Leeds United F.C. Under-21s and Academy explained

Clubname:Leeds United Under-21s
Upright:0.8
Fullname:Leeds United Football Club Under-21s
Nickname:The Whites
Ground:Thorp Arch
Capacity:N/A
Owner:49ers Enterprises[1]
Chairman:Paraag Marathe
Chrtitle:Chairman
Manager:Scott Gardner
League:Premier League 2
Season:2023–24
Position:Premier League 2, 24th of 26
Website:http://www.leedsunited.com/
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Leeds United Football Club Under-21s is the most senior of Leeds United's youth teams and the club's former reserve team.

As of the 2023–24 season, they play in the Premier League 2 : Division 1, the top tier of the Professional Development League, following promotion from Division 2 of the 2022–23 Professional U21 Development League.[2]

History

The under-23s replaced the club's under-21 team in 2016, which had replaced the reserve team in 2012 following the English game's reform of the youth football and the introduction of the Elite Player Performance Plan. The club was initially awarded Category Two status but upgraded to Category One in 2020.[3]

Player eligibility

For the 2024–25 season player eligibility is restricted to under-21 players born after 1 January 2003. Only players born after 1 January 2006 (primarily scholars), are eligible to play for the Under 18s.

Current players

Italics denotes player has received a call up to the international age group squad but did not or has yet to receive a cap at that level.

Young Professionals
Nat.NamePlace of BirthDate of BirthPos.InternationalOther
Harry ChristyHarrogate, England19 October 2003GKEngland U15s
Rory MahadyKirkcaldy, Scotland16 August 2006GKScotland U19s
Darryl OmbangLeeds, England11 July 2005GKEngland U17s
James DebayoHillingdon, London, England10 August 2005DFEngland U18s
Connor FergusonKeighley, England5 November 2004DF
Reuben Lopata-WhiteBradford, England26 September 2005DF
Diogo MonteiroGeneva, Switzerland28 January 2005DFPortugal U19s
Kris MooreLeeds, England13 November 2003DF
Jeremiah MullenLeeds, England17 June 2004DFScotland U21s
Joe RichardsLeeds, England17 October 2005DF
Dan ToulsonHarrogate, England18 October 2005DF
Rhys ChadwickEngland19 February 2007MF
Sam ChambersHuddersfield, England10 March 2007MFScotland U17s
Cian ColemanPudsey, England23 September 2004MFRepublic of Ireland U19s
Charlie CrewCardiff, Wales15 June 2006MFWales
Connor DouglasLeeds, England8 October 2005MF
Josh McDonaldScotland6 March 2007MFScotland U17s
Max McFaddenHavering, London, England2 October 2005MF
Amari MillerBirmingham, England4 November 2002MF
Joe SnowdonOldham, England14 February 2004MF
Mateo JosephSantander, Spain19 October 2003FWSpain U21s
Lewis PirieScotland28 January 2007FWScotland U17s
Luca ThomasCrewe, England16 September 2004FW
Marley WilsonLeeds, England7 November 2005FWEngland U15s
2024–25 Out on Loan
Sonny PerkinsWaltham Forest, London, England10 February 2004FWEngland U20sLeyton Orient
Darko GyabiCatford, London, England18 February 2004MFEngland U20sPlymouth Argyle
2024–25 3rd Year Scholars
Oscar DawberWandsworth, London, England25 September 2005DF
2024–25 2nd Year Scholars
Alex BairdEngland1 August 2007GKEngland U15s
Joe BillettHarrogate, England10 September 2006DF
Coban BirdPontefract, England5 November 2006DF
Devon BrockieEngland11 March 2007MFScotland U16s
Lleyton BrownEngland29 January 2007FW
Alfie CresswellEngland14 July 2007DF
Owen GraingerBridlington, England12 July 2007GKNorthern Ireland U18s
Harvey VincentEngland20 March 2007MFEngland U16s
Notable Others
Sam AlkerEngland13 March 2009MFEngland U16s
Oliver BoastEngland7 May 2009 (age 15)FWEngland U16s
Harry GrayEngland8 October 2008FWEngland U16s
Josh HamiltonEngland15 September 2007DFEngland U17s

Graduates

The following list includes players who have graduated from Leeds' youth system to make their senior debut for the first team. Players who have represented their national team at senior level are highlighted in bold.[4] [5]

Other Professionals

Honours

Reserves

League

Cup

Under 23s

League

Under 18s

League

Cup

Under 17s

League

Cup

Academy coaching staff

[6] |}

Academy Directors

FromToNameNotes
19921997Paul Hart
19982000Alan Hill
19992000Steve BeagleholeAssistant
20002001Brian Kidd
20002001Clive RichardsAssistant
20012005Gary WorthingtonAssistant
20022004Andy Ritchie
20042010Neil Thompson
20092010Daral PughAssistant
20102011Gwyn WilliamsActing
20112012Chris Sulley
20122015Steve Holmes
20152016Paul Hart

Development Squad

FromToNameNotes
20122014Neil Redfearn
20142015Jason BluntActing
20152016Paul Hart
20162017Jason BluntUnder 23s Coach
20172020Carlos CorberánUnder 23s Coach
20202022Mark JacksonUnder 23s Coach

Reserves

FromToNameNotes
19481960Willis Edwards
19671975Cyril Patridge
19781980Bryan Edwards
19801991Peter Gunby
19951997David Williams
19971998Eddie Gray
20002003Lucas Murtagh
20032005Steve Agnew
20062006David Geddis
20062010Neil Thompson
20102012Neil Redfearn

Under 19s & 17s and 18s & 16s

FromToNamePosition
20002004Pop RobsonUnder 17s Coach (2000–01),
Under 19s Coach (2001–04)
20062007Steve AgnewUnder 18s Coach
2007Paul BeesleyUnder 18s Coach
20072009Daral PughUnder 16s Coach
Under 18s Coach (2007–09)
20092012Neil RedfearnUnder 18s Coach
20122014Richard NaylorUnder 18s Coach
20142015Jason BluntUnder 18s Coach
20152016John AndersonUnder 18s Manager
20162017Andy GrayUnder 18s Coach
20162020Mark JacksonUnder 18s Coach
2020presentScott GardnerUnder 18s Coach

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: San Francisco 49ers Enterprises Become Minority Investor. Leeds United Football Club. 24 May 2018. 24 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180524151806/https://www.leedsunited.com/news/club-news/23401/san-francisco-49ers-enterprises-become-minority-investor. 24 May 2018. dead.
  2. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0fnhrlc Leeds United under-21 promotion
  3. News: The Premier League elite player performance plan – 'not perfect but lessons are being learned' . 2021-06-24 . Leeds United.
  4. Web site: Leeds United Player Statistics . Leedsfans.org.uk . 21 June 2021 .
  5. Web site: Leeds Squad Stats . Soccerbase . 21 June 2021.
  6. News: 21 July 2017. 21 July 2017. Yorkshire Evening Post. Leeds United look to Cyprus for new development coach. Lee Sobot.