We present a line-up of the youngest Championship representatives for Leeds United.
Goalkeeper Alex Cairns made his Leeds debut in November 2011 in a Championship game against Blackpool. Cairns, Leeds’ youngest ever Championship stopper, was 18 years and 301 days old. However, this proved to be Cairns’ only league showing for Leeds – and after spending the 2012-13 season on loan at Stalybridge Celtic, the rookie keeper left Elland Road permanently in 2015.
Sam Byram played 130 league games for Leeds between 2012 and 2016, before departing for current club West Ham United. The talented defender made his fist appearance for Leeds in August 2012, aged 18 years and 336 days.
Sheffield Wednesday defender Tom Lees began his professional career after graduating from the Leeds academy – before making more than 100 league appearances for the Peacocks between 2011 and 2014. Lees’ debut, at 20 years of age, was a 1-0 Championship defeat to Middlesbrough in August 2011.
Lewie Coyle made his Leeds league bow aged 20 years and 73 days in a December 2015 Championship clash with Nottingham Forest. To date, Coyle, another successful graduate of the Leeds academy, has made a total of 14 league appearances for the Elland Road club.
Current first choice left back Charlie Taylor is a crucial component of Garry Monk’s Leeds side. Taylor is close to making his 100th league appearance for Leeds – having made his first against Crystal Palace in September 2011, aged 17 years and 356 days.
Another current member of the first team, midfielder Ronaldo Viera made his Championship debut for Leeds aged 17 years and 291 days, in May 2016’s draw with Preston North End. Viera has impressed throughout his 27 Championship showings so far this season.
Last summer Lewis Cook departed Elland Rpad for a transfer to Premier League side Bournemouth, bringing his twelve year association with Leeds to a close. Cook joined the Yorkshire club’s academy as an eight year old, before graduating to the first team prior to the 2014-15 campaign. Cook made his Championship debut on the opening day of that season at 17 years and 186 days of age.
The youngest of the youngest Leeds XI is midfielder Simon Walton – who made his league debut for the club in August 2004, aged just 16 years and 329 days. Walton, highly rated at Elland Road, made 34 league appearances for the Whites before embarking on a rather nomadic decline throughout his twenties. Walton, now 29, currently plays in the fifth tier of English football – turning our for Guiseley in the National League.
Manchester City’s forgotten man, Fabian Delph is currently the fourth youngest player to represent Leeds in the Championship. Delph made his debut towards the end of the 2006-07 season, a 2-0 loss to Derby County, aged 17 years and 186 days. The game was to be Delph’s only appearance in the division – as the remainder of the midfielder’s 44 league games for the club came in League 1.
Speedster Aaron Lennon made his Leeds debut towards the end of the club’s Premier League era, as a 16-year-old. Lennon’s first Championship game for Leeds, aged 17 years and 135 days, was the first of 27 second-tier appearances. In 2005, as Leeds’ financial situation deteriorated, Lennon departed for close to ten years at Spurs, before joining Everton – where the winger can still be seen scuttling along the right flank.
The youngest striker to play for Leeds in the Championship is current AFC Wimbledon forward Tom Elliott. The 6 ft 4 in front man made his league debut at 17 years and 146 days of age – but made just three appearances for Leeds before embarking on numerous loan spells, followed by a permanent move away from the club in 2011.
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