2017–18 SPFL Development League

The 2017–18 SPFL Development League was the 20th season of the highest youth Scottish football league and the fourth season under the "Development League" format. It began on 21 August 2017, and concluded on 7 May 2018.[2]

SPFL Development League
Season2017–18
ChampionsHibernian[1]
Top goalscorerOli Shaw (Hibernian)
2018–19 →
All statistics correct as of 1 August 2017.

Changes

For the 2017–18 season of the Development League, three teams chose to withdraw from the competition. Dunfermline Athletic announced in May 2017 that due to the proposals made under 'Project Brave', which would see the implementation of a reserve league from the 2018–19 to replace the Development League, the club would not participate in the final year of the competition.[3] Rangers also announced their intention to withdraw from the competition, instead receiving permission from the SPFL to take part in a programme of fixtures against a number of European elite youth teams, for example, Manchester United, Benfica and Bayern Munich.[4][5] Inverness Caledonian Thistle also withdrew from the 2017–18 competition.

Eligible players were those born in 1998 or later, but five players of any age were permitted in the matchday squad of 18.

Summary

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Hibernian (C) 26 19 2 5 72 35 +37 59
2 Dundee 26 16 5 5 52 33 +19 53
3 Heart of Midlothian 26 17 1 8 62 43 +19 52
4 Aberdeen 26 14 5 7 49 30 +19 47
5 Motherwell 26 14 3 9 45 34 +11 45
6 Celtic 26 13 5 8 49 27 +22 44
7 Ross County 26 11 7 8 56 52 +4 40
8 Hamilton Academical 26 11 6 9 46 38 +8 39
9 Dundee United 26 9 1 16 37 61 −24 28
10 St Mirren 26 7 5 14 43 59 −16 26
11 St Johnstone 26 7 5 14 41 57 −16 26
12 Partick Thistle 26 6 4 16 36 65 −29 22
13 Kilmarnock 26 6 1 19 29 53 −24 19
14 Falkirk 26 5 4 17 26 56 −30 19
Source: SPFL
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champion.

Matches

Teams play each other twice, once at home and once away.

Home \ Away ABE CEL DND DUN FAL HAM HOM HIB KIL MOT PAR ROS STJ STM
Aberdeen — 1–1 0–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 3–0 4–2 2–0 1–2 6–3 2–2 1–0 4–2
Celtic 1–4 — 2–0 4–0 1–4 1–1 4–1 1–1 4–0 0–2 1–0 0–0 1–2 2–0
Dundee 4–2 0–0 — 1–0 1–1 3–0 2–4 3–2 1–0 1–1 5–1 2–0 0–5 3–1
Dundee United 1–3 3–2 0–2 — 3–0 0–3 2–3 2–2 4–1 2–4 2–1 0–6 1–2 5–3
Falkirk 0–2 0–4 0–2 1–2 — 1–4 0–1 1–2 3–1 0–1 4–1 1–1 0–2 2–2
Hamilton Academical 1–0 0–3 1–2 3–0 1–0 — 0–1 3–1 2–0 1–3 1–2 2–2 2–2 4–1
Heart of Midlothian 1–3 0–2 1–1 2–1 5–1 0–2 — 2–3 2–0 4–2 4–1 4–1 3–2 1–0
Hibernian 2–0 3–2 2–1 6–0 1–2 3–1 1–4 — 2–1 4–2 3–1 2–1 5–0 4–0
Kilmarnock 1–0 2–1 1–2 0–1 6–1 0–1 2–4 1–6 — 0–1 0–2 1–1 6–3 0–2
Motherwell 0–0 1–0 3–5 0–2 3–0 3–2 1–2 1–2 2–0 — 1–0 1–2 0–0 4–1
Partick Thistle 2–1 0–3 3–1 4–1 1–1 1–4 0–6 1–3 0–1 0–3 — 1–1 3–3 3–3
Ross County 1–1 1–3 1–4 3–2 4–2 4–2 4–3 0–3 2–1 4–3 2–3 — 4–1 4–2
St Johnstone 0–1 1–3 0–3 1–2 0–1 0–0 2–4 1–4 3–2 1–0 4–2 2–3 — 3–3
St Mirren 1–2 0–3 2–2 2–1 3–0 3–3 3–0 0–3 1–2 0–1 1–0 4–2 3–1 —
Updated to match(es) played on 7 May 2018. Source: SPFL
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Top scorers
As of matches played on 7 May 2018
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Oli Shaw Hibernian 19
2 Jack Aitchison Celtic 13
Neil McLaughlin Partick Thistle
4 Ross Cunningham Hamilton Academical 12
Innes Cameron Kilmarnock

Source:[6]

References
  1. "Hibs clinch the SPFL Development League title". Edinburgh Evening News. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  2. "Development League fixtures 2017/18". Scottish Professional Football League. 11 July 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  3. "Chairman's statement". Dunfermline Athletic FC. 8 May 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  4. Coyle, Andy (14 May 2017). "Rangers quit SPFL Development League to try new approach". STV Sport. STV. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  5. Gunn, David (15 May 2017). "Rangers opt out of Development League to challenge European elite". The Scotsman. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  6. "Shaw tops U20 scoring charts". Scottish Professional Football League. 8 May 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2018.

{{2017–18 in Scottish football}}

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