# 2022–23 Professional U18 Development League

The 2022–23 Professional U18 Development League was the 11th season of the Professional Development League system. There were 25 teams competing, divided into North and South divisions according to their region. Burnley U18s, Birmingham City U18s Did not return to the league after failing to retain category one academy status. Reading U18s left temporarily dropping to category 2 status. Manchester City U18s are two-time defending champions.

## North

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | |
| 1 | Manchester City U18s (C, Q) | 24 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 81 | 23 | +58 | 57 | Qualification for the National Final |
| 2 | Sunderland U18s | 24 | 17 | 2 | 5 | 63 | 30 | +33 | 53 | |
| 3 | Manchester United U18s | 24 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 56 | 39 | +17 | 44 | |
| 4 | Everton U18s | 24 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 43 | 41 | +2 | 33 | |
| 5 | Stoke City U18s | 24 | 9 | 5 | 10 | 31 | 39 | −8 | 32 | |
| 6 | Liverpool U18s | 24 | 9 | 4 | 11 | 55 | 54 | +1 | 31 | |
| 7 | Derby County U18s | 24 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 48 | 47 | +1 | 31 | |
| 8 | Middlesbrough U18s | 24 | 9 | 3 | 12 | 34 | 55 | −21 | 30 | |
| 9 | Nottingham Forest U18s | 24 | 8 | 5 | 11 | 37 | 43 | −6 | 29 | |
| 10 | Blackburn Rovers U18s | 24 | 8 | 2 | 14 | 37 | 56 | −19 | 26 | |
| 11 | Wolverhampton Wanderers U18s | 24 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 31 | 54 | −23 | 26 | |
| 12 | Newcastle United U18s | 24 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 42 | 54 | −12 | 24 | |
| 13 | Leeds United U18s | 24 | 5 | 5 | 14 | 44 | 67 | −23 | 20 | |

## South

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | |
| 1 | West Ham United U18s (C, Q) | 22 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 75 | 32 | +43 | 57 | Qualification for the National Final |
| 2 | Fulham U18s | 22 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 70 | 39 | +31 | 40 | |
| 3 | Crystal Palace U18s | 22 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 60 | 41 | +19 | 39 | |
| 4 | Chelsea U18s | 22 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 54 | 42 | +12 | 37 | |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur U18s | 22 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 51 | 45 | +6 | 36 | |
| 6 | Brighton & Hove Albion U18s | 22 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 32 | 48 | −16 | 29 | |
| 7 | West Bromwich Albion U18s | 22 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 32 | 42 | −10 | 24 | |
| 8 | Southampton U18s | 22 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 45 | 58 | −13 | 24 | |
| 9 | Leicester City U18s | 22 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 34 | 50 | −16 | 24 | |
| 10 | Aston Villa U18s | 22 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 43 | 63 | −20 | 24 | |
| 11 | Arsenal U18s | 22 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 43 | 51 | −8 | 23 | |
| 12 | Norwich City U18s | 22 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 32 | 60 | −28 | 16 | |

## Professional Development League 2

The 2022–23 Professional U18 Development League 2 was the 11th season of the Professional Development League system. 20 teams competed this season in the U18 Professional Development League 2. The 2022-23 Under-18 League 2, or Under-18s Professional Development League 2 as it is sometimes referred to, is Under-18 football's second tier, designed for those academies with Category 2 status. The league is 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 home or away. This results in both divisions playing 28 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. Burnley U18s, Birmingham City U18s returned to the league after failing to retain category one academy status. Reading U18s joined after temporarily dropping to category 2 status, but would leave after this season. Sheffield United U18s are the defending champions from the previous season.

### Tables
#### North Division

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Barnsley U18s | 28 | 21 | 4 | 3 | 81 | 34 | +47 | 67 | Qualification for Knock-out stage |
| 2 | Sheffield United U18s | 28 | 18 | 2 | 8 | 57 | 32 | +25 | 56 | Qualification for Knock-out stage |
| 3 | Peterborough United U18s | 28 | 17 | 2 | 9 | 59 | 42 | +17 | 53 | |
| 4 | Sheffield Wednesday U18s | 28 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 45 | 42 | +3 | 43 | |
| 5 | Crewe Alexandra U18s | 28 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 50 | 45 | +5 | 38 | |
| 6 | Coventry City U18s | 28 | 10 | 6 | 12 | 47 | 55 | −8 | 36 | |
| 7 | Burnley U18s | 28 | 9 | 6 | 13 | 42 | 51 | −9 | 33 | |
| 8 | Hull City U18s | 28 | 6 | 3 | 19 | 41 | 79 | −38 | 21 | |
| 9 | Birmingham City U18s | 28 | 5 | 5 | 18 | 43 | 74 | −31 | 20 | |
| 10 | Wigan Athletic U18s | 28 | 5 | 2 | 21 | 30 | 72 | −42 | 17 | |

#### South Division

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Charlton Athletic U18s | 28 | 17 | 3 | 8 | 84 | 47 | +37 | 54 | Qualification for Knock-out stage |
| 2 | Millwall U18s | 28 | 15 | 6 | 7 | 67 | 47 | +20 | 51 | Qualification for Knock-out stage |
| 3 | Cardiff City U18s | 28 | 16 | 1 | 11 | 63 | 45 | +18 | 49 | |
| 4 | Bristol City U18s | 28 | 15 | 3 | 10 | 73 | 51 | +22 | 48 | |
| 5 | Reading U18s | 28 | 13 | 6 | 9 | 55 | 47 | +8 | 45 | |
| 6 | Swansea City U18s | 28 | 12 | 6 | 10 | 61 | 66 | −5 | 42 | |
| 7 | Colchester United U18s | 28 | 12 | 3 | 13 | 55 | 65 | −10 | 39 | |
| 8 | Ipswich Town U18s | 28 | 10 | 3 | 15 | 58 | 74 | −16 | 33 | |
| 9 | Queens Park Rangers U18s | 28 | 9 | 2 | 17 | 53 | 69 | −16 | 29 | |
| 10 | Watford U18s | 28 | 7 | 4 | 17 | 42 | 69 | −27 | 25 | |

### Knock-out stage

Semi-finals
Professional Development League Two Play-Off Final

## EFL Youth Alliance

The EFL Youth Alliance also known as League 3 is run by the Football League under the auspices of the Football League Youth Alliance. This league is where the Category 3 and 4 Academies play. 46 teams competed this season, 2 more than the previous season. Hartlepool United U18s returned after a 3-year absence. Stockport County U18s arrived after being promoted to the football league as a Category 3 Academy for the very first time. Brentford U18s arrived after they reopened their academy for the first time since 2016 as a Category 4 Academy. However, for unknown reasons Tranmere Rovers U18s left the league. For clubs that get relegated to the National League, they have two years to gain promotion back to the EFL. Otherwise, they lose their license with the League.

### League stage

    As of match played 6 May 2023

#### North-East Division

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Harrogate Town U18s (C) | 20 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 40 | 16 | +24 | 45 | Northeast Division Championship Round |
| 2 | Bradford City U18s | 20 | 13 | 2 | 5 | 56 | 27 | +29 | 41 | Northeast Division Championship Round |
| 3 | Grimsby Town U18s | 20 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 41 | 35 | +6 | 36 | Northeast Division Championship Round |
| 4 | Doncaster Rovers U18s | 20 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 40 | 39 | +1 | 36 | Northeast Division Championship Round |
| 5 | Burton Albion U18s | 20 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 45 | 32 | +13 | 32 | Northeast Division Championship Round |
| 6 | Lincoln City U18s | 20 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 56 | 51 | +5 | 29 | Northeast Division Championship Round |
| 7 | Scunthorpe United U18s | 20 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 33 | 30 | +3 | 26 | Northeast Division Lower Round |
| 8 | Mansfield Town U18s | 20 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 38 | 40 | −2 | 26 | Northeast Division Lower Round |
| 9 | Huddersfield Town U18s | 20 | 7 | 1 | 12 | 36 | 52 | −16 | 22 | Northeast Division Lower Round |
| 10 | Hartlepool United U18s | 20 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 14 | 48 | −34 | 14 | Northeast Division Lower Round |
| 11 | Rotherham United U18s | 20 | 0 | 5 | 15 | 24 | 53 | −29 | 5 | Northeast Division Lower Round |

#### North-West Division

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Blackpool U18s (C) | 26 | 16 | 5 | 5 | 51 | 30 | +21 | 53 |
| 2 | Accrington Stanley U18s | 26 | 15 | 3 | 8 | 76 | 46 | +30 | 48 |
| 3 | Fleetwood Town U18s | 26 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 55 | 44 | +11 | 44 |
| 4 | Salford City U18s | 26 | 13 | 4 | 9 | 58 | 45 | +13 | 43 |
| 5 | Oldham Athletic U18s | 26 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 63 | 56 | +7 | 43 |
| 6 | Bolton Wanderers U18s | 26 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 49 | 36 | +13 | 42 |
| 7 | Carlisle United U18s | 26 | 12 | 5 | 9 | 46 | 46 | 0 | 41 |
| 8 | Shrewsbury Town U18s | 26 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 38 | 40 | −2 | 37 |
| 9 | Rochdale U18s | 26 | 10 | 5 | 11 | 47 | 45 | +2 | 35 |
| 10 | Preston North End U18s | 26 | 11 | 1 | 14 | 65 | 50 | +15 | 34 |
| 11 | Stockport County U18s | 26 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 37 | 54 | −17 | 28 |
| 12 | Morecambe U18s | 26 | 8 | 3 | 15 | 46 | 62 | −16 | 27 |
| 13 | Port Vale U18s | 26 | 6 | 5 | 15 | 44 | 66 | −22 | 23 |
| 14 | Walsall U18s | 26 | 3 | 5 | 18 | 28 | 83 | −55 | 14 |

#### South-East Division

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Luton Town U18s (C) | 20 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 84 | 12 | +72 | 54 | Merit League One |
| 2 | AFC Wimbledon U18s | 20 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 50 | 25 | +25 | 42 | Merit League One |
| 3 | Stevenage U18s | 20 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 44 | 35 | +9 | 36 | Merit League One |
| 4 | Gillingham U18s | 20 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 42 | 36 | +6 | 33 | Merit League One |
| 5 | Sutton United U18s | 20 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 31 | 39 | −8 | 28 | Merit League One |
| 6 | Cambridge United U18s | 20 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 36 | 37 | −1 | 23 | Merit League One |
| 7 | Southend United U18s | 20 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 31 | 60 | −29 | 23 | Merit League Two |
| 8 | Brentford U18s | 20 | 7 | 1 | 12 | 27 | 50 | −23 | 22 | Merit League Two |
| 9 | Northampton Town U18s | 20 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 28 | 35 | −7 | 21 | Merit League Two |
| 10 | Milton Keynes Dons U18s | 20 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 29 | 51 | −22 | 21 | Merit League Two |
| 11 | Leyton Orient U18s | 20 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 20 | 42 | −22 | 14 | Merit League Two |

#### South-West Division

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | AFC Bournemouth U18s (C) | 18 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 44 | 22 | +22 | 42 | Merit League One |
| 2 | Plymouth Argyle U18s | 18 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 52 | 17 | +35 | 40 | Merit League One |
| 3 | Portsmouth U18s | 18 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 44 | 27 | +17 | 36 | Merit League One |
| 4 | Oxford United U18s | 18 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 40 | 27 | +13 | 29 | Merit League One |
| 5 | Swindon Town U18s | 18 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 34 | 42 | −8 | 28 | Merit League One |
| 6 | Exeter City U18s | 18 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 37 | 39 | −2 | 24 | Merit League Two |
| 7 | Newport County U18s | 18 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 31 | 48 | −17 | 15 | Merit League Two |
| 8 | Bristol Rovers U18s | 18 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 22 | 40 | −18 | 14 | Merit League Two |
| 9 | Cheltenham Town U18s | 18 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 25 | 44 | −19 | 14 | Merit League Two |
| 10 | Forest Green Rovers U18s | 18 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 17 | 40 | −23 | 9 | Merit League Two |

### Merit League Stage

The teams in the Southeast and Southwest Divisions played another 9 or 10 games to determine the champions of Merit League One and Merit League Two.

#### Merit League One

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Luton Town U18s (C) | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 21 | 11 | +10 | 21 |
| 2 | Swindon Town U18s | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 24 | 18 | +6 | 20 |
| 3 | Gillingham U18s | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 22 | 19 | +3 | 17 |
| 4 | Portsmouth U18s | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 18 | 12 | +6 | 16 |
| 5 | Stevenage U18s | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 19 | 14 | +5 | 12 |
| 6 | Plymouth Argyle U18s | 10 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 19 | 15 | +4 | 12 |
| 7 | AFC Wimbledon U18s | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 18 | 20 | −2 | 12 |
| 8 | AFC Bournemouth U18s | 9 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 21 | 27 | −6 | 12 |
| 9 | Cambridge United U18s | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 18 | 24 | −6 | 10 |
| 10 | Oxford United U18s | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 22 | −10 | 10 |
| 11 | Sutton United U18s | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 17 | −10 | 8 |

#### Merit League Two

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Northampton Town U18s (C) | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 24 | 10 | +14 | 21 |
| 2 | Bristol Rovers U18s | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 13 | +6 | 17 |
| 3 | Leyton Orient U18s | 9 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 18 | 21 | −3 | 13 |
| 4 | Exeter City U18s | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 24 | 18 | +6 | 12 |
| 5 | Brentford U18s | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 21 | −2 | 12 |
| 6 | Milton Keynes Dons U18s | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 18 | 16 | +2 | 11 |
| 7 | Newport County U18s | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 26 | 31 | −5 | 11 |
| 8 | Forest Green Rovers U18s | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 16 | −4 | 10 |
| 9 | Cheltenham Town U18s | 9 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 9 |
| 10 | Southend United U18s | 9 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 21 | 35 | −14 | 5 |

### Northeast Division 2nd Phase

Only 4 games were played but they were added in the regular season averages.

#### North-East Merit Championship Group

These games include the regular season matches.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Bradford City U18s (C) | 25 | 16 | 4 | 5 | 67 | 31 | +36 | 52 |
| 2 | Harrogate Town U18s | 25 | 15 | 6 | 4 | 47 | 23 | +24 | 51 |
| 3 | Doncaster Rovers U18s | 25 | 12 | 6 | 7 | 47 | 47 | 0 | 42 |
| 4 | Burton Albion U18s | 25 | 13 | 2 | 10 | 52 | 38 | +14 | 41 |
| 5 | Grimsby Town U18s | 25 | 12 | 4 | 9 | 48 | 44 | +4 | 40 |
| 6 | Lincoln City U18s | 25 | 9 | 6 | 10 | 62 | 62 | 0 | 33 |

#### North-East Division Lower Table Round

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Mansfield Town U18s (C) | 24 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 51 | 49 | +2 | 35 |
| 2 | Scunthorpe United U18s | 24 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 41 | 36 | +5 | 33 |
| 3 | Huddersfield Town U18s | 24 | 8 | 1 | 15 | 40 | 61 | −21 | 25 |
| 4 | Hartlepool United U18s | 24 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 21 | 58 | −37 | 16 |
| 5 | Rotherham United U18s | 24 | 2 | 6 | 16 | 32 | 59 | −27 | 12 |