Leeds star Ollie Pickles makes huge progress toward first team after dream week
It’s a good time to be part of Leeds United’s youth academy.
The under-21 team won the inaugural National League Cup in 2024. They’ve seen Archie Gray progress into the first team, while his brother Harry Gray also made his senior debut this year.
Goalkeeper Rory Mahady performed fantastically during a youth loan spell at Scunthorpe United, and other players are preparing to make their bow in men’s football.
With all this success and progress, the future certainly looks bright for Leeds.
Leeds youngster Ollie Pickles shows fantastic progress within the space of one week
Ollie Pickles is another member of Leeds academy who is showing fantastic progress at a rapid rate.
The 17-year-old signed his first senior contract at the end of September. He was also handed the captain’s armband for a Leeds under-21 game, being given the chance to lead teammates who are significantly older than him.
Now, in an official nod to his lightning-fast improvement, he has been awarded the Leeds under-21 player of the month award for September.
Pickles will likely be inspired by the progress of the Gray brothers before him, and will surely hold ambitions to promote to the first team as quickly as they did.
Indeed, the success of former teammates appears to be motivating the whole academy to develop at impressive speed.
Leeds’ focus on youth development sets them up for a bright future
Leeds have made it their mission to include the club’s youth academy within the overall identity of the club.
That’s parttly why we’ve seen former academy graduates like Aaron Lennon return to Elland Road in a youth coaching role.
When these young players see evidence that they can reach their dreams, it becomes easier to put in the hard work to make it happen.
| Games played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored | Goals against |
| 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 9 |
Currently, all members of Leeds under-21 team are surrounded by teammates who are progressing up the ladder and coaches who graduated from Leeds’ academy themselves.
This is an encouraging way to set up a youth academy, and there’s a great chance it will pay dividends for Leeds time and again in the future.
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