The 2008–09 Premier Reserve League (officially known as the 2008–09 Barclays Premier Reserve League for sponsorship reasons) is the tenth season since the establishment of the Premier Reserve League. The season began on 1 September 2008, and ended with the play-off final on 21 May 2009.
The events in the senior leagues during the 2007–08 season saw Birmingham City, Derby County and Reading all relegated and replaced by the promoted teams Hull City, Stoke City, and West Bromwich Albion.
Sunderland won Premier Reserve League North title after beating Manchester City 3–0 on 14 April 2009. Aston Villa sealed the Premier Reserve League South title for a second successive season with a 2–0 win over West Bromwich Albion on 27 April.
On 21 May, Aston Villa were crowned the 2008–09 Premier Reserve League Champions after a 3–1 win against Sunderland in the Play-off Final at Villa Park. It is Aston Villa Reserves' first national title.
Tables
Premier Reserve League North Pos Club Pld W D L F A GD Pts1Sunderland Reserves (C)2013433313+20432Manchester United Reserves2010643519+16363Blackburn Rovers Reserves209653019+11334Newcastle United Reserves2095634304325Manchester City Reserves20100103229+3306Wigan Athletic Reserves2083102536−11247Liverpool Reserves2057826260228Everton Reserves205781925−6229Hull City Reserves 206492236−142210Middlesbrough Reserves2063112633−72111Bolton Wanderers Reserves2063112238−1621
Premier Reserve League South Pos Club Pld W D L F A GD Pts1Aston Villa Reserves (C)1611322913+16362Tottenham Hotspur Reserves1610152619+7313Fulham Reserves167542820+8264Portsmouth Reserves168171825−7255West Ham United Reserves167181926−7226Arsenal Reserves165371722−5197Chelsea Reserves165382826+2188Stoke City Reserves1642101823−5149West Bromwich Albion Reserves1642102029−914 Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd goal difference; 3rd goals scoredPos = Position; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points; C = Champions
Play-off Final
Top scorers
Premier Reserve League North RankPlayerTeamGoals1 Federico MachedaManchester United92 Tom CraddockMiddlesbrough7 Mark DoningerNewcastle United7 Nile RangerNewcastle United75 David BallManchester City6 Tomasz CywkaWigan Athletic6 David DowsonSunderland68 Andy CarrollNewcastle United5 Alan JudgeBlackburn Rovers5 Paul MarshallManchester City5 James VaughanEverton5 Carlos VillanuevaBlackburn Rovers5
Premier Reserve League South RankPlayerTeamGoals1 Tom KilbeyPortsmouth5 Freddie SearsWest Ham United53 Giles BarnesFulham4 Fabio BoriniChelsea4 Wayne BrownFulham4 Nathan DelfounesoAston Villa4 Lateef Elford-AlliyuWest Bromwich Albion4 Jonathan HoggAston Villa4 Mark RandallArsenal4 Adel TaarabtTottenham Hotspur4 Michael UwezuFulham4
Promotion and relegation Teams relegated from the Premier Reserve League at the end of this season: West Bromwich Albion Reserves (South) Middlesbrough Reserves (North) Newcastle United Reserves (North) Teams promoted to the Premier Reserve League next season: Wolverhampton Wanderers Reserves (South) Birmingham City Reserves (South) Burnley Reserves (North)
See also Premier Academy League 2008–09 FA Youth Cup 2008–09 Premier League 2008–09 2008–09 in English football
Match reports Premier Reserve League NorthPremier Reserve League SouthBlackburn Rovers | Bolton Wanderers | Everton Hull City | Liverpool | Manchester City | Manchester United Middlesbrough | Newcastle United | Sunderland | Wigan AthleticArsenal | Aston Villa | Chelsea Fulham | Portsmouth | Stoke City Tottenham Hotspur | West Brom | West Ham United
External links Premier Reserve League 2008–09 tables Premier Reserve League 2008–09 results (north) Premier Reserve League 2008–09 results (south)