Leeds United star Charlie Cresswell paid a special visit to the Leeds United Foundation Skills Centre recently to spend time with aspiring young footballers at West Riding County FA.
The defender was on hand for the full hour session based in Leeds, to offer tips and advice on playing football at such a young age, answer any questions from the youngsters on being a professional footballer and playing for Leeds United, whilst also getting involved in part of the training session with the youngest members.
The Skills Centre programme is designed for young players between the age of 5 and 12, with each session split into various groups that take age and experience into account. The England Under-21 international met with four different groups separately during the visit, before taking part in a big group photo at the end of the session with all of the participants together.
Oliver Souter, who delivers the Skills Centre programme within the club’s official charity, spoke to LUTV during the session and said: “It’s been fantastic to have Charlie with us tonight, he’s been brilliant meeting all of our players, answering their questions and he’s a credit to the club.
“It’s been atleast 18 months since we were last able to have any of the Leeds United team down to one of our sessions due to COVID and the difference it makes to them is incredible. It really helps to motivate our young players and gives them someone to look up to and aspire to be like – everyone has loved having Charlie visit us!”
There are currently over 150 participants taking part in the various Skills Centres every week – with sessions taking place every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Each week the young players are able to develop their skills with a real focus on technique and the various roles within a team, including defending, midfield, wingers, and attack.
If anyone is interested in bringing their children along to a session, all abilities are welcome and so it doesn’t matter if they’ve never played before or if they do already have experience playing, as the programme caters for all.
At the start of 2022 the programme will also be expanding with two new venues added to the mix: one taking place every Friday from 5 to 6pm at Kettlethorpe High School (Wakefield), and another every Monday evening from 5 to 6pm at Trinity University (Leeds).
For more information about the Skills Centre and the existing locations you can currently book onto, please contact [email protected].
