The 2008–09 Premier Academy League Under–18 season was the twelfth edition since the establishment of The Premier Academy League, and the fifth under the current make-up. The first matches of the season were played on 23 August 2008, and the season ended on 18 May 2009.
All teams played the other teams in their group twice and played 10 inter-group fixtures, producing 28 games a season. Eight of the inter-group games were played against teams in their 'paired group' (i.e. A–B and C–D are the paired groups), whilst the remaining two games comprise one game against a team in each of the two remaining groups. Winners of each group qualified for play-offs.
Arsenal became the first group winners by leading Crystal Palace 20 points with 6 games left in Group A after a 1–0 win against Watford on 21 March 2009. Group C champions Manchester City set up tie with Arsenal in the play-off the following week by recording a 23–game unbeaten run which last to 26 games. Sunderland secured top spot in Group D after achieving the 14th win in last 15 games on 31 March. These 3 teams all clinched the group title for a third successive season. Tottenham Hotspur claimed the last play-off spot after beating Watford 2–1 on 6 May.
Arsenal reached the 2009 Premier Academy League Play-off Final with a 2–1 victory over Manchester City at the City of Manchester Stadium on 8 May. Tottenham Hotspur set up clash with Arsenal after defeating Sunderland 2–1 at the Stadium of Light on 13 May.
On 17 May, Arsenal were crowned the 2008–09 Premier Academy League Champions after a 1–0 win against Tottenham Hotspur in the Play-off Final at White Hart Lane, with a goal from Rhys Murphy. It is Arsenal's first title since the Premier Academy League reformed as an under–18 competition.
League tables
Academy Group A Arsenal U18s (C)Norwich City U18sIpswich Town U18s Crystal Palace U18sWest Ham United U18sSouthampton U18s Portsmouth U18sChelsea U18s Fulham U18sCharlton Athletic U18s
Academy Group B Tottenham Hotspur U18s (C)Leicester City U18sAston Villa U18s Coventry City U18sReading U18sBristol City U18sCardiff City U18sWatford U18sBirmingham City U18sMilton Keynes Dons U18s
Academy Group C Manchester City U18s (C)Manchester United U18sWest Bromwich Albion U18sLiverpool U18sEverton U18sStoke City U18sWolverhampton Wanderers U18sCrewe Alexandra U18sBlackburn Rovers U18sBolton Wanderers U18s
Academy Group D Sunderland U18s (C)Newcastle United U18sDerby County U18sSheffield United U18sNottingham Forest U18sLeeds United U18sBarnsley U18sSheffield Wednesday U18sHuddersfield Town U18sMiddlesbrough U18s Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd goal difference; 3rd goals scoredPos = Position; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = PointsC = Champions
Play-off semi-finals
Play-off Final
Records Most group wins: 22, Arsenal, Manchester City and Sunderland Most league wins: 24, Arsenal Fewest wins: 3, Milton Keynes Dons Fewest group defeats: 0, Manchester City Fewest league defeats: 1, Manchester City Most defeats: 21, Milton Keynes Dons Most points: 72, Manchester City Fewest points: 13, Milton Keynes Dons Most goals scored: 90, Leicester City Fewest goals scored: 26, Milton Keynes Dons Fewest group goals conceded: 30, Sunderland Fewest league goals conceded: 32, Arsenal and Sunderland Most goals conceded: 81, Milton Keynes Dons Highest goal difference: 55, Manchester City Lowest goal difference: −55, Milton Keynes Dons
See also Premier Reserve League 2008–09 FA Youth Cup 2008–09 Premier League 2008–09 2008–09 in English football
External links Premier Academy League U18 2008/2009 final league tables Premier Academy League U18 2008/2009 results
Match reports Group AGroup BGroup CGroup D Arsenal Charlton Athletic Chelsea Crystal Palace Fulham
Portsmouth Southampton West Ham United Aston Villa
Bristol City Cardiff City Coventry City Leicester City Milton Keynes Dons Reading Tottenham Hotspur Watford Blackburn Rovers Bolton Wanderers Crewe Alexandra Everton Liverpool Manchester City Manchester United Stoke City West Bromwich Albion
Derby County Huddersfield Town Leeds United Middlesbrough Newcastle United
Sunderland