Leeds United F.C. Reserves and Youth Team
Leeds United Reserves were the English football reserve team of Leeds United F.C.. In previous seasons, they played at York City's Bootham Crescent, South Leeds Stadium and the first team's ground Elland Road.[3] The reserves were generally a mix of recovering or fringe first-team players, young professionals and promising scholars.
| Full name | Leeds United Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1919 | |
| Ground | Elland Road, Beeston, Leeds | |
| Capacity | 37,890[1] | |
| Owner | Aser Group Holding 49ers Enterprises[2] | |
| Chairman | unknown | |
| Manager | Adam Underwood (Academy Manager) Mark Jackson (U23) TBD (U18) | |
| League | Professional Development League (U23) U18 Professional Development League (U18) | |
| Website | Club website | |
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Leeds United Under 23s are the development squad of Leeds United F.C.. They play in the Professional Development League. Mark Jackson is the current coach subsequent to Carlos Corberán's move to Huddersfield Town A.F.C.. They play at the club's training ground, Thorp Arch, although they also occasionally play at Elland Road.
Leeds United Under 18s are the youth team of Leeds United F.C.. They play in the U18 Professional Development League. The youth team won the competition's predecessor, the Premier Academy League, in the 2002–03 season, when the league was split into Under-19s and Under-17s, with Leeds winning the Under-17s competition. Mark Jackson is the current coach of the team.[4] They play at the club's training ground, Thorp Arch. The youth team also compete annually in the FA Youth Cup, having won it twice – the first time in 1993, beating Manchester United 4–1,[5] and the second time in 1997, beating Crystal Palace 3–1.[6]
Leeds' concentration on youth since the Ridsdale era attracted praise at the highest level with the president of FIFA Sepp Blatter commenting "Leeds, a club I greatly respect, have to be applauded for its efforts in this regard".[7]
The Leeds United Academy has produced several promising youngsters who have been controversially signed by top flight clubs in recent years.[8][9] Michael Woods, Ben Gordon and Tom Taiwo moved to Chelsea, 16-year-old Elliot Kebbie was signed by Atlético Madrid,[10] 14-year-olds George Swan and Louis Hutton were signed by Manchester City,[11] Danny Ward switched to Bolton Wanderers and Luke Garbutt moved to Everton while still in the Leeds United youth team.
Former players that graduated through the Leeds United academy include England internationals Aaron Lennon, James Milner, Paul Robinson, Scott Carson, Jonathan Woodgate, Danny Rose, Fabian Delph, Lewis Cook and Alan Smith, Australian international Harry Kewell, Republic of Ireland internationals Stephen McPhail, Gary Kelly and Ian Harte, Northern Ireland international Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Republic of Ireland Under-21 internationals Eric Grimes and Aidy White and England Under-21 internationals Jonny Howson, Matthew Kilgallon, Ronaldo Vieira, Tom Pearce and Tom Lees. Former club and international greats that also came through Leeds' youth ranks include; John Charles, Gary Sprake, Terry Cooper, Mick Bates, Peter Lorimer, Paul Reaney, Norman Hunter, Jack Charlton, Albert Johanneson, Billy Bremner, Eddie Gray, Gary Speed, John Lukic, David Batty, and Paul Madeley.
Graduates in the current Leeds United first team squad are plentiful, with Kalvin Phillips, Jamie Shackleton, Oliver Casey, Charlie Cresswell, Leif Davis, Ryan Edmondson, Robbie Gotts, Alfie McCalmont and Jack Jenkins all having made appearances in the senior team.
About the Academy
The Leeds United website describes the Academy's philosophy as follows:
"At Leeds United Academy, players must learn to be technically proficient, be able to deal with the ball anywhere on the pitch. Tactically they must become familiar with the club’s system of play and understand the strengths and weaknesses within it. Physically players need to become the football athlete, someone that can play at the tempo that is required to compete at the highest level and psychologically they need to have a balanced view of success and failure so that by the time they have reached the Professional Development Phase they have the confidence to be able to deal with the stress of playing to win, week in and week out."[12]
Current players
Only players aged 23 or under, on 31 August of the current season, are eligible to play for the Development Squad. Three overage outfield players, and an overage goalkeeper may also play. Only players aged 18 or under, on 31 August of the current season (primarily scholars), are eligible to play for the Under 18s.[4] Italics denotes player has received a call up to the squad but did not or has yet to receive a cap at that level.
Graduates
The following list includes players who have graduated from Leeds' youth system and have either become established in the club's first team, another club's first team and/or have been capped at international level.
As of 13 January 2021.
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Other Professionals
Honours
Reserves
- League
- The Central League (Tier 1)
- Winners (2) 1936–37, 1997–98
- The Central League, Division One East (Tier 2)
- Winners (2) 2008–09, 2009–10
- Cups
- West Riding Senior Cup
- Winners (2) 1926–27, 1963–64
Under 23s
- League
- Professional Development League National Champions (1) 2018–19
- Professional Development League North Division Champions (1) 2018–19
Under 18s
- League
- U18 Professional Development League North Division Champions (1) 2017–18
- Cups
- FA Youth Cup
- Winners (2) 1993, 1997
Academy Coaching Staff
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Academy Manager |  Adam Underwood[20] |
| Head of Academy Coaching | Andy Foster |
| Head Of Academy Recruitment | Terry Potter |
| Head Of National Academy Recruitment | Paul Midgley |
| Head Of Emerging Talent | Craig Dean |
| Under 23s Manager | Mark Jackson |
| Under 23s Coach |  Jaime Monroy |
| Under 23s Coach |  Michal Pujdak |
| Under 18s Coach |  Scott Gardner |
| Under 18s Assistant Coach | Rob Etherington |
| Under 16s Coach | |
| Under 15s Coach | Paul Fox |
| Under 14s Coach | Michael Morton[21] |
| Under 14s Coach | Simon Collins |
| Under 13s Coach | Andy Wright |
| Under 13s Coach |  Thomas Mcstravick |
| Under 12s Coach | Almir Velic |
| Under 11s Coach | Alan Parkes |
| Lead Academy Coach Foundation Phase U9s-U12s | Andy Wood |
| Academy Under 23s Goalkeeping Coach | Alessandro Barcherini |
| Academy Under 18s Goalkeeping Coach | Joe Stead |
| Academy Performance Support Manager | Adam Kerr |
| Academy Performance Analyst | |
| Academy Performance Analyst Under 18s | Mark Brown |
| Academy Performance Analyst Under 9s-16s | Daniel Carre |
| Academy Physical Development Coach U18s |  James So |
| Academy Sports Scientist | George Bell |
| Head Of Academy Medicine | Tom Butterfield |
| Academy Player Operations Coordinator | Matt Robertshaw |
| Head Of Academy Education and Welfare | Katie Slee |
Source:
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Managers
For a more detailed list of Academy coaching staff, see Leeds United A.F.C. personnel#Academy Staff.
Academy Directors
| From | To | Name | Notes |
| 1992 | 1997 | Paul Hart | |
| 1998 | 2000 | Alan Hill | |
| 1999 | 2000 | Steve Beaglehole | Assistant |
| 2000 | 2001 | Brian Kidd | |
| 2000 | c.2001 | Clive Richards | Assistant |
| 2001 | 2005 | Gary Worthington | Assistant |
| 2002 | 2004 | Andy Ritchie | |
| 2004 | 2010 | Neil Thompson | |
| 2009 | 2010 | Daral Pugh | Assistant |
| 2010 | 2011 | Gwyn Williams | Acting |
| 2011 | 2012 | Chris Sulley | |
| 2012 | 2015 | Steve Holmes | |
| 2015 | 2016 | Paul Hart |
Development Squad
| From | To | Name | Notes |
| 2012 | 2014 | Neil Redfearn | |
| 2014 | 2015 | Jason Blunt | Acting |
| 2015 | 2016 | Paul Hart | |
| 2016 | 2017 | Jason Blunt | Under 23s Coach |
| 2017 | 2020 | Carlos Corberán | Under 23s Coach |
| 2020 | Present | Mark Jackson | Under 23s Coach |
Reserves
| From | To | Name | Notes |
| 1948 | 1960 | Willis Edwards | |
| 1967 | 1975 | Cyril Patridge | |
| 1978 | 1980 | Bryan Edwards | |
| 1980 | 1991 | Peter Gunby | |
| 1995 | 1997 | David Williams | |
| 1997 | 1998 | Eddie Gray | |
| 2000 | 2003 | Lucas Murtagh | |
| 2003 | 2005 | Steve Agnew | |
| 2006 | 2006 | David Geddis | |
| 2006 | 2010 | Neil Thompson | |
| 2010 | 2012 | Neil Redfearn |
Under 19s & 17s and 18s & 16s
| From | To | Name | Position |
| 2000 | 2004 | Pop Robson | Under 17s Coach (2000–01), Under 19s Coach (2001–04) |
| 2006 | 2007 | Steve Agnew | Under 18s Coach |
| 2007 | Paul Beesley | Under 18s Coach | |
| 2007 | 2009 | Daral Pugh | Under 16s Coach Under 18s Coach (2007–09) |
| 2009 | 2012 | Neil Redfearn | Under 18s Coach |
| 2012 | 2014 | Richard Naylor | Under 18s Coach |
| 2014 | 2015 | Jason Blunt | Under 18s Coach |
| 2015 | 2016 | John Anderson | Under 18s Manager |
| 2016 | 2017 | Andy Gray | Under 18s Coach |
| 2016 | 2020 | Mark Jackson | Under 18s Coach |
| 2020 | present | Scott Gardner | Under 18s Coach |
References
- "Leeds United". The Football League. 19 August 2013. Archived from the original on 23 September 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
- "San Francisco 49ers Enterprises Become Minority Investor". Leeds United Football Club. 24 May 2018. Archived from the original on 24 May 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
- "Leeds reserves will play at York". BBC Sport. 27 May 2006. Retrieved 31 August 2008.
- Leeds United The Next Chapter: Official Handbook 2008/09. Leeds United. 2008.
- David Barber. "Leeds upset United". The FA. Archived from the original on 21 August 2008. Retrieved 31 August 2008.
- "FA Youth Cup 1953-2006". The FA. Archived from the original on 26 March 2006. Retrieved 31 August 2008.
- "Blatter praises Leeds youth model". BBC Sport. BBC. 16 October 2008. Retrieved 16 October 2008.
- "Chelsea's Tom Taiwo set to leave Stamford Bridge after Leeds United legal feud". Daily Telegraph. 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
- "Leeds prospect Elliott Kebbie prefers Barcelona". NNC. 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
- https://www.planetfootball.com/in-depth/the-incredible-story-of-elliot-kebbie-leeds-atletico-illness-norway-more/
- https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/manchester-city-stalling-over-leeds-3372665
- "About the Academy". Leeds United. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
- "WHITES COMPLETE ELIA CAPRILE SIGNING retained list". Leeds United. 18 January 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
- "Whites capture Leif Davis". Leeds United. 4 July 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
- "Josh Galloway Joins Leeds United". Leeds United. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- "Jack Jenkins signs professional deal". Leeds United. 15 January 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
- "Leeds United capture Liam McCarron". Leeds United. 1 July 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
- "Ryan Edmondson pens new deal". Leeds United. 7 August 2018. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
- "Robbie Gotts pens new contract". Leeds United. 16 February 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
- Lee Sobot (21 July 2017). "Leeds United look to Cyprus for new development coach". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
- http://www.tadalbion.com/news/breaking-news-morton-takes-leeds-role-2329945.html