Leeds United F.C. Reserves and Youth Team


Leeds United Reserves were the English football reserve team of Leeds United FC. 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.
Leeds United Under 23s are the development squad of Leeds United FC. They play in the Professional Development League. Carlos Corberán is the current coach of the team. 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 FC. 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. 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, and the second time in 1997, beating Crystal Palace 3-1.
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 Atlético 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, 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 Aidan 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, 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 Oliver Casey, Ryan Edmondson, Robbie Gotts, Will Huffer, Alfie McCalmont, Kalvin Phillips and Jamie Shackleton all having made appearances in the first team squad.

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, 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 8 August 2019.

2020s

DebutNatNameCurrent clubAppsGoals
2020Leeds United20

2010s

DebutNatNameCurrent clubAppsGoals
2019Leeds United40
2019Leeds United10
2019Leeds United'20
2019Barnsley10
2019Leeds United10
2018Leeds United90
2018Leeds United10
2018Tottenham Hotspur282
2018Leeds United471
2018Leeds United20
2018Wigan Athletic101
2017Unattached10
2017Hull City10
2016Unattached31
2016Sampdoria712
2016Burnley'400
2015Fleetwood Town250
2015Leeds United18112
2014Bournemouth852
2013Barnsley12513
2013Scarborough Athletic40
2012Unattached374
2012Norwich City14310
2011Fleetwood Town10
2011Burnley1043
2011Sheffield Wednesday1354

2000s

DebutNatNameCurrent clubAppsGoals
2008Heart of Midlothian1112
2007Retired30
2007St Patrick's Athletic10
2007FC Edmonton20
2007Retired551
2007Retired20
2007Everton'596
2007Salford City40
2006Middlesbrough22628
2004Retired10
2004NorthEast United'252
2004Havant & Waterlooville383
2004Manchester City'20
2003Retired110
2003Unattached'431
2002Liverpool543
2002Retired1735
2002Retired953
2002Retired130
2000Retired30
2000Retired20

1990s

DebutNatNameCurrent clubAppsGoals
1999Retired'310
1999Retired10
1998Retired'22856
1998Retired'1191
1998Retired'1425
1998Retired'1073
1997Retired40
1996Retired10
1996Retired230
1996Retired50
1996Retired'24263
1996Retired'180
1996Retired'28839
1996Retired10
1995Retired'391
1993Retired361
1993Retired90
1993Retired170
1993Retired112
1993Retired431
1993Retired270
1993Retired598
1992Retired'5284

1980s

DebutNatNameCurrent clubAppsGoals
1989Retired10
1988Retired40
1988Retired'31258
1987Retired'3734
1985Retired'190
1985Retired5813
1983Retired837
1983Retired'821
1982Retired9228
1982Retired27655
1982Retired2345
1980Retired7417

1970s

DebutNameCurrent clubAppsGoals
1979Retired10822
1979Retired4300
1975Retired'1105
1974Retired'17629
1973Retired'39635
1973Retired 833
1970Retired'4470

1960s

DebutNameCurrent clubAppsGoals
1968Retired'19612
1966Retired'57768
1966Retired2879
1965Retired6211
1964Retired'35011
1964Retired12833
1963Retired13633
1963Retired'72434
1962Retired'7459
1962Retired'5060
1962Retired'703238
1962Retired'72421
1961Retired20068
1960Retired771115

1950s

DebutNameCurrent clubAppsGoals
1959Retired599
1953Retired77295

1940s

DebutNameCurrent clubAppsGoals
1949Retired327157
1948Retired4742

Other Professionals

Birth YearNatNameCurrent club
1999Forest Green Rovers
1998Free Agent'
1997Central Coast Mariners
1997Hull City
1996Sheffield United'
1994Free Agent
1994Retired
1993Everton
1992Kidderminster Harriers
1992Bootle
1991Fulham'
1991Retired
1991Gainsborough Trinity
1991Guiseley
1991Rangers
1991Cardiff City
1990Free Agent
1990Harrogate Town
1990Tadcaster Albion
1990Ossett Albion'
1990Tottenham Hotspur'
1990Hamilton Academical
1990Hartlepool United
1989Hyde United
1987Free Agent
1987Retired
1987Bradford Park Avenue
1987East Fife
1985Cambridge United
1985Retired
1985Carnoustie Panmure
1984Waterford
1984Retired
1982Retired
1982Retired
1982Retired
1982Retired'
1982Retired
1982Retired
1982Retired
1981Retired'
1981Retired
1981Retired
1980Retired
1980Retired
1979Retired
1978Retired
1977Retired
1977Retired
1977Retired
1976Retired
1975Retired
1973Retired
1966Retired'
1963Retired

Honours

Reserves

;League
;Cups
  • West Riding Senior Cup
  • *Winners 1926–27, 1963–64

    Under 23s

;League
  • Professional Development League National Champions 2018–19
  • Professional Development League North Division Champions 2018–19

    Under 18s

;League
  • U18 Professional Development League North Division Champions 2017–18
;Cups
  • FA Youth Cup
  • *Winners 1993, 1997

    Under 17s

;League
;Cups
  • Milk Cup
  • *Winners 2002

    Academy Coaching Staff

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

FromToNamePosition
20002004Pop RobsonUnder 17s Coach,
Under 19s Coach
20062007Steve AgnewUnder 18s Coach
2007Paul BeesleyUnder 18s Coach
20072009Daral PughUnder 16s Coach
Under 18s Coach
20092012Neil RedfearnUnder 18s Coach
20122014Richard NaylorUnder 18s Coach
20142015Jason BluntUnder 18s Coach
20152016John AndersonUnder 18s Manager
20162017Andy GrayUnder 18s Coach
2016pres.Mark JacksonUnder 18s Coach