PL2 to Bristol Street Motors Trophy: Understanding U21s football
Brighton Under 21s continue to enjoy a quietly successful season despite a number of important players being sent out on loan or promoted into the first team squad to cover during the recent injury crisis.
Jack Hinshelwood, Josh Duffus and Benicio Baker-Boaitey have all had Premier and Europa League involvement this season, leading to more Albion fans taking an interest in the Under 21s.
What these Seagulls supporters are discovering is that Under 21s football can be confusing. There are four competitions, a 26-team league table and rules which you suspect the competition organisers had a lot of fun coming up with.
From Premier League 2 to the Bristol Street Motors Trophy, we try and explain what the Albion are playing for and how they are getting on.
Premier League 2
Premier League 2 moved from two divisions to a single division in 2023-24 consisting of 26 clubs. These clubs are then divided into five pots based on performances over the past three seasons.
The fixture list is determined by a draw made according to positions within the five pots, leading to 20 initial matches. Of these matches, teams play everyone in their own own pot once, as well as an allocation of teams from across other pots.
Still with us? No, didn’t think so. Anyway, the top 16 teams after 20 fixtures qualify for a single leg elimination playoff.
The draw is done based on final league position – 1st versus 16th, 2nd versus 15th, etc – with the higher ranked team having home advantage.
Teams who finish in the top 12 also qualify for next season’s Premier League International Cup. Brighton currently sit sixth, leaving the Seagulls well placed at the current time for a top 12 finish.
Premier League International Cup
The Premier League International Cup features the 12 best English academies against 12 of the top development squads from the rest of Europe.
Competing clubs are split into three groups of eight. Each English team plays each of the four international clubs in their groups but no other PL2 side.
The top two teams from each group and the two best third-placed teams advance to the quarter finals. Knockout ties are decided in one-off matches, with extra-time and then penalties if the scores are level after 90 minutes.
All matches take place in England. Players up to the age of 23 are eligible, whilst a maximum of three overage outfield players plus goalkeeper can be used.
Brighton have made a strong start in the Premier League International Cup, winning against both Valencia and Celtic. To reach the quarter finals, they will likely require positive results against Lyon and Dinamo Zagreb.
Bristol Street Motors Trophy
The Bristol Street Motors Trophy is – depending on your generation – better known as the Papa Johns Trophy, the Johnstone Paint Trophy, the LDV Vans Trophy or the Auto Windscreen Shield.
It’s non-sponsored title is the EFL Trophy. It was originally for all clubs in League One and League Two but controversially, the top 16 PL2 clubs now enter the competition as well.
Teams are split into regional groups of four with the top two from each group qualifying for the knockout stages.
In the group stage, three points are awarded for a win and one for a draw. Drawn games go to penalties with an extra point awarded to the shootout winner.
Brighton won one and drew two of their group matches, being victorious in one shootout. That was enough to see them go through as runners up behind Forest Green Rovers.
A 4-0 win over MK Dons the evening before the first team hosted Brentford at the Amex took the Albion into the round of 16.
Premier League Cup
The Premier League Cup is split into eight groups of four Under 21s with each team playing their opponents home and away.
After the group stage, the top two progress to the knockout rounds which feature one-off ties. Extra time followed by penalties decides draw matches.
Brighton’s team selection indicates this is the competition which the Albion are treating at least important.
A number of fringe players have been given opportunities, explaining why Brighton sit third in a group containing Aston Villa, Swansea City and Hull City at the halfway stage.
Watching Brighton Under 21s
Brighton Under 21s have played once at the Amex so far, a thrilling 4-3 win over Celtic in the International Cup.
Celtic came from 3-0 down to level the tie, only for the Albion to then find a 97th minute winner. With the game open to any supporters to attend, a youthful and excited crowd were present.
The Under 21s present a great and affordable opportunity to introduce younger supporters to live football in a day and age when many families cannot justify the high price of watching Brighton in the Premier League.
And yet for whatever reason, all remaining Under 21s fixtures are due to be played at the training ground in Lancing and only season ticket holders can attend.
Admittedly with no knowledge as to why the club have taken this stance, is it not one to review as a means of giving young fans the chance to watch the Albion?
Peter Finn
