The under 21s were saved from relegation (again), after they changed the format of the development league.
For the 2023/24 season, there will be only one division made up of clubs with Category One Academies. The teams will be divided into five pots based on performances over the past three seasons. Fixtures will be determined by a draw made according to clubs’ positions in the five seeded pots.
There will be 20 Matchweeks, with each team playing 20 regular-season matches throughout the season. Teams will play each club in their own seeding pot once, as well as three to five teams in all other pots either home or away.
Results (three points for a win and one point for a draw) will generate a table ranking the 26 teams. After the regular season of 20 Matchweeks has completed, the top 16 teams will qualify for a single elimination playoff.
Teams will be drawn against each other based on their league positions, for example with the team finishing first facing the team that finished 16th. These will be one-off elimination matches with the higher-seeded team at home.
In addition, the teams finishing the regular season in the top 12 will be invited to take part in the next season’s Premier League International Cup competition.
Fixtures
AUGUST
14 August, 2023 | Derby County | LCFC Training Ground | 7pm
18 August, 2023 | Arsenal | Borehamwood | 7pm
27 August, 2023 | Blackburn Rovers | Lancashire FA | 1pm
SEPTEMBER
4 September, 2023| Norwich City | LCFC Training Ground | 7pm
25 September, 2023 | Middlesbrough | LCFC Training Ground | 7pm
29 September, 2023 | Fulham | Motspur Park | 7pm
OCTOBER
27 October, 2023 | Chelsea | Kingsmeadow | 7pm
NOVEMBER
3 November, 2023 | Newcastle United | LCFC Training Ground | 7pm
DECEMBER
4 December, 2023 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | LCFC Training Ground | 7pm
16 December, 2023 | Brighton & Hove Albion | LCFC Training Ground | 4pm
JANUARY
15 January, 2024 | Reading | Aldershot FC | 7pm
29 January, 2024 | Southampton | LCFC Training Ground | 7pm
FEBRUARY
12 February, 2024 | Sunderland | Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground | 7pm
19 February, 2024 | Crystal Palace | LCFC Training Ground | 7pm
MARCH
4 March, 2024 | Leeds United | LCFC Training Ground | 7pm
8 March, 2024 | Everton | Southport FC | 7pm
15 March, 2024 | Aston Villa | Bodymoor Heath | 7pm
APRIL
8 April, 2024 | Manchester City | LCFC Training Ground | 7pm
15 April, 2024 | Stoke City | LCFC Training Ground | 7pm
26 April, 2024 | West Ham United | Rush Green Training Ground | 7pm
For the 2023/24 season, there will be only one division made up of clubs with Category One Academies. The teams will be divided into five pots based on performances over the past three seasons. Fixtures will be determined by a draw made according to clubs’ positions in the five seeded pots.
There will be 20 Matchweeks, with each team playing 20 regular-season matches throughout the season. Teams will play each club in their own seeding pot once, as well as three to five teams in all other pots either home or away.
Results (three points for a win and one point for a draw) will generate a table ranking the 26 teams. After the regular season of 20 Matchweeks has completed, the top 16 teams will qualify for a single elimination playoff.
Teams will be drawn against each other based on their league positions, for example with the team finishing first facing the team that finished 16th. These will be one-off elimination matches with the higher-seeded team at home.
In addition, the teams finishing the regular season in the top 12 will be invited to take part in the next season’s Premier League International Cup competition.
Fixtures
AUGUST
14 August, 2023 | Derby County | LCFC Training Ground | 7pm
18 August, 2023 | Arsenal | Borehamwood | 7pm
27 August, 2023 | Blackburn Rovers | Lancashire FA | 1pm
SEPTEMBER
4 September, 2023| Norwich City | LCFC Training Ground | 7pm
25 September, 2023 | Middlesbrough | LCFC Training Ground | 7pm
29 September, 2023 | Fulham | Motspur Park | 7pm
OCTOBER
27 October, 2023 | Chelsea | Kingsmeadow | 7pm
NOVEMBER
3 November, 2023 | Newcastle United | LCFC Training Ground | 7pm
DECEMBER
4 December, 2023 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | LCFC Training Ground | 7pm
16 December, 2023 | Brighton & Hove Albion | LCFC Training Ground | 4pm
JANUARY
15 January, 2024 | Reading | Aldershot FC | 7pm
29 January, 2024 | Southampton | LCFC Training Ground | 7pm
FEBRUARY
12 February, 2024 | Sunderland | Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground | 7pm
19 February, 2024 | Crystal Palace | LCFC Training Ground | 7pm
MARCH
4 March, 2024 | Leeds United | LCFC Training Ground | 7pm
8 March, 2024 | Everton | Southport FC | 7pm
15 March, 2024 | Aston Villa | Bodymoor Heath | 7pm
APRIL
8 April, 2024 | Manchester City | LCFC Training Ground | 7pm
15 April, 2024 | Stoke City | LCFC Training Ground | 7pm
26 April, 2024 | West Ham United | Rush Green Training Ground | 7pm