Matches have been announced for the new Premier Academy Under 18 League season, and for the Chelsea youth and reserve pre-season programmes.

The Chelsea youth team will once again compete in a league format against other clubs running FA-approved Academies. Divided into four regional groups of 10 clubs, each side will play the others in their group twice and also 10 matches against clubs in other groups, making it a 28-game season. The four group winners go into play-offs.

Chelsea's Premier Academy Under 18 League fixtures are:

Saturday 22 August

BLACKBURN ROVERS

away

11am

Saturday 29 August

NOTTINGHAM FOREST

home

11am

Saturday 5 September

BRISTOL CITY

away

11am

Saturday 12 September

COVENTRY CITY

away

11am

Saturday 19 September

WATFORD

home

11am

Saturday 26 September

NORWICH CITY

away

12 noon

Saturday 3 October

FULHAM

home

11am

Saturday 10 October

SOUTHAMPTON

away

11am

Saturday 17 October

CHARLTON ATHLETIC

home

11am

Saturday 31 October

IPSWICH TOWN

away

11am

Saturday 7 November

PORTSMOUTH

home

11am

Saturday 14 November

WEST HAM UNITED

away

11am

Saturday 21 November

CRYSTAL PALACE

home

11am

Saturday 5 December

ARSENAL

away

10.45am

Saturday 12 December

CHARLTON ATHLETIC

away

11am

Saturday 9 January

IPSWICH TOWN

home

11am

Saturday 16 January

PORTSMOUTH

away

11am

Saturday 23 January

WEST HAM UNITED

home

11am

Saturday 30 January

CRYSTAL PALACE

away

11am

Saturday 6 February

ARSENAL

home

11am

Friday 19 February

NORWICH CITY

home

7pm

Saturday 27 February

FULHAM

away

11am

Saturday 6 March

SOUTHAMPTON

home

11am

Saturday 13 March

BIRMINGHAM

home

11am

Saturday 20 March

SOUTHAMPTON

away

11am

Saturday 27 March

ASTON VILLA

home

11am

Saturday 17 April

LEICESTER CITY

away

12 noon

Saturday 24 April

CARDIFF CITY

home

11am



Youth team home fixtures take place at the Cobham training headquarters.


Prior to the season's start, the youth team will play the following pre-season friendlies:

Saturday 18 July

COLCHESTER UNITED

home

11am

Friday 31 July

RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS

away

7pm

Friday 7 August

BRISTOL CITY

home

12.30pm

Saturday 15 August

NEWCASTLE UNITED

away

11am


The Barclays Premier Reserve League fixtures for the coming campaign have yet to be announced but Chelsea's reserve team will play the following pre-season games in the UK:

Saturday 18 July

CRAWLEY TOWN

away

3pm

Saturday 1 August

ALDERSHOT TOWN

away

3pm

Saturday 8 August

FARNBOROUGH TOWN

away

3pm

Friday 14 August

UZBEKISTAN U20

Cobham

12 noon

Saturday 19 August

SUNDERLAND

Cobham

12 noon


There will also be games in Europe with a match versus 1860 MUNICH on 26 July and a tour in Austria between 19-27 July.

Chelsea TV will cover reserve and youth team action throughout the season.