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
South
National Final
Top goalscorers
Rank Player Club Goals1 Justin OboavwoduoManchester City U18s182 Aaron Loupalo-BiFulham U18s173 Callum MarshallWest Ham United U18s164 Martin SherifEverton U18s145 Joel NdalaManchester City U18s13 Jake WatersSunderland U18s7 Gideon KoduaWest Ham United U18s12 Lewis KoumasLiverpool U18s Amani Richards Leicester City U18s10 Omari BenjaminArsenal U18s11 Lemar GordonFulham U18s Zach MarshCrystal Palace U18s Donnell McNeillyChelsea U18s
Hat-tricks
Player For Against Result Date Callum Marshall West Ham United U18s Crystal Palace U18s 2–3 (A) Lewis Koumas4 Liverpool U18sMiddlesbrough U18s 6–2 (H) Oliver Bainbridge Sunderland U18sEverton U18s 2–3 (A) Tom Watson Sunderland U18sMiddlesbrough U18s 6–3 (H) Omari Benjamin Arsenal U18s Tottenham Hotspur U18s 4–1 (H) Ben Andreucci Leeds United U18sSunderland U18s 5–2 (H) Charlie Lutz Aston Villa U18sWest Bromwich Albion U18s 3–3 (A) Alfie Harrison Manchester City U18sBlackburn Rovers U18s 5–0 (H) Detlef Esapa Osong Nottingham Forest U18sWolverhampton Wanderers U18s 1–4 (A) Will Lankshear Tottenham Hotspur U18sWest Ham United U18s 4–3 (A) Detlef Esapa Osong Nottingham Forest U18sMiddlesbrough U18s 0–4 (A) Jaydan Davidson Derby County U18sEverton U18s 3–3 (H) Martin Sherif Everton U18sDerby County U18s 3–3 (A) Johnny Emerson Newcastle United U18sLeeds United U18s 6–4 (H) Lemar Gordon Fulham U18sSouthampton U18s 5–2 (H) Omari Benjamin Arsenal U18sWest Bromwich Albion U18s 1–4 (A) Connor Brown Nottingham Forest U18sBlackburn Rovers U18s 2–4 (A) Zach Marsh Crystal Palace U18sSouthampton U18s 1–7 (A) Keyrol Figueroa Liverpool U18sWolverhampton Wanderers U18s 3–0 (H) Lennon Wheeldon Derby County U18sLiverpool U18s 5–2 (H) Leon Chiwome Wolverhampton Wanderers U18sLeeds United U18s 5–2 (H) Rory Wilson Aston Villa U18sLeicester City U18s 5–2 (H) Dominic Ballard Southampton U18sArsenal U18s 5–1 (H) Note (H) – Home; (A) – Away 4 – player scored 4 goals
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
South Division
Knock-out stage Semi-finals
Professional Development League Two Play-Off Final
Top goalscorers
Rank Player Club Goals1 Patrick CaseyCharlton Athletic U18s302 Iwan MorganSwansea City U18s243 Henry HearnMillwall U18s234 Tanatswa NyakuhwaCardiff City U18s185 Kurtis HavenhandSheffield United U18s16 Reuben MarshallPeterborough United U18s7 Ryan HukeCharlton Athletic U18s148 Josiah DyerBarnsley U18s139 Geoffroy BonySwansea City U18s1210 Joe WestleyBurnley U18s11 Caylan VickersReading U18s
Hat-tricks
Player For Against Result Date Patrick Casey Charlton Athletic U18s Sheffield United U18s 3–0 (H) Tim ap Sion Bristol City U18s Hull City U18s 9–0 (H) Kai Enslin Charlton Athletic U18sSwansea City U18s 3–5 (A) Rio Oudnie-Morgan Ipswich Town U18sSwansea City U18s 5–0 (H) Henry Hearn4 Millwall U18sColchester United U18s 2–7 (A) Trialist Watford U18sQueens Park Rangers U18s 5–2 (H) Henry Hearn Millwall U18sCharlton Athletic U18s 4–4 (H) Jaedyn Chibanga Hull City U18sBurnley U18s 3–4 (H) Joe Westley Burnley U18sHull City U18s 3–4 (A) Michael Adu-Poku Watford U18sMillwall U18s 5–5 (H) Ryan Huke Charlton Athletic U18sIpswich Town U18s 6–0 (H) Iwan Morgan4 Swansea City U18sColchester United U18s 5–5 (A) Alex Anaman Barnsley U18sPeterborough United U18s 4–1 (H) Iwan Morgan Swansea City U18sQueens Park Rangers U18s 4–5 (A) Henry Hearn4 Millwall U18sCardiff City U18s 0–4 (A) Tanatswa Nyakuhwa Cardiff City U18sSwansea City U18s 1–4 (A) Calum Agius Crewe Alexandra U18sHull City U18s 7–2 (H) Trey George Cardiff City U18sSheffield Wednesday U18s 7–2 (H) Geoffroy Bony Swansea City U18sWatford U18s 7–2 (H) Calum Agius Crewe Alexandra U18sWigan Athletic U18s 7–1 (H) Patrick Casey4 Charlton Athletic U18sHull City U18s 5–2 (H) Josiah Dyer Barnsley U18sColchester United U18s 0–3 (A) Stafford Clarke Sheffield United U18sWatford U18s 1–4 (A) Iwan Morgan Swansea City U18sIpswich Town U18s 5–3 (H) Chuks Uzor Ipswich Town U18sSwansea City U18s 5–3 (A) Patrick Casey Charlton Athletic U18sCoventry City U18s 4–1 (H) Iwan Morgan4 Swansea City U18sWigan Athletic U18s 7–3 (H) Harrison Bettoni Wigan Athletic U18sSwansea City U18s 7–3 (A) Tom Taylor Ipswich Town U18sWatford U18s 2–6 (A) Note (H) – Home; (A) – Away 4 – player scored 4 goals
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
North-East Division
North-West Division
South-East Division
South-West Division
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
Merit League Two
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.
North-East Division Lower Table Round
See also 2022–23 in English football References