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
PosClubPWDLFAGDPts1Chelsea U23s (C)1810803420+14382Leicester City U23s1810533621+15353Brighton & Hove Albion U23s1810173626+10314Derby County U23s187653332+1275Liverpool U23s1775534340266Arsenal U23s1867532320257Everton U23s185763233–1228Blackburn Rovers U23s176382726+1219Manchester City U23s186393029+12110Tottenham Hotspur U23s186393134–32111Southampton U23s1843112347–241512Wolverhampton Wanderers U23s (R)1825112135–1411
Results
Division 2 Table
PosClubPWDLFAGDPts1West Ham United U23s (P)1814405821+37462Manchester United U23s (P)1714124517+28433West Bromwich Albion U23s1611143822+16344Stoke City U23s188373227+5275Middlesbrough U23s188283443–9266Newcastle United U23s188192932–3257Aston Villa U23s176472728–1228Swansea City U23s176382232–10219Reading U23s1862103537–22010Fulham U23s1862102632–62011Norwich City U23s1752102335–121712Sunderland U23s1801171053–431
Results
Top goalscorers
Division 1
Rank Player Club Goals1 Folarin BalogunArsenal U23s10 Jahmal Hector-IngramDerby County U23s3 Jayden BraafArsenal U23s9 George HirstLeicester City U23s Curtis JonesLiverpool U23s5 Admiral MuskweLeicester City U23s8 Ellis SimmsEverton U23s8 Peter GwargisBrighton & Hove Albion U23s7
Division 2
Rank Player Club Goals1 Nathan HollandWest Ham United U23s12 Anthony ScullyWest Ham United U23s3 Rumarn BurrellMiddlesbrough U23s104 Largie RamazaniManchester United U23s9 Rayhaan TullochWest Bromwich Albion U23s6 Liam CullenSwansea City U23s10 James GarnerManchester United U23s Daniel KempReading U23s Ben LiddleMiddlesbrough U23s10 Gassan AhadmeNorwich City U23s7 Thomas AllanNewcastle United U23s Jamie SouleWest Bromwich Albion U23s
Hat-tricks
Player For Against Result Date Division Andrija Novakovich Reading U23s Newcastle United U23s 6–0 (H) Division 2 Folarin Balogun Arsenal U23sBlackburn Rovers U23s 3–1 (H) Division 1 Martell Taylor-Crossdale Fulham U23s Reading U23s 5–4 (H) Division 2 Dominic Samuel Blackburn Rovers U23sTottenham Hotspur U23s 4–0 (H) Division 1 Danny Loader Reading U23s Aston Villa U23s 3–3 (H) Division 2 Jamie Bowden Tottenham Hotspur U23sLiverpool U23s 4–0 (H) Division 1 Note (H) – Home; (A) – Away
Awards Player of the season: Curtis Jones (Liverpool U23s)
Player of the Month MonthPlayerClubRef.August Billy GilmourChelsea U23sSeptember Anthony ScullyWest Ham United U23sOctober Jahmal Hector-IngramDerby County U23sNovember Nathan HollandWest Ham United U23sDecember Tahith ChongManchester United U23sJanuary Liam CullenSwansea City U23sFebruary Adrian BernabeManchester City U23s
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.
North Division
South Division
Top goalscorers
Rank Player Club Goals1 Sam DalbyWatford U23s152 George AlexanderMillwall U23s143 Brennan JohnsonNottingham Forest U23s124 Joseph HungboWatford U23s115 Max BiamouNottingham Forest U23s8 Ryan EdmondsonLeeds United U23s Michael FernandesColchester United U23s Ali KoikiBurnley U23s Fraser PrestonSheffield Wednesday U23s Elliot SimoesBarnsley U23s Reece YorkSheffield United U23s
Hat-tricks
Player For Against Result Date Ali Koiki Burnley U23sIpswich Town U23s 3–1 (H) Charlie Jolley Wigan Athletic U23sWatford U23s 1–4 (A) Chuma Anene Crewe Alexandra U23sSheffield United U23s 5–1 (H) Brandon Pierrick Crystal Palace U23sMillwall U23s 4–2 (H) Sam Dalby Watford U23sBristol City U23s 1–6 (A) Aaron Lomas Crewe Alexandra U23sSheffield United U23s 2–3 (A) Note (H) – Home; (A) – Away
See also 2019–20 in English football
References