Football league
SPFL Development League Founded 1998; 27 years ago (1998 ) (as Scottish Premier under-18 League) Country Scotland Divisions 1 Number of clubs 17 Level on pyramid 1 Domestic cup(s) Scottish Youth Cup Current champions Hibernian (2017–18 )
The SPFL Development League was the top level of youth football in Scotland , which was contested in various formats between 1998 and 2018.
History
A youth league was founded as the Scottish Premier under-18 League in 1998. Clubs fielded under-18 teams, with the Scottish Premier Reserve League originally being an under-21 league. The competition was changed in 2003 when it became the Scottish Premier under-19 League . The teams played 22 matches rather than 30.
For the 2012–13 season, the competition changed again, this time to the Scottish Premier under-20 league , there were 15 teams, and teams played 28 matches per season.[ 1] With the inception of the Scottish Professional Football League for the 2013–14 season , the league become the SPFL U20 League and the number of teams increased to 16.[ 2] Teams were allowed to field two over-age outfield players and an overage goalkeeper .[ 3]
The league was renamed the SPFL Development League in 2014, with the number of teams increased to 17.[ 4] At this time two regional leagues were also introduced, with eight clubs competing in the Development League West and nine clubs competing in the Development League East .[ 5] The restriction on over-age players was relaxed, with teams now permitted to use five older players in a matchday squad of 18.[ 6]
The league was dissolved in 2018 and replaced by the SPFL Reserve Leagues .[ 7]
European competition
From 2015 onwards, the UEFA Youth League provides a qualification route for 'domestic youth champions', in addition to clubs whose senior team reaches the UEFA Champions League group stage.[ 8] As the age group for the Development League is older than that of the UEFA Group League, Scotland's representative will be the winner of the Under-17 league, which plays competitive fixtures however does not reveal the results and tables publicly to minimise the scrutiny on the young players.[ 9] In 2015,[ 10] 2016,[ 11] and 2017,[ 12] the winners of the Under-17 league were Celtic; in 2018, Hamilton won the title,[ 13] and Rangers were the 2019 champions.[ 14]
Winners
SFL Youth League
SPL Under-18 League
SPL Under-19 League
SPFL Under-20 League
SPFL Development League
Other Competitions (SFL / SPFL era)
Although the Scottish Premier League (SPL) superseded the Scottish Football League (SFL) as the top division in 1998, the SFL continued to run an under-18 league until 2003, when the age group was split into under-17's and under-19's.[ 21] The SFL also ran a cup competition (not to be confused with the SFA Youth Cup ) for the various age groups.[ 21] After the SFL ceased operation in 2013, with the foundation of the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) in 2013, an under-19 league and cup competition was run alongside the new under-20 league.[ 22] There were also West and East Development Divisions operating under the main SPFL Development League between 2014 and 2018.[ 22] Club Academy Scotland (CAS), organised and managed by the Scottish Football Association (SFA), began operating youth leagues with under-17 the top age group in 2014.[ 23] The under-17 age range was raised to under-18 by CAS in 2018.[ 23]
Season[ 21] [ 22]
Competition
Winner
1998–99
SFL Under-18 Youth Division A
Aberdeen
SFL Under-18 Youth Division B
Falkirk[ 24]
1999–2000
SFL Under-18 Youth Division A
Celtic
SFL Under-18 Youth Division B
Airdrieonians
SFL Under-18 Youth Division C
Falkirk
2000–01
No competition
2001–02
SFL Under-18 Youth Division
Ayr United
SFL Under-18 Youth League Cup
Stirling Albion
2002–03
SFL Under-18 Youth Division
Ayr United
SFL Under-18 Youth League Cup
Ross County
2003–04
SFL Under-19 Youth Division
Ross County
SFL Under-19 Youth League Cup
Queen's Park
SFL Under-17 Youth Division
Falkirk
SFL Under-17 Youth League Cup
Hamilton Academical[ 25]
2004–05
SFL Under-19 Youth Division
St Johnstone
SFL Under-19 Youth League Cup
Queen's Park
SFL Under-17 Youth Division
Morton
SFL Under-17 Youth League Cup
Ross County
2005–06
SFL Under-19 Youth Division
Dundee
SFL Under-19 Youth League Cup
St Johnstone
SFL Under-17 Youth Division
Stenhousemuir
SFL Under-17 Youth League Cup
Raith Rovers
2006–07
SFL Under-19 Youth Division
Ross County
SFL Under-19 Youth League Cup
East Fife
SFL Under-17 Youth Division
Airdrie United
SFL Under-17 Youth League Cup
Airdrie United
2007–08
SFL Under-19 Youth Division
Livingston
SFL Under-19 Youth League Cup
Raith Rovers
SFL Under-17 Youth Division
Queen's Park
SFL Under-17 Youth League Cup
Cowdenbeath
2008–09
SFL Under-19 Youth Division
Livingston
SFL Under-19 Youth League Cup
Livingston
SFL Under-17 Youth Division
St Johnstone[ 26]
SFL Under-17 Youth League Cup
Queen of the South
Season[ 21] [ 22]
Competition
Winner
2009–10
SFL Under-19 Youth Division
Livingston
SFL Under-19 Youth League Cup
Partick Thistle
SFL Under-17 Youth Division
Queen's Park
SFL Under-17 Youth League Cup
Queen's Park
2010–11
SFL Under-19 Youth Division
Livingston[ 27]
SFL Under-17 Youth Division
Ayr United[ 28]
SFL Under-17 Youth League Cup
Livingston[ 29]
2011–12
SFL Under-19 Youth Division
SFL Under-19 Youth League Cup
Stenhousemuir[ 30]
SFL Under-17 Youth Division
Livingston[ 31]
SFL Under-17 Youth League Cup
Livingston[ 32]
2012–13
SFL Under-19 Youth Division
SFL Under-19 Youth League Cup
Hamilton Academical[ 33]
SFL Under-17 Youth Division
SFL Under-17 Youth League Cup
2013–14
SPFL Under-19 League
Celtic [ 34]
SPFL Under-19 League Cup
Celtic [ 35]
2014–15
SPFL Development League West
Airdrieonians[ 36]
SPFL Development League East
Forfar Athletic[ 37]
CAS Under-17 Elite Youth League
Celtic [ 10]
2015–16
SPFL Development League West
Greenock Morton [ 38]
SPFL Development League East
Stirling Albion[ 39]
CAS Under-17 Elite Youth League
Celtic [ 11]
CAS Under-17 Development League
St Johnstone[ 40]
2016–17
SPFL Development League West
Queen of the South [ 41]
SPFL Development League East
Raith Rovers [ 42]
CAS Under-17 Elite Youth League
Celtic [ 12]
CAS Under-17 Development League
St Johnstone[ 40]
2017–18
SPFL Development League West
Greenock Morton [ 43]
SPFL Development League East
Raith Rovers [ 44]
CAS Under-17 Elite Youth League
Hamilton Academical [ 45]
CAS Under-17 Development League
Inverness CT[ 46]
2018–19
CAS Under-18 Elite Youth League
Rangers [ 14]
2021–22
CAS Under-18 Elite Youth League
Hibernian [ 47]
2022–23
CAS Under-18 Elite Youth League
Hamilton Academical [ 48]
2023–24
CAS Under-18 Elite Youth League
Aberdeen [ 49]
2024–25
CAS Under-18 Elite Youth League
Hibernian [ 50]
References
^ "SPL to create Under-20 league" . STV Sport . 12 April 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2012 .
^ "U20 League fixtures" . spfl.co.uk . SPFL. 6 August 2013. Archived from the original on 26 April 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2013 .
^ Waddell, Gordon (9 October 2011). "Reserve league football could return as part of SFA plan to revamp Scottish game" . Daily Record . Retrieved 5 August 2014 .
^ "Development League fixture list" . spfl.co.uk . SPFL. 7 July 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014 .
^ "Development League East & West fixtures" . spfl.co.uk . SPFL. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014 .
^ Development League kicks off Archived 12 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine , SPFL
^ "Reserve Leagues for season 2018/19" . SPFL. 23 July 2018. Archived from the original on 23 July 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2018 .
^ "UEFA Youth League retained and expanded" . UEFA. 18 September 2014.
^ "Academy Teams" . Hearts Youth Development Committee. Retrieved 4 February 2017 .
^ a b "Celtic Under-17s book European place with title triumph" . Celtic FC. 20 May 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2017 .
^ a b "Aitchison fires in a hat-trick as Celtic U17s seal league title" . Celtic FC. 29 May 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2017 .
^ a b "European football once more for Celtic's U17 champions" . Celtic FC. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017 .
^ "u17s win Elite Youth League" . Hamilton Academical Football Club. 13 May 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018 .
^ a b "Gers Are Under-18 Champs!" . Rangers FC. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2019 .
^ Scottish Football Historical Archive Mirror – SFL/SPL/SPFL Youth Leagues
^ AFC Heritage – 2000–01 SPL Under-18 League Table
^ "DONS WIN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE" . SPFL . 30 April 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2019 ."DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE ROUND-UP" . SPFL . 7 May 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2019 ."ABERDEEN RECEIVE U20 TROPHY" . SPFL . 6 May 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2019 .
^ "CELTIC SEAL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE TITLE" . SPFL . 4 April 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2019 ."CELTIC UNBEATEN IN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE" . SPFL . 6 May 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2019 .
^ "ROSS COUNTY WIN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE" . SPFL . 4 May 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2019 ."ROSS COUNTY SET TO RECEIVE U20 TROPHY" . SPFL . 16 May 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2019 ."ROSS COUNTY RECEIVE U20 TROPHY" . SPFL . 17 May 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2019 .
^ "Hibs clinch the SPFL Development League title" . Edinburgh Evening News . 17 April 2018. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018 ."HIBERNIAN WIN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE" . SPFL . 17 April 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2019 ."HIBERNIAN RECEIVE DEV LEAGUE TROPHY" . SPFL . 1 May 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2019 .
^ a b c d "Youth Winners" . Scottish Football League. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011 .
^ a b c d "SPFL Winners 2013–19" . SPFL . Retrieved 14 June 2019 .
^ a b "CAS Regulations 2019" (PDF) . Aprefs. Retrieved 15 June 2019 .
^ "Cameron aims to cap big month with a vital victory" . Herald Scotland . 30 April 1999. Retrieved 14 June 2019 .
^ "Sore Defeat For Hillcoat's Men" . Clyde F.C. 18 May 2004. Retrieved 3 August 2019 .
^ "LEAGUE TITLE JOY FOR UNDER 17s" . SJFC. Retrieved 13 June 2019 .
^ "Congratulations to Livingston under-19's" . Scottish football league. 19 April 2011. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2011 .
^ "U17 YOUTH DIVISION CHAMPIONS 2010/11" . SPFL . 16 May 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2019 .
^ "Livingston lift third trophy of the season" . Scottish football league. 17 May 2011. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011 .
^ Youngsters win SFL u19s League Cup Final , Stenhousemuir FC, 14 May 2012
^ "Livi win Title" . Scottish Football League. 13 December 2011. Archived from the original on 26 June 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2011 .
^ Livingston's under-17 side complete double , Scottish Football League , 8 May 2012
^ "Under 19s: Forfar Athletic Under 19's 2 Hamilton Accies Under 19's 5" . Forfar Athletic F.C. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2019 .
^ "Celtic Under-17s win SPFL U19 league title" . SPFL . 15 December 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2019 .
^ "CELTIC LIFT U19 LEAGUE CUP" . SPFL . 18 May 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2019 .
^ "U20 TITLE JOY FOR AIRDRIE" . SPFL . 21 April 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2019 .
^ "FORFAR SECURE U20 TITLE" . SPFL . 12 April 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2019 .
^ "Morton Under-20s 1 – 0 Ayr United Under-20s" . GMFC. 28 April 2018. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2019 .
^ "STIRLING WIN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE EAST" . SPFL . 12 April 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2019 .
^ a b "Stevenson praises U17s after league title win" . SJFC. 5 June 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2019 .
^ "QOS WIN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE WEST" . SPFL . 22 March 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2019 .
^ "ROVERS WIN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE EAST" . SPFL . 26 April 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2019 .
^ "MORTON WIN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE WEST" . SPFL . 26 April 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2019 .
^ "ROVERS RETAIN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE EAST" . SPFL . 10 April 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2019 .
^ "u17s win Elite Youth League" . Hamilton Academical Football Club. 13 May 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2019 .
^ "U17 LEAGUE WINNERS TO BE HONOURED" . Inverness CT. 10 August 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2019 .
^ McPartlin, Patrick (30 May 2022). "Hibs confirmed Under-18 league champions and will play European football next season" . Edinburgh Evening News . Retrieved 30 May 2022 .
^ Hamilton Accies' kids are alright as under-18s lift league title , Andy McGilvray, Daily Record, 25 May 2023
^ "Aberdeen celebrate in style with late comeback as they win Club Academy Scotland (CAS) Under-18s Elite League Title" . Scottish Football Association. 14 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2025 .
^ "Hibernian Men's Under-18s celebrate after winning Club Academy Scotland Elite League title" . Scottish Football Association. 16 May 2025. Retrieved 27 May 2025 .
External links
Defunct football competitions in Scotland
National leagues
Senior Non league Age groups
Regional leagues
Supplementary Junior Wartime Other
Cup competitions
Cross border National Regional Wartime Friendly