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

Leeds United Football Club Under-21s is the most senior of Leeds United's youth teams and the club's former reserve team.

Leeds United Under-21s
Full nameLeeds United Football Club Under-21s
Nickname(s)The Whites
Founded1919 (1919)
GroundThorp Arch
CapacityN/A
Owner49ers Enterprises[1]
ChairmanParaag Marathe
ManagerScott Gardner
LeaguePremier League 2
2023–24Premier League 2, 24th of 26
Websitehttp://www.leedsunited.com/

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

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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

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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

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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. Name Place of Birth Date of Birth Pos. International Other
  Harry Christy Harrogate, England (2003-10-19) 19 October 2003 (age 21) GK England U15s
  Rory Mahady Kirkcaldy, Scotland (2006-08-16) 16 August 2006 (age 18) GK Scotland U19s
  Darryl Ombang Leeds, England (2005-07-11) 11 July 2005 (age 19) GK England U17s
  James Debayo Hillingdon, London, England (2005-08-10) 10 August 2005 (age 19) DF England U18s
  Connor Ferguson Keighley, England (2004-11-05) 5 November 2004 (age 20) DF
  Reuben Lopata-White Bradford, England (2005-09-26) 26 September 2005 (age 19) DF
  Diogo Monteiro Geneva, Switzerland (2005-01-28) 28 January 2005 (age 19) DF Portugal U19s
  Kris Moore Leeds, England (2003-11-13) 13 November 2003 (age 20) DF
  Jeremiah Mullen Leeds, England (2004-06-17) 17 June 2004 (age 20) DF Scotland U21s
  Joe Richards Leeds, England (2005-10-17) 17 October 2005 (age 19) DF
  Dan Toulson Harrogate, England (2005-10-18) 18 October 2005 (age 19) DF
  Rhys Chadwick England (2007-02-19) 19 February 2007 (age 17) MF
  Sam Chambers Huddersfield, England (2007-03-10) 10 March 2007 (age 17) MF Scotland U19s
  Cian Coleman Pudsey, England (2004-09-23) 23 September 2004 (age 20) MF Republic of Ireland U19s
  Charlie Crew Cardiff, Wales (2006-06-15) 15 June 2006 (age 18) MF Wales
  Connor Douglas Leeds, England (2005-10-08) 8 October 2005 (age 19) MF
  Josh McDonald Scotland (2007-03-06) 6 March 2007 (age 17) MF Scotland U17s
  Max McFadden Havering, London, England (2005-10-02) 2 October 2005 (age 19) MF
  Amari Miller Birmingham, England (2002-11-04) 4 November 2002 (age 22) MF
  Joe Snowdon Oldham, England (2004-02-14) 14 February 2004 (age 20) MF
  Lewis Pirie Scotland (2007-01-28) 28 January 2007 (age 17) FW Scotland U17s
  Marley Wilson Leeds, England (2005-11-07) 7 November 2005 (age 19) FW England U15s
2024–25 Out on Loan
  Sonny Perkins Waltham Forest, London, England (2004-02-10) 10 February 2004 (age 20) FW England U20s Leyton Orient
  Darko Gyabi Catford, London, England (2004-02-18) 18 February 2004 (age 20) MF England U20s Plymouth Argyle
  Luca Thomas Crewe, England (2004-09-16) 16 September 2004 (age 20) FW York City
2024–25 3rd Year Scholars
  Oscar Dawber Wandsworth, London, England (2005-09-25) 25 September 2005 (age 19) DF
2024–25 2nd Year Scholars
  Alex Baird England (2007-08-01) 1 August 2007 (age 17) GK England U15s
  Joe Billett Harrogate, England (2006-09-10) 10 September 2006 (age 18) DF
  Coban Bird Pontefract, England (2006-11-05) 5 November 2006 (age 18) DF
  Devon Brockie England (2007-03-11) 11 March 2007 (age 17) MF Scotland U16s
  Lleyton Brown England (2007-01-29) 29 January 2007 (age 17) FW
  Alfie Cresswell England (2007-07-14) 14 July 2007 (age 17) DF
  Owen Grainger Bridlington, England (2007-07-12) 12 July 2007 (age 17) GK Northern Ireland U18s
  Harvey Vincent England (2007-03-20) 20 March 2007 (age 17) MF England U16s
2024–25 1st Year Scholars
  Louie Dudley England (2007-11-13) 13 November 2007 (age 16) DF
  Will Firth Australia (2007-09-11) 11 September 2007 (age 17) DF
  Josh Hamilton England (2007-09-15) 15 September 2007 (age 17) DF England U17s
  George Kenyon England (2008-03-23) 23 March 2008 (age 16) GK
  Freddie Lane England (2007-09-24) 24 September 2007 (age 17) MF
  Luke Matykiewicz England (2007-09-02) 2 September 2007 (age 17) DF
  Jack Morris England (2008-01-25) 25 January 2008 (age 16) DF
  Oliver Pickles England (2007-10-11) 11 October 2007 (age 17) MF
  Jacob Render England (2008-03-20) 20 March 2008 (age 16) MF
  Elton Simo England (2008-06-11) 11 June 2008 (age 16) MF
Notable Others
  Sam Alker England (2009-03-13) 13 March 2009 (age 15) MF England U16s
  Oliver Boast England (2009-05-07) 7 May 2009 (age 15) FW England U16s
  Harry Gray England (2008-10-08) 8 October 2008 (age 16) FW England U16s
  Jacob Howard England (2009-03-29) 29 March 2009 (age 15) DF
  Oliver Wood England MF

Graduates

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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

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Honours

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Reserves

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League

Cup

Under 23s

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League

Under 18s

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League

Cup

Under 17s

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League

Cup

Academy coaching staff

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Position Staff
Academy Manager Adam Underwood[6]
Head of Academy Coaching Andy Foster
Head Of National Academy Recruitment Lyndon Tomlinson
Head Of Emerging Talent Craig Dean
Under 21s Manager Paco Gallardo
Under 21s Coach Michael Pujdak
Under 18s Manager Scott Gardner
Under 18s Coach Rob Etherington

Academy Directors

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From To Name Notes
1992 1997 Paul Hart
1998 2000 Alan Hill
1999 2000 Steve Beaglehole Assistant
2000 2001 Brian Kidd
2000 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

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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 2022 Mark Jackson Under 23s Coach

Reserves

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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

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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

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  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ Leeds United under-21 promotion
  3. ^ "The Premier League elite player performance plan – 'not perfect but lessons are being learned'". Leeds United. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  4. ^ "Leeds United Player Statistics". Leedsfans.org.uk. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Leeds Squad Stats". Soccerbase. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  6. ^ Lee Sobot (21 July 2017). "Leeds United look to Cyprus for new development coach". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
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