Leeds United F.C. Reserves and Youth Team

Leeds United Academy

Full name	Leeds United Football Club
Founded	1919 (1919)
Ground	Elland Road, Beeston, Leeds
Ground Capacity	37,890[1]
Academy Director	Vacant
League	U21 Development League Div. 2
Website	Club home page
Home colours Away colours

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.^[2] The reserves were generally a mix of recovering or fringe first-team players, young professionals and promising scholars.

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.^[3]

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.^[4] 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^[5] and the second time beating Crystal Palace 3–0 in 1997.^[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 Atletico 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 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, Alex Mowatt, Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Kalvin Phillips, Charlie Taylor and Ronaldo Vieira 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."^[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 to receive a cap at that level.

Nat.	Player	P.o.B	D.o.B	Pos.	International	Contract Expiry
Young Professionals
	Lewie Coyle	Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire; England	(1995-10-15) 15 October 1995	RB		2019 [13]
	Tyler Denton	Dewsbury, West Yorkshire; England	(1995-09-06) 6 September 1995	LB	England U17s	2019[14]
	Amadou Haidara		(1994-01-05) 5 January 1994	CB
	Jack McKay	Glasgow; Scotland	(1996-12-19) 19 December 1996	FW		2018[15]
	Paul McKay	Glasgow; Scotland	(1996-12-19) 19 December 1996	CB		2018[15]
	Dario Meadows	Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent; England	(1999-01-28) 28 January 1999	RW	Italy U16s	2017[16]
	Alex Mowatt	Doncaster, South Yorkshire; England	(1995-02-13) 13 February 1995	CM	England U20s	2017[17]
	Frank Mulhern	Doncaster, South Yorkshire; England	(1997-02-28) 28 February 1997	FW	Republic of Ireland U19s	2017[18]
	Bailey Peacock-Farrell	Darlington, Durham; England	(1996-10-29) 29 October 1996	GK		2018[19]
	Tom Pearce	Ormskirk, Lancashire; England	(1998-04-12) 12 April 1998	LB		2017[20]
	Kalvin Phillips	Leeds, West Yorkshire; England	(1995-12-02) 2 December 1995	CM		2019[21]
	Alex Purver	Leeds, West Yorkshire; England	(1995-12-01) 1 December 1995	CM		2017[21]
	Conor Shaughnessy	Galway; Republic of Ireland	(1996-06-30) 30 June 1996	CM	Republic of Ireland U17s	2017[22]
	Eoghan Stokes	Dublin; Republic of Ireland	(1996-05-17) 17 May 1996	FW	Republic of Ireland U19s	2017[23]
	Charlie Taylor	York, North Yorkshire; England	(1993-09-18) 18 September 1993	LB	England U19s	2017[24]
	Mike Taylor	Southport, Lancashire; England	(1998-03-18) 18 March 1998	RM		2017[25]
	Jack Vann	Doncaster, South Yorkshire; England	(1998-04-23) 23 April 1998	CB	England U17s	2017[26]
	Romario Vieira	Bissau; Guinea Bissau	(1998-07-20) 20 July 1998	CM		2017[27]
	Ronaldo Vieira	Bissau; Guinea Bissau	(1998-07-20) 20 July 1998	CM		2019[27]
	Billy Whitehouse	Rotherham, South Yorkshire; England	(1996-06-13) 13 June 1996	RW		2017[28]
2016-17 2nd year scholars
	Jake Croft	Leeds, West Yorkshire; England	(1998-09-14) 14 September 1998	CB		[29]
	Matty Downing	Leeds, West Yorkshire; England	(1999-07-19) 19 July 1999	LB		[29]
	Ryan Ferguson	Leeds, West Yorkshire; England	(1998-11-25) 25 November 1998	FW	England U16s	[29]
	Tom Godden	Leeds, West Yorkshire; England		RB		[29]
	Max Hill	Leeds, West Yorkshire; England		DM		[29]
	Will Huffer	Wandsworth, London; England	(1998-10-30) 30 October 1998	GK	England U18s	[29]
	Lewis Knight	Dewsbury, West Yorkshire; England	(1998-09-09) 9 September 1998	FW		[29]
	Clarke Oduor		(1999-06-25) 25 June 1999	RW		[29]
	Henry Rollinson	York, North Yorkshire; England	(1998-10-23) 23 October 1998	RM		[29]
	Theo Richardson	Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire; England	(1998-10-06) 6 October 1998	GK		[29]
	Jovanni Sterling	Leeds, West Yorkshire; England	(1999-05-27) 27 May 1999	CB		[29]
	Mallik Wilks	Leeds, West Yorkshire; England	(1998-12-15) 15 December 1998	FW		[29]
2016-17 1st year scholars
	Moses Abioye			FW		[30]
	Samuel Amissah			FW		[30]
	Robbie Gotts			DF		[30]
	Bobby Kamwa			MF		[30]
	Matthew Keogh	Knaresborough, North Yorkshire; England	(2000-01-05) 5 January 2000	DF		[30]
	Liam Kitching			DF		[30]
	Moise Kroma			FW		[30]
	Alfie McCalmont			MF		[30]
	Callum Nicell	Doncaster, South Yorkshire; England	(1999-10-30) 30 October 1999	MF	Republic of Ireland U17s	[30]
	Jamie Shackleton			MF		[30]
	Alex Wollerton	Barnsley, South Yorkshire; England	(1999-09-27) 27 September 1999	MF		[30]
Notable other academy players
	Jack Clarke			FW
	Calum Casey			DF
	Theo Hudson	Knaresborough, North Yorkshire; England	(2000-09-26) 26 September 2000	MF	England U16s
	Luke Lyons			DF	Scotland U17s
	Harrison Male	Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire; England	(2000-09-12) 12 September 2000	GK	England U16s
	Lucas Odunston		(2000-09-18) 18 September 2000	DF
	Tom Pugh	Doncaster, South Yorkshire; England		MF	Wales U15s

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.

2010s

Debut	Name	Current club	International	Apps	Goals
2016	Denton, TylerTyler Denton	Leeds United	England U17	1	1
2016	Vieira, RonaldoRonaldo Vieira	Leeds United		17	1
2016	Peacock-Farrell, BaileyBailey Peacock-Farrell	Leeds United		1	0
2015	Coyle, LewieLewie Coyle	Leeds United		18	0
2015	Phillips, KalvinKalvin Phillips	Leeds United		35	2
2014	Cook, LewisLewis Cook	AFC Bournemouth	England U19	85	2
2013	Mowatt, AlexAlex Mowatt	Leeds United	England U20	120	12
2013	Dawson, ChrisChris Dawson	Rotherham United	Wales U21	4	0
2012	Poleon, DominicDominic Poleon	AFC Wimbledon		37	4
2012	Byram, SamSam Byram	West Ham United		143	10
2011	Cairns, AlexAlex Cairns	Fleetwood Town		1	0
2011	Taylor, CharlieCharlie Taylor	Leeds United	England U19	94	3
2011	Lees, TomTom Lees	Sheffield Wednesday	England U21	135	4
2011	Thompson, ZacZac Thompson	Free Agent		12	0

2000s

Debut	Name	Current club	International	Apps	Goals
-	Hatfield, WillWill Hatfield	Guiseley		0	0
-	Darville, LiamLiam Darville	Richmond Town	England U17	0	0
-	Baxendale, JamesJames Baxendale	Mansfield Town		0	0
-	Falkingham, JoshJosh Falkingham	Darlington 1883		0	0
-	Milne, AndrewAndrew Milne	Tadcaster Albion	Scotland U18	0	0
-	Jones, RyanRyan Jones	Bootle		0	0
-	Garbutt, LukeLuke Garbutt	Everton	England U21	0	0
-	Edwards, MattyMatty Edwards	Retired		0	0
-	Swan, GeorgeGeorge Swan	Free Agent		0	0
-	Rothery, GavinGavin Rothery	Gainsborough Trinity	England U19	0	0
2008	White, AidanAidan White	Barnsley	Republic of Ireland U21	111	2
-	Brown, DavidDavid Brown	Scarborough Athletic		0	0
-	Hird, SamSam Hird	Chesterfield		0	0
2007	Bayly, RobertRobert Bayly	Waterford United	Republic of Ireland U19	3	0
2007	Ameobi, TomiTomi Ameobi	FC Edmonton		1	0
2007	Madden, SimonSimon Madden	Shamrock Rovers	Republic of Ireland U21	1	0
2007	Parker, BenBen Parker	Harrogate Town	England U19	55	1
2007	Gardner, ScottScott Gardner	Retired	England U17	2	0
2007	Delph, FabianFabian Delph	Manchester City	England	59	6
2007	Elliott, TomTom Elliott	AFC Wimbledon	England U18	4	0
-	Cairney, TomTom Cairney	Fulham	Scotland U21	0	0
-	Rose, DannyDanny Rose	Tottenham Hotspur	England	0	0
-	Ward, DannyDanny Ward	Rotherham United		0	0
-	Gordon, BenBen Gordon	Boston United	England U20	0	0
-	Taiwo, TomTom Taiwo	Falkirk	England U17	0	0
-	Woods, MichaelMichael Woods	Hartlepool United	England U19	0	0
-	Morris, IanIan Morris	Bohemian FC	Republic of Ireland U21	0	0
-	Leister, BrentonBrenton Leister	Retired		0	0
-	Smith, KevinKevin Smith	East Fife		0	0
2006	Howson, JonnyJonny Howson	Norwich City	England U21	226	28
-	McStay, HenryHenry McStay	Retired	Republic of Ireland U21	0	0
-	Singh, HarpalHarpal Singh	Retired		0	0
-	Winter, JamieJamie Winter	Broughty Athletic		0	0
-	Keegan, PaulPaul Keegan	Doncaster Rovers	Republic of Ireland U23	0	0
-	Stiens, CraigCraig Stiens	Retired	Wales U19	0	0
2004	Woods, MartinMartin Woods	Ross County	Scotland U21	1	0
2004	Keogh, AndyAndy Keogh	Perth Glory	Republic of Ireland	25	2
2004	Walton, SimonSimon Walton	Guiseley	England U19	38	3
2004	Carson, ScottScott Carson	Derby County	England	2	0
-	Cansdell-Sherriff, ShaneShane Cansdell-Sherriff	Manly United FC	Australia U23	0	0
-	Newey, TomTom Newey	Northampton Town		0	0
2003	Johnson, SimonSimon Johnson	Hinckley A.F.C.	England U20	11	0
2003	Lennon, AaronAaron Lennon	Everton	England	43	1
-	Corr, BarryBarry Corr	Cambridge United		0	0
2002	Milner, JamesJames Milner	Liverpool	England	54	3
2002	Richardson, FrazerFrazer Richardson	Doncaster Rovers	England U19	173	5
2002	Kilgallon, MatthewMatthew Kilgallon	Bradford City	England U21	95	3
2002	McMaster, JamieJamie McMaster	Sutherland Sharks	England U20	13	0
-	Farrell, CraigCraig Farrell	Retired	England U16	0	0
-	Dixon, KevinKevin Dixon	Retired		0	0
-	Harpur, ChadChad Harpur	Retired		0	0
-	Lynch, DamianDamian Lynch	Retired	Republic of Ireland U21	0	0
-	Folan, CalebCaleb Folan	Kanbawza	Republic of Ireland	0	0
-	Feeney, WarrenWarren Feeney	Retired	Northern Ireland	0	0
-	Aherne-Evans, KevinKevin Aherne-Evans	Retired	Wales U21	0	0
-	Cawley, AlanAlan Cawley	Retired	Republic of Ireland U17	0	0
-	Ross, NeilNeil Ross	Retired		0	0
2000	Hackworth, TonyTony Hackworth	Pickering Town		3	0
2000	Evans, GarethGareth Evans	Retired	England U18	1	0
-	Price, JamieJamie Price	Scarborough Athletic		0	0

1990s

Debut	Name	Current club	International	Apps	Goals
1999	Jones, MattMatt Jones	Retired	Wales	31	0
1999	Knarvik, TommyTommy Knarvik	Retired	Norway U21	1	0
-	Foster, MartinMartin Foster	Retired		0	0
-	Hessey, SeanSean Hessey	Retired		0	0
1998	Smith, AlanAlan Smith	Notts County	England	228	56
1998	Robinson, PaulPaul Robinson	Burnley	England	119	1
1998	Woodgate, JonathanJonathan Woodgate	Retired	England	142	5
1998	McPhail, StephenStephen McPhail	Retired	Republic of Ireland	107	3
-	Davies, LawrenceLawrence Davies	Retired		0	0
1997	Matthews, LeeLee Matthews	Retired		4	0
-	Smithard, MatthewMatthew Smithard	Retired		0	0
1996	Shepherd, PaulPaul Shepherd	Retired		1	0
1996	Jackson, MarkMark Jackson	Retired	England U20	23	0
1996	Blunt, JasonJason Blunt	Retired	England U18	5	0
1996	Kewell, HarryHarry Kewell	Retired	Australia	242	63
1996	Maybury, AlanAlan Maybury	Falkirk	Republic of Ireland	18	0
1996	Harte, IanIan Harte	Retired	Republic of Ireland	288	39
1996	Boyle, WesleyWesley Boyle	Loughgall	Northern Ireland U21	1	0
-	Nicholls, RyanRyan Nicholls	Retired		0	0
1995	Gray, AndyAndy Gray	Retired	Scotland	39	1
-	Lowndes, NathanNathan Lowndes	Retired		0	0
1993	Couzens, AndyAndy Couzens	Retired		36	1
1993	Bowman, RobRob Bowman	Retired	England U18	9	0
1993	Sharp, KevinKevin Sharp	Retired	England U18	17	0
1993	Forrester, JamieJamie Forrester	Retired	England U18	11	2
1993	Ford, MarkMark Ford	Retired	England U21	43	1
-	Pettinger, PaulPaul Pettinger	Retired		0	0
1993	Tinkler, MarkMark Tinkler	Retired	England U18	27	0
1993	Whelan, NoelNoel Whelan	Retired	England U21	59	8
1992	Kelly, GaryGary Kelly	Retired	Republic of Ireland	528	4

1980s

Debut	Name	Current club	International	Apps	Goals
1989	Edwards, NeilNeil Edwards	Retired	Wales U21	1	0
1988	Grayson, SimonSimon Grayson	Retired		4	0
1988	Speed, GaryGary Speed	Retired	Wales	312	58
1986	Batty, DavidDavid Batty	Retired	England	373	4
1985	Swan, PeterPeter Swan	Retired		58	13
-	Scales, JohnJohn Scales	Retired	England	0	0
1983	Sellars, ScottScott Sellars	Retired	England U21	83	7
1983	Irwin, DenisDenis Irwin	Retired	Republic of Ireland	82	1
1982	Wright, TommyTommy Wright	Retired		92	28
-	Seaman, DavidDavid Seaman	Retired	England	0	0
1982	Sheridan, JohnJohn Sheridan	Retired	Republic of Ireland	276	55
1982	Aspin, NeilNeil Aspin	Retired		234	5

1970s

Debut	Name	Current club	International	Apps	Goals
1979	Lukic, JohnJohn Lukic	Retired	England B	430	0
1975	Stevenson, ByronByron Stevenson	Retired	Wales	110	5
1974	Harris, CarlCarl Harris	Retired	Wales	176	29
1973	Gray, FrankFrank Gray	Retired	Scotland	396	35
1973	Hampton, PeterPeter Hampton	Retired		83	3
1970	Harvey, DavidDavid Harvey	Retired	Scotland	447	0

1960s

Debut	Name	Current club	International	Apps	Goals
1968	Yorath, TerryTerry Yorath	Retired	Wales	196	12
1966	Gray, EddieEddie Gray	Retired	Scotland	577	68
1966	Bates, MickMick Bates	Retired		287	9
1965	Hibbitt, TerryTerry Hibbitt	Retired		62	11
1964	Cooper, TerryTerry Cooper	Retired	England	350	11
1964	Belfitt, RodRod Belfitt	Retired		128	33
1963	Greenhoff, JimmyJimmy Greenhoff	Retired	England U23	136	33
1963	Madeley, PaulPaul Madeley	Retired	England	724	34
1962	Reaney, PaulPaul Reaney	Retired	England	745	9
1962	Sprake, GaryGary Sprake	Retired	Wales	506	0
1962	Lorimer, PeterPeter Lorimer	Retired	Scotland	703	238
1962	Hunter, NormanNorman Hunter	Retired	England	724	21
1961	Johanneson, AlbertAlbert Johanneson	Retired		200	68
1960	Bremner, BillyBilly Bremner	Retired	Scotland	771	115

1950s

Debut	Name	Current club	International	Apps	Goals
1959	Francis, GerryGerry Francis	Retired		59	9
1953	Charlton, JackJack Charlton	Retired	England	772	95

1940s

Debut	Name	Current club	International	Apps	Goals
1949	Charles, JohnJohn Charles	Retired	Wales	327	157
1948	Hair, GrenvilleGrenville Hair	Retired		474	2

Honours

Reserves

League

• The Central League (Tier 1)
  • Winners (2) 1936-37, 1997–98
• The Central League, Division One East (Tier 2)
  • Winners (1) 2008-09, 2009–10

Under 18s

Cups

• FA Youth Cup
  • Winners (2) 1993, 1997

Under 17s

League

• Premier Academy League (Tier 1)
  • Winners (1) 2002-03

Cups

• Milk Cup
  • Winners (1) 2002

Managers

For a more detailed list of Academy coaching staff, see Leeds United A.F.C. personnel#Academy Staff.

Academy Directors

Development Squad

Reserves

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

References

External links

• Official Leeds United F.C. website - Reserve Player Profiles
• Official Leeds United F.C. website - Academy Player Profiles