Chelsea’s Under-18 fixture list for the 2014-15 season has been confirmed today as the competition has once again undergone a few adjustments ahead of the big kick-off.
Whilst things at Under-21 level have been split into two leagues of Category One teams based on performances last season the younger boys remain split by geography, with twelve teams in each of the Northern and Southern sections. However, there will be no immediate inter-section play like last season with teams set to initially embark upon a standard home and away slate against those nearest to them before things become interesting in March and April.
The top four teams in each section will break away into Group A to contest a seven-match series to determine the national champion. The top two teams in each group will be afforded an extra home contest in the odd-numbered schedule and at the end of everything the team atop the table (whether points are carried over or not is as yet unclear) will lift the silverware.
The same concept applies to teams finishing 5th-8th and 9th-12th respectively for Groups B and C and isn’t dramatically different to the way things worked in 2012-13, when Chelsea qualified for Group A at Under-18 level.
The Blues kick off against Southampton on August 16th before taking in away trips to Arsenal and Leicester City. The full fixture list is as follows:
August 16th – Southampton (H)
August 23rd – Arsenal (A)
August 30th – Leicester City (A)
September 13th – West Ham United (H)
September 20th – West Bromwich Albion (H)
September 27th – Tottenham Hotspur (A)
October 4th – Norwich City (A)
October 11th – Aston Villa (H)
October 18th – Brighton & Hove Albion (A)
October 25th – Fulham (H)
November 1st – Reading (A)
November 22nd – Arsenal (H)
November 29th – Southampton (A)
December 6th – Leicester City (H)
December 20th – West Ham United (A)
January 10th – Tottenham Hotspur (H)
January 17th – West Bromwich Albion (A)
January 24th – Norwich City (H)
January 31st – Aston Villa (A)
February 7th – Brighton & Hove Albion (H)
February 14th – Fulham (A)
February 21st – Reading (H)