| Founded | 1998; 27 years ago (1998) (as Scottish Premier under-18 League) |
|---|---|
| Country | Scotland |
| Divisions | 1 |
| Number of clubs | 17 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Domestic cup(s) | Scottish Youth Cup |
| Current champions | Hibernian (2017–18) |
TheSPFL Development League was the top level of youthfootball in Scotland, which was contested in various formats between 1998 and 2018.
A youth league was founded as theScottish Premier under-18 League in 1998. Clubs fielded under-18 teams, with theScottish Premier Reserve League originally being an under-21 league. The competition was changed in 2003 when it became theScottish Premier under-19 League. The teams played 22 matches rather than 30.
For the 2012–13 season, the competition changed again, this time to theScottish Premier under-20 league, there were 15 teams, and teams played 28 matches per season.[1] With the inception of theScottish Professional Football League for the2013–14 season, the league become theSPFL U20 League and the number of teams increased to 16.[2] Teams were allowed to field two over-age outfield players and an overagegoalkeeper.[3]
The league was renamed theSPFL Development League in 2014, with the number of teams increased to 17.[4] At this time two regional leagues were also introduced, with eight clubs competing in theDevelopment League West and nine clubs competing in theDevelopment League East.[5] The restriction on over-age players was relaxed, with teams now permitted to use five older players in a matchday squad of 18.[6]
The league was dissolved in 2018 and replaced by theSPFL Reserve Leagues.[7]
From2015 onwards, theUEFA Youth League provides a qualification route for 'domestic youth champions', in addition to clubs whose senior team reaches theUEFA Champions League group stage.[8] As the age group for the Development League is older than that of the UEFA Group League, Scotland's representative will be the winner of the Under-17 league, which plays competitive fixtures however does not reveal the results and tables publicly to minimise the scrutiny on the young players.[9] In 2015,[10] 2016,[11] and 2017,[12] the winners of the Under-17 league were Celtic; in 2018, Hamilton won the title,[13] and Rangers were the 2019 champions.[14]
| Season[15] | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 1993–94 | Aberdeen | Celtic |
| 1994–95 | Celtic | Aberdeen |
| 1995–96 | Rangers | Celtic |
| 1996–97 | Dundee United | Celtic |
| 1997–98 | Aberdeen | Dundee United |
| Season | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | Aberdeen | Celtic |
| 1999–00 | Celtic | Dundee United |
| 2000–01[16] | Heart of Midlothian | Livingston |
| 2001–02 | Rangers | Celtic |
| 2002–03 | Celtic | Rangers |
| Season | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2012–13 | Celtic | Aberdeen |
| 2013–14 | Celtic | Rangers |
| Season | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | Aberdeen[17] | Celtic |
| 2015–16 | Celtic[18] | Hamilton Academical |
| 2016–17 | Ross County[19] | Hamilton Academical |
| 2017–18 | Hibernian[20] | Dundee |
Although theScottish Premier League (SPL) superseded theScottish Football League (SFL) as the top division in 1998, the SFL continued to run an under-18 league until 2003, when the age group was split into under-17's and under-19's.[21] The SFL also ran a cup competition (not to be confused with theSFA Youth Cup) for the various age groups.[21] After the SFL ceased operation in 2013, with the foundation of theScottish Professional Football League (SPFL) in 2013, an under-19 league and cup competition was run alongside the new under-20 league.[22] There were also West and East Development Divisions operating under the main SPFL Development League between 2014 and 2018.[22] Club Academy Scotland (CAS), organised and managed by theScottish Football Association (SFA), began operating youth leagues with under-17 the top age group in 2014.[23] The under-17 age range was raised to under-18 by CAS in 2018.[23]
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