy sides of Premier League and Football League clubs. It sits above the second tier of youth football, the Football League Youth Alliance, which is for Football League clubs with Centres of Excellence.

History

The league was founded as the FA Premier Youth League in 1997, replacing regionally-based youth leagues such as the South East Counties 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, 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 31st 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

*"See Premier Academy League 2008-09 for the 2008-09 season ongoing league tables."

The participants for the 2008-09 season in the Under-18 League are:

Current structure

All teams play each other in the group twice and play 10 inter-group fixtures, producing 28 games a season.

Past winners

References

ee also

*Premier League
*Premier Reserve League
*FA Youth Cup
*Football League Youth Alliance

External links

* [http://www.premierleague.com/page/Publications/ Premier Academy League Bulletin]
* [http://www.premierleague.com/staticFiles/a7/7c/0,,12306~97447,00.pdf Premier Academy League 2007-08 Handbook]