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. 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. Teams were allowed to field two over-age outfield players and an overage
goalkeeper. The league was renamed the
SPFL Development League in 2014, with the number of teams increased to 17. 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. The restriction on over-age players was relaxed, with teams now permitted to use five older players in a matchday squad of 18. The league was dissolved in 2018 and replaced by the
SPFL Reserve Leagues.
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. 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. In 2015, 2016, and 2017, the winners of the Under-17 league were Celtic; in 2018, Hamilton won the title, and Rangers were the 2019 champions. ==Winners==