Leeds United U23 ticket sales ‘gigantic’ for young players – Tony Dorigo
Leeds United are nearing a potential attendance record in Premier League 2 with over 12,000 tickets sold for their clash against Manchester City already.
Everton currently holds the record for the competition at 16,935 set back in 2017 but the Whites are determined to run that number close when they take on the league leaders on Friday (22 April).
Having already played in front of a 10,000 crowd when they beat Manchester United at Elland Road, Mark Jackson’s young starlets have all the experience to cope with the pressures and Tony Dorigo sees this as a great opportunity for them all.
“It’s huge, it’s absolutely gigantic as a young player,” Dorigo told the Yorkshire Evening Post.
“It is important and I think where these Leeds are probably luckier more than most is that because the Premier League is so popular because not many can get tickets is that the next bit of action is the under-23s and so you get a lot of people coming there just wanting to get to Elland Road and sample the atmosphere and they will get thousands there.
“Looking at the results when they play there they have always put on a show, they have scored plenty of goals and you have got some great talented players who will give absolutely everything.
Great test
Something a lot of young players can struggle with when they get a promotion to first-team action can be the crowds at Premier League games and the sheer size of them.
They generate so much noise that those who are promoted too soon just can’t cope with it and crumble on the big stage.
But getting such big attendances for Under-23 games should, theoretically, allow them to experience a fairly large crowd before having to face it in front of the world in the Premier League.
Leeds boss Jesse Marsch will certainly be looking at how the brightest talents at Thorp Arch cope with the big lights of Elland Road against the league leaders.
Some may find themselves in the American’s squad next season and this is one of their few chances left to impress before the end of the season.
The multi-million-pound Citizens will still be favourites but they will be just as alien to big crowds and that could be what trips them up in Yorkshire on Friday.
In other Leeds United news, this teenager, who has only played once for the Under-23s this season, is currently on trial with an EFL club.