The new U21 Premier League


Amongst all the action from the return of the Premier League which has thrown up some crackers already this season. Along with a light soaking of controversy as per usual.
Some of you football intellectuals out there will be aware this season will feature a new Premier League which will be on offer to U21s.

As part of a much needed comprehensive review into youth development from the FA, This season will feature the start of the first national competition for U21 players. The league has been especially designed to help bridge the gap between Academy level and Firs Team Level. This league will feature 23 clubs who applied for the Category 1 status as part of the FA's categorisation process to support Youth development. For those interested the league will consist of 17 Premier League clubs and six championship clubs.




Now the league has already kicked off unfortunately (started on the 17 August)

A draw was recently held at the Premier League to determine which clubs will play up to the end of the year in three national groups: these are split into two groups of eight and one of seven clubs.

The groups are:
National Group One
Arsenal, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Everton, Norwich City, Reading, West Bromwich Albion, West Ham United

National Group Two
Aston Villa, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Southampton, Stoke City, Sunderland, Tottenham Hotspur, Watford

National Group Three
Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Liverpool, Manchester City, Middlesbrough, Wolverhampton Wanderers

Now here is the complicated and confusing part. The top three teams from National Group One and Two and the top two sides from National Group Three will qualify for the Elite Group, with the other clubs making it into Qualification Group Tier One or Qualification Group Tier Two depending on their finishing position.

The teams will again play eachother home and away with the top three teams from the Elite Group qualifying for the knockout semi-finals.
The winners of the two Qualification Groups will take part in a play-off to decide who will make up the quartet. The semi-final winners will then contest the final.

Now, does anyone remember how the Olympics Football squads worked? 3 over-aged players and the rest must be Under 21. Well this is exactly the same.
Matches take place during the week and on the weekends. I strongly advise anyone with an interest in football to go along and have a look. They are great fun and and tickets are normally cheap as chips. For example you could go and see Arsenal Under 21s for just £4 (adults) £2 (concessions). Good value for money and the fact you get to see some awesome stadiums aswell.

The most pleasing thing about this new league is simply the opportunity that it throws up for U21s who will find some opportunities hard to come by sometimes. So keep a eye out this season for the second Premier League.






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