2019–20 Professional U23 Development League


The 2019–20 Professional U23 Development League was the eighth season of the Professional Development League system.
The competition was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic after group stage matches on 12 March 2020, and was originally to restart in June 2020. However, the season was eventually cancelled on 1 May 2020. The league was decided on a points-per-game system in August 2020 with Chelsea winning the Division 1 title and Wolverhampton Wanderers being relegated. In Division 2, West Ham United and Manchester United were promoted with no promotion play-offs being played.

Premier League 2

Division 1

Table

PosClubPWDLFAGDPts
1Chelsea U23s '1810803420+1438
2Leicester City U23s1810533621+1535
3Brighton & Hove Albion U23s1810173626+1031
4Derby County U23s187653332+127
5Liverpool U23s177553434026
6Arsenal U23s186753232025
7Everton U23s185763233–122
8Blackburn Rovers U23s176382726+121
9Manchester City U23s186393029+121
10Tottenham Hotspur U23s186393134–321
11Southampton U23s1843112347–2415
12Wolverhampton Wanderers U23s '1825112135–1411

Division 2

Table

PosClubPWDLFAGDPts
1West Ham United U23s '1814405821+3746
2Manchester United U23s '1714124517+2843
3West Bromwich Albion U23s1611143822+1634
4Stoke City U23s188373227+527
5Middlesbrough U23s188283443–926
6Newcastle United U23s188192932–325
7Aston Villa U23s176472728–122
8Swansea City U23s176382232–1021
9Reading U23s1862103537–220
10Fulham U23s1862102632–620
11Norwich City U23s1752102335–1217
12Sunderland U23s1801171053–431

Hat-tricks

PlayerForAgainstResultDateDivision
Andrija NovakovichReading U23sNewcastle United U23s6–0 12 08 2019Division 2
Folarin BalogunArsenal U23sBlackburn Rovers U23s3–1 12 08 2019Division 1
Martell Taylor-CrossdaleFulham U23sReading U23s5–4 20 09 2019Division 2
Dominic SamuelBlackburn Rovers U23sTottenham Hotspur U23s4–0 23 09 2019Division 1
Danny LoaderReading U23sAston Villa U23s3–3 28 10 2019Division 2
Jamie BowdenTottenham Hotspur U23sLiverpool U23s4–0 6 12 2019Division 1

;Note
– Home; – Away

Awards

Player of the season: Curtis Jones

Professional Development League

The 2019–20 Professional Development League season was the eighth campaign of post-EPPP under-23 football's second tier, designed for those academies with Category Two status. A total of 21 teams were 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. The teams that finished in the top two places in both regions at the end of the season were supposed to advance to the knockout stage to determine the overall league champion, but the season was halted in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England. Leeds United U23s were the defending champions.
21 Teams competed in the league this season, 1 more than last season. Wigan Athletic U23s acquired Category Two status in July 2019 and joined the North Division this season after a six year absence.

Tables

Final league positions were determined by points per game methodology due to season curtailment.

Hat-tricks

PlayerForAgainstResultDate
Ali KoikiBurnley U23sIpswich Town U23s3–1 19 09 2019
Charlie JolleyWigan Athletic U23sWatford U23s1–4 26 09 2019
Chuma AneneCrewe Alexandra U23sSheffield United U23s5–1 23 10 2019
Brandon PierrickCrystal Palace U23sMillwall U23s4–2 25 11 2019
Sam DalbyWatford U23sBristol City U23s1–6 6 1 2020
Aaron LomasCrewe Alexandra U23sSheffield United U23s2–3 20 1 2020

;Note
– Home; – Away