Premier Academy League
The Premier Academy League (formerly: FA Premier Academy League ) is the highest division in England for academy teams (youth teams) of professional clubs from the top English football leagues.
The league was formed in 1997 and replaced the "South East Counties League", which previously served as the top division for the academy teams. There is no sporting relegation in the Premier Academy League.
Up to the 2012/13 season, 40 clubs took part, divided into four groups of ten teams each. The winners from the groups made it to the semi-finals and played in the system Winner Group A against Winner Group C and Winner Group B against Winner Group D. The winners from the two games played against each other in the final. Since the 2013/14 season there is only one north and one south relay with twelve teams each. The two first and second placed players then play against each other in the final round.
In the first edition, only U-18 teams took part, between 1998 and 2004 there was a competition for U-17 and U-19 and since the 2004/05 season the Premier Academy League is only played in the U-18 League held.
Teams in the 2015/16 season
The current 24 members of the Premier Academy League are:
| North Group | South Group |
|---|---|
Premier Academy League winner
| FA Premier Youth League (U-18) | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1997/98 | Arsenal FC | |
| FA Premier Academy League | ||
| U-19 | U-17 | |
| 1998/99 | West Ham United | Blackburn Rovers |
| 1999/00 | West Ham United | Arsenal FC |
| 2000/01 | Nottingham Forest | Ipswich Town |
| 2001/02 | Arsenal FC | Newcastle United |
| 2002/03 | Blackburn Rovers | Leeds United |
| 2003/04 | Southampton FC | Aston Villa |
| Premier Academy League (U-18) | ||
| 2004/05 | Blackburn Rovers | |
| 2005/06 | Southampton FC | |
| 2006/07 | Leicester City | |
| 2007/08 | Aston Villa | |
| 2008/09 | Arsenal FC | |
| 2009/10 | Arsenal FC | |
| 2010/11 | Everton FC | |
| 2011/12 | Fulham FC | |
| 2012/13 | Fulham FC | |
| 2013/14 | Everton FC | |
| 2014/15 | Middlesbrough FC | |
| 2015/16 | Manchester City | |