Ground Capacity 37,890 Website Club home page Date founded 1919 | Academy Director Vacant Ground Elland Road | |
Full name Leeds United Football Club League U21 Development League Div. 2 | ||
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. The reserves were generally a mix of recovering or fringe first-team players, young professionals and promising scholars.
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The Leeds United Development Squad are the development squad of Leeds United F.C. They play in the Professional Development League. Jason Blunt is the team's coach. They play at the club's training ground, Thorp Arch, although they have announced they may also occasionally play at Elland Road.
Leeds United Under 18s are the youth team of Leeds United F.C. They play in the 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. Andy Gray and Mark Jackson are the current coaches of the team. They play at the club's training ground, Thorp Arch. The youth team also annually compete in the FA Youth Cup, having won it twice – the first time in 1993, beating Manchester United 4–1 and the second time beating Crystal Palace 3–0 in 1997.
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".
The Leeds United Academy has produced several promising youngsters who have been controversially signed by top flight clubs in recent years. Michael Woods, Ben Gordon and Tom Taiwo moved to Chelsea, 16-year-old Elliot Kebbie was signed by Atletico Madrid, 14-year-olds George Swan and Louis Hutton were signed by Manchester City, 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 and Alan Smith, Australian international Harry Kewell, Republic of Ireland internationals Stephen McPhail, Gary Kelly and Ian Harte, Republic of Ireland Under-21 internationals Eric Grimes and Aidan White and England Under-21 internationals Jonny Howson, Matthew Kilgallon and Tom Lees. Former club and international greats that also came through Leeds' youth ranks include; John Charles, Terry Cooper, 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 Lewie Coyle, Tyler Denton, Paul McKay, Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Kalvin Phillips, Charlie Taylor, Ronaldo Vieira, Jack Vann, Billy Whitehouse and Mallik Wilks all having made appearances in the first team squad recently.
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."
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. Italics denotes player has received a call up to the squad but did not or has 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 August 2016.
Reserves
Under 18s
Under 17s
Managers
For a more detailed list of Academy coaching staff, see Leeds United A.F.C. personnel#Academy Staff.