| Academy manager | Martin Diggle |
|---|---|
| Under-21s head coach | Scott Gardner |
| Under-18s head coach | Rob Etherington |
| Base | Thorp Arch, Wetherby |
How the Leeds United academy works
The Under-21s and Under-18s are the two main age-group sides. The club’s August 2026 squad-numbers announcement said several academy prospects were added to the first-team squad list, and you can see the current list on our squad page.
Moving towards first-team football
The academy gives young players experience beyond youth fixtures. In a March 2026 club interview, Jonny Howson described the aim as helping players cope with the demands of a first-team environment, at Leeds or elsewhere. His role includes playing alongside the younger players and working with the coaching staff.
Howson works with Scott Gardner and Michal Pujdak in the Under-21s group. He explained that some training sessions put him in the middle of the action, while other work involves looking at the details with the backroom staff. That gives academy players access to a former first-team captain’s experience without treating youth results as the only measure of progress.
Leeds United academy grounds
The Under-18s and Under-16s play home games on the pitches at Thorp Arch. See the training ground page for the facilities, including the indoor pitch in The Barn.
The younger age groups
The Leeds United academy pathway starts well before the Under-18s. A club report on the 2026 signing night described 14 youngsters from West Yorkshire joining the Under-9s setup. Academy manager Martin Diggle attended, alongside staff working with the youngest age groups. Ao Tanaka and Wilfried Gnonto also joined the event to welcome the new players.
A note on accuracy
The Leeds United academy names above come from linked club reports. They are a guide to the main roles, not a complete staff directory. Meanwhile, team selection and fixtures change through the season, so check the club’s current academy news before making plans.
Sources
Academy manager at signing night; Howson and age-group coaches; Academy facilities report.
