Details of new league revealed
THE first half of Albion’s 2012/13 fixtures for the brand new Barclays Under-21 Premier League have been announced today.
The competition replaces the FA Barclays Premier Reserve League and only clubs who have applied for licences to operate category one academies are able to enter.
Each club can field up to three over-21 outfield players plus one over-21 keeper.
The league season will be split into two parts, with the first group stage commencing on Sunday, August 19, when Albion take on Everton at the club’s training ground (ko 2pm).
The 23-team league is made up of two groups of eight and one group of seven, with Albion set to face Arsenal, Blackburn, Bolton, Everton, Norwich, Reading and West Ham in Group One.
The top two sides from each group will advance to the Elite Group Stage which begins in January – with two more places on offer for the best third-placed teams.
Teams who fail to advance to the Elite Group Stage will compete in one of two qualification groups dependent on their performance during the first group stage.
Fixtures:
Home games will be played at the club's training ground unless otherwise stated.
Sun Aug 19 - Everton (H - ko 2pm)
Fri Aug 24 - Reading (A - ko 7pm)
Mon Sep 3 - Blackburn (H - ko 2pm)
Sun Sep 16 - West Ham (H - ko 2pm) - The Hawthorns
Mon Sep 24 - Norwich (A - ko 2pm)
Mon Oct 1 - Arsenal (H - ko 2pm) - The Hawthorns
Mon Oct 8 - Bolton (A - ko 7pm)
Mon Oct 22 - Blackburn (A - ko 7pm)
Sun Oct 28 - Reading (H - ko 2pm) - The Hawthorns
Sun Nov 4 - Everton (A - ko 1pm)
Sun Nov 11 - Norwich (H - ko 2pm)
Fri Nov 16 - West Ham (A - ko 7pm)
Fri Nov 23 - Arsenal (A - ko 1pm)
Mon Dec 3 - Bolton (H - ko 2pm)