Two of our Under-23 stars took time out of their busy training schedules earlier this week to meet with Year 9 students at Farnley Academy for a virtual Q and A session.
Charlie Cresswell, who made his Premier League debut at the weekend, was joined by Joe Gelhardt, the current Under-23 top scorer who made his first-team debut in the Carabao Cup against Fulham recently, as they sat down at Thorp Arch for a Zoom call with the Leeds United Foundation education team.
Over 30 students from Farnley Academy were eagerly waiting on the call with their questions at the ready, all based around the Leeds United values in being ambitious, resilient, fair, inspiring, connected, and active. The young pupils were thrilled to see the two players who have both dealt with being thrust into the first-team environment incredibly well, taking it in turns to ask their questions, learning more about them as individuals and life as a Leeds United player.
The Leeds United duo also offered out advice on how to bounce back from disappointment, how to deal with pressure and nerves and how important it is to fight for your dreams, work hard and treat people with kindness always – whether it is teammates, classmates, teachers, or opponents.
19-year-old Cresswell spoke to LUTV following the Q and A and said: “It was great to meet the students online today and listen to all of the great questions they had for me and Joe. I know it’s not the same as being able to meet them all face to face, but hopefully they still enjoyed speaking with us and gaining a bit more insight into our lives.
“It’s always great being able to work with the Foundation, learning more about the brilliant work they are doing in our local community, helping people and creating opportunities for those who need them – if we’re able to support them in any way, we are always willing to do that.”
The Leeds United Foundation deliver workshops and educational sessions across a number of secondary and primary schools in Leeds and further afield, using the power of football and Leeds United to encourage students to be more engaged, improve their knowledge around various topics and develop their skills.
If you would like more information on the work being done under the Education pillar at the club's official charity, please contact [email protected].
