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Leeds United duo help to inspire younger generation

Sam Greenwood and Sean McGurk visit Development Centre.

Sam and Sean Dev Centre banner 2.jpg

Sam Greenwood and Sean McGurk recently paid a special visit to the Leeds United Foundation Development Centre to take a look at some of the young talent progressing through the club’s official charity.

The Leeds United duo spent the entire training session, which was based at the Grammar School at Leeds, meeting those in attendance via the various age groups, answering some key questions from the participants, and getting involved in some mini games and some of their training drills before joining everyone involved in a big group photo.

Sam Greenwood spoke to LUTV during the visit and said: “It’s unbelievable, it brings back so many memories of when I used to do this as a kid, I used to do a similar thing and it was especially great to see more girls playing football now as well.

“For Leeds, it’s such a family club and as you can see stuff like this just brings it all together and you can just see how much the kids are enjoying themselves, which of course is the main thing.”

Sean McGurk, added: “I don’t think people quite know how much it means to us to know we can have an impact on these kids just by coming down, it’s been brilliant.”

Oliver Souter leads the Development Centre programme within the Foundation, and he said: “Sam and Sean were both excellent. They brought a real buzz to the training session and the participants were amazed to have them getting involved.

“Sam and Sean both lent some helpful tips to our young aspiring players, and it was a great opportunity for them to meet some of their role models, and they were definitely able to leave a lasting impression.”

There were over 80 boys and girls training at the Grammar School at Leeds which is a session that takes place every Wednesday, and having now been up and running for three seasons there are a total of 500 young people taking part in the various Development Centres that are hosted each and every week throughout Leeds.

Those taking part in the sessions have each been recruited due to them excelling in their grassroots environments, with some of the participants also being picked up from some of the other programmes on offer through the Leeds United Foundation, including the Soccer Schools and Skills Centres, which are both ability based sessions delivered around West Yorkshire.

If you would like more information on the Development Centre programme, please contact [email protected].

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