2012–13 Professional U21 Development League

The 2012–13 Professional U21 Development League (League 1 referred to as the Barclays Under 21 Premier League for sponsorship reasons ) was the inaugural season of the Professional Development League's U21 competition.

There were 45 participating teams in the 2012–13 Professional U21 Development Leagues; 22 in League 1 and 23 in League 2 (12 in the North Division, 11 in the South Division).

First Group Stage
The top three teams in Groups 1, the top two teams in Group 2 and 3, and the best third-placed team from Group 2 and 3 will go forward to the Elite Group Stage.

The remaining third-placed team, and the fourth and fifth-placed teams from all three groups, will go forward to Qualification Group Tier One Stage. The sixth and seventh-placed teams, and the eighth-placed team from Group 1, will go forward to the Qualification Group Tier Two Stage.

Knockout stage
The teams finishing first in the two Qualification Groups played each other to decide who makes the semi-final against the winner of the Elite Group Stage.

The teams finishing second and third in the Elite Group Stage played in the other semi-final.

Knockout stage
The teams finishing first in each division will play a semi-final against the runners-up of the opposite division, with the winners of each semi-final contesting a final to crown the overall champions of the combined League.