Last updated : Tuesday, 02 July 2024
National Youth League
The National Youth League (NLY) is an amateur football league in England for players under the age of 23. It was founded in 2016 and is currently sponsored by Player Path. The league consists of 24 teams, divided into two divisions of 12 teams each. The teams are all independent clubs, and not affiliated with any professional clubs.
The regular season runs from September to April, with each team playing each other team twice. The top four teams in each division qualify for the playoffs, with the winners of the playoffs being promoted to the Premier League. The bottom two teams in each division are relegated to the National League North or South.
History
The NLY was founded in 2016 by a group of football enthusiasts who wanted to create a competitive league for talented young players who were not able to get into professional academies. The league has grown rapidly since its inception, and now boasts over 200 clubs.
The NLY has been praised for providing a pathway for young players to develop their skills and progress to professional football. The league has also been credited with helping to reduce the number of young players dropping out of the game.
Current Season
The current season of the NLY began in September 2022 and is scheduled to end in April 2023. The current champions are Chesterfield FC U23.
