Leeds United first-team players Brenden Aaronson and Mateo Joseph recently dropped in to one of our Summer Soccer School Camps to get involved with the fun activities and chat with the local youngsters.

Delivered by the Leeds United Foundation at the Grammar School of Leeds, the camps ran throughout the Summer holidays across various locations in Leeds and West Yorkshire, using football to inspire children aged five to 12 years old.

The sessions are intended to get people active, develop their confidence and meet new friends, with competitive matches and other skills-based sessions running throughout the day.

Daniel Crawford, Football Participation Officer at the Leeds United Foundation, spoke about the visit and he said: “It’s amazing to have the opportunity to have players come here and visit our camps, and we are truly so grateful because it really is a once in a lifetime for some people. I can’t thank the two players enough; it was an honour to have them here and the kids absolutely loved it.

“Our Soccer Camps run all through the different half terms and it’s just about providing that opportunity for participants to be involved in sports and I know that a lot of the kids that come along to the sessions come to make friends, stay physically active and again just enjoy themselves.”

US men’s international Aaronson also spoke to LUTV during the visit, and he said: “I remember doing the same thing when I was younger, coming to camps like these and seeing first-team players and looking up to them and I know how much that means to kids.

“It’s awesome for us to be here, and just learning about the Foundation and how kids can come out here and play and have a great time, and for us to show up and help them it’s just a great feeling.”

Young star Jospeh added: “It’s been great to see the kids enjoying their time and to see how much it means to them. Obviously I’ve been in the same position as them trying to improve and get to first team football and when I was a kid I was always looking to first-team players, they were my idols, but I never got a chance like this to see them and instead it was at games and things like that, but this feels like a really special moment and something I’m sure they’ll remember all their lives.

“It feels really good to share these moments with some of our fans and I’m just happy to be here and hopefully they enjoyed their time with us.”

More information about the Leeds United Foundation can be found HERE.