The league started out in 1999, replacing The Central League in the north and The Football Combination in the south as the top level of reserve-team football, although those competitions continued for lower-level teams and from 2004 to 2005, the regional champions would play-off for the title.

At the end of that season, it was replaced by an Under-21 competition, called the Professional Development League 1.

The 2007 final, held at the Madejski Stadium, Reading beat Bolton 2–0.

In the 2009–10 play-off match, held again at Old Trafford, Manchester United beat Aston Villa 3–2 in a penalty shoot-out after the game ended 3–3.

In the 2010–11 playoff match, Chelsea defeated Blackburn 5–4 in a penalty shoot-out, after the game ended 1–1 at Stamford Bridge.