New Sheffield United signing Casey Stewart was developed by the academy headed by a former Blades and Leeds United striker.
Leeds United’s Ronaldo Vieira (right)
Sheffield United are the latest club to profit from the academy which produced Leeds United’s Vieira twins.
On Friday, the Blades completed the signing of teenage midfielder Casey Stewart – a graduate of the the York-based i2i Football Academy headed by the club’s former striker Richard Cresswell, who also played for Leeds – from Tadcaster Albion.
Leeds’ Ronaldo Vieira was one of the first to message Stewart on Twitter following his move to the Whites’ Yorkshire rivals, having started at i2i himself along with twin brother Romario, who joined him at Elland Road earlier this year.
“Congrats bro,” wrote Vieira, who has made nine appearances for Garry Monk’s side this season.
i2i, whose website claims their academy “gives young players across Yorkshire access to first-class football training, which is usually only available at professional clubs”, are affiliates of Tadcaster, who play in the Northern Counties East Football League Premier Division.
Although Stewart is set to go straight into Sheffield United’s development squad initially, both he and the Blades will hope he can have a similar impact to Vieira, who took less than a year to break into Leeds’ first team.
Richard Cresswell in action against another of his former clubs, Sheffield Wednesday
Cresswell is currently on Tadcaster’s books, along with close friend Jonathan Greening – a former Manchester United player.
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