Football League clubs are to consider the introduction of a 'Home Grown Players' rule at the forthcoming meeting of clubs at Derby County on December 18.Clubs will vote in a specially arranged EGM, with the changes, if approved, set to take effect from the beginning of next season.

In announcing the proposals Football League Chairman, Lord Mawhinney, said, "We believe it is time for The Football League to make a clear and unequivocal statement of intent about the importance of developing young players in the domestic game."

The new rule would require at least four players from clubs' sixteen man matchday squads to have been registered domestically, for a minimum of three seasons, prior to their 21st birthday.

Mawhinney said, "The aim is to establish this principle by setting a threshold that our clubs can accommodate and then to consider raising that level over time.

"It is important we demonstrate that, as a body of clubs, our commitment to youth development is total," he continued."Therefore, not only are we pulling out all the stops to develop these young players in the first place, we are also ensuring that they have the opportunity to show their talent in the first team.

"Fourteen of the 23-man England squad that beat Germany in Berlin, last week, were developed by youth development programmes at Football League clubs.Looking ahead, we want to increase that proportion even further."

The proposal, which is being put forward by The Football League Board of Directors, is in line with the approach favoured by UEFA rather than the '6+5' approach being proposed by FIFA.The Board has concerns over the legality of the latter in European law.This means that players will be considered as 'home grown' regardless of their nationality.

Mawhinney believes the adoption of a 'Home Grown Players' rule will send out a positive message to supporters and the wider game.He said, "Local fans watching locally developed players at their local club is at the very heart of what The Football League is all about.I believe that by introducing this rule League clubs, once again, will be taking a lead that others will want to follow."

Young players schooled at Football League clubs are making a growing contribution to the national team.Around half of the players chosen to represent England - across all age groups - in the most recent round of international matches were developed, in full or in part, at League clubs.

  Home Grown Players Rule

League clubs will vote on the proposals in an EGM at Derby County on December 18.To be passed, the 'Home Grown Players' rule will need support from a majority of League clubs and a majority of clubs in the Championship.

If passed, the 'Home Grown Players' rule will come into effect from the beginning of next season.It will require clubs to name at least four 'home grown' players in their sixteen man squad for every match in the Coca-Cola Football League.

A player will be considered 'home grown' if he has been registered for three entire seasons (or 36 months) prior to his 21st birthday (or end of season in which he turns 21) with a club affiliated to the Football Association or Football Association of Wales.

  Football League Youth Development

There are 8,500 young footballers, aged between 8 and 18, on the books of Football League clubs.

Across The Football League, there are 22 Academies and 46 Centres of Excellence in operation.

Each season Football League clubs invest more than £30m of their own money into youth development programmes.They also receive an additional £13m of grant funding from the FA and Premier League, with clubs able to apply for a maximum grant of £180,000 each.

In the past four seasons, more than 600 young players developed by Football League clubs have gone on to sign professional contracts.

  Contribution of Football League trained players to England teams

Players called-up for most recent England squads developed, in full or in part, by Football League clubs:

Senior Team (v Germany 19/11/08): 14 players out of 23
David James (Watford) - now Portsmouth
Scott Carson (Leeds United) - now West Bromwich Albion
Paul Robinson (Leeds United) - now Blackburn Rovers
Micah Richards (Oldham Athletic) - now Manchester City
Wayne Bridge (Southampton) - now Chelsea
Curtis Davies (Luton Town) - now Aston Villa
Joleon Lescott (Wolverhampton Wanderers) - now Everton
Matthew Upson (Luton Town) - now West Ham United
Gareth Barry (Brighton & Hove Albion) - now Aston Villa
Ashley Young (Watford) - now Aston Villa
Theo Walcott (Swindon Town & Southampton) - now Arsenal
Jermain Defoe (Charlton Athletic) - now Portsmouth
Darren Bent (Ipswich Town) - now Tottenham Hotspur
Scott Parker (Charlton Athletic) - now West Ham United

Under 21's (v Czech Republic 18/11/08):9 players out of 20
Joe Lewis (Norwich City) - now Peterborough United
Ryan Bertrand (Gillingham) - now Chelsea
Martin Cranie (Southampton) - now Portsmouth
Kyle Naughton (Sheffield United)
Richard Stearman (Leicester City) - now Wolverhampton Wanderers
Michael Kightly (Southend United) - now Wolverhampton Wanderers
Aaron Lennon (Leeds United) - now Tottenham Hotspur
Fabian Delph (Bradford City & Leeds United)
Adam Lallana (Southampton)

Under 19's (v Germany 18/11/08):7 players out of 18
Ben Amos (Crewe Alexandra) - now Manchester United
Lee Hills (Crystal Palace)
Joe Mattock (Leicester City)
Victor Moses (Crystal Palace)
Michael Woods (Leeds United) - now Chelsea
Jacob Mellis (Sheffield United) - now Chelsea
Alex Smithies (Huddersfield Town)

Under 17's (v Spain 27/10/08):11 players out of 18
Ryan Allsop (Wolverhampton Wanderers) - now West Bromwich Albion
John Bostock (Crystal Palace) - now Tottenham Hotspur
Eddie Oshodi (Watford)
Tom Parkes (Leicester City)
Jamie Reckord (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Jacob Walcott (Reading)
Luke Freeman (Gillingham) - now Arsenal
Jed Steer (Norwich City)
Jonjo Shelvey (Charlton Athletic)
Jack Wilshere (Luton Town) - now Arsenal
Liam Head (Plymouth Argyle)

Under 16's (v Scotland 28/11/08):5 players out of 18
Jordan Cousins (Charlton Athletic)
Connor Wickham (Ipswich Town)
Luke Garbutt (Leeds United)
Andre Wisdom (Bradford City) - now Liverpool
Zele Ismail (Wolverhampton Wanderers)