Leeds United

Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter

Several former Leeds United stars including Kalvin Phillips, Brian Deane, David Batty, Noel Whelan and Paul Madeley grew-up playing on the famous TV Harrison ground in Wortley in Leeds.

In 2022 campaigners trying to save the historic football pitch known as 'Wortley's Wembley' from having houses built upon in it managed to secure it as an "asset of community value".

This meant the local community had the first say in what should happen to it.

For Deane, the TV Harrison ground is an important part of the city's sporting heritage.

"It's got so many iconic memories for a lot of people," he previously told the BBC.

"This is where I had my first taste of playing teams outside of Leeds and it really meant something."

Whelan added: "Cup finals were played on here. A lot of good players who went on to play for Leeds started here. It's where we developed our skills. This could be a really good opportunity to develop the next superstar of Leeds United."

Three years on and there has been even better news. On Wednesday night local Labour MP for Leeds South West and Morley, Mark Sewards, announced that the future of the TV Harrison Sports Ground was assured thanks to the help of Leeds United.

On social media he posted: "Leeds United's initial proposal to take over and invest in Wortley's Wembley has been accepted".

The deal would see Leeds United take charge of the TV Harrison Football ground for the next 250 years for a price of £50,000.

The deal includes a covenant that means the ground can only ever be used for sport and never used for houses.

Over the next six weeks other parties can put their equivalent bid for the ground forward but Leeds United's deal would also see the club invest to make it a better playing facility.

United are expected to comment should all the details of their proposal be finalised at the end of that period.

Listen to West Yorkshire Sport Daily, weeknights at 18:00, and subscribe to BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Leeds United's Ao Tanaka has helped Japan become the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup finals.

The midfielder appeared as a half-time substitute as Japan beat Bahrain 2-0 in Saitama to guarantee a top-two finish in their Asian qualifying group.

Tanaka won his 30th cap as the Samurai Blue made it to their eighth consecutive World Cup with three qualifiers still to play.

The 26-year-old has scored four goals for Leeds in 35 Championship appearances this season since joining from Fortuna Dusseldorf at the end of August.

Japan join co-hosts the USA, Canada and Mexico as confirmed qualifiers for the tournament which has been expanded to 48 teams.

Leeds United winger Dan James says that boss Daniel Farke's management style has helped him find his good form.

The Wales international is enjoying a fine season, scoring 10 goals and making nine assists across his 32 Championship games.

"When he first come in, he put his arm around me and said what he wanted from me," James told BBC Radio Leeds.

"We had a good relationship from the start and it's one I've tried to continue with.

"The way he sets up the team suits me down to the ground and that's where I get the benefits from."

His 10 goals make him the first Welsh player to make it to double digits in a single season for Leeds since John Charles.

Though James is quick to shirk off any comparisons to the Wales legend.

"It's always an honour to be put in a category like that. I think I'm a long way off to be put in the same bracket as him," James said.

"Things like that I try not to get too high off. We've got eight important games left and we are still at a stage where we haven't done it yet."

You can listen to the full interview and more on the Don't Go To Bed Yet podcast.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United and Leeds United have confirmed they will play each other in their first pre-season fixture before the 2025-26 campaign.

The two sides will meet in Stockholm on Saturday, 19 July at the Strawberry Arena, with kick-off at 14:00 BST.

It was the summer of 2023 when they last played each other, also in a pre-season friendly in Scandinavia, where the Red Devils won 2-0 in Oslo, the capital of Norway.

The Premier League side have history in the Swedish stadium having played the 2017 Europa League final there, winning 2-0 against Ajax to lift the trophy for the first time in the club's history.

Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips is pushing for a return to Leeds United following his loan spell at Ipswich Town this season. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer news? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Leeds United remain top of the Championship but now only lead second-placed Sheffield United on goal difference.

Saturday's 2-2 draw at QPR could have been worse but for a fightback from 2-0 down with substitute Willy Gnonto key to securing a point.

On the latest episode of BBC Radio Leeds' podcast 'Don't go to bed just yet' the team discuss whether the Italian should be given a more prominent role.

Episode 145: Freshman is available to download now from BBC Sounds.

Adonis Storr
Fan writer

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Rex Features

I can't remember an exact moment when Leeds fans lost faith in Brenden Aaronson, but we may have seen the moment Daniel Farke did.

Tracking back at Loftus Road on Saturday, Aaronson intercepted Koki Saito's pass, only to inexplicably play a no-look square ball in his own box back to the Japanese international that proved the perfect assist.

Farke replaced Aaronson with Wilfried Gnonto at half-time and the Italy Under-21 international had an immediate impact in Aaronson's number 10 role as Leeds came back from a 2-0 deficit against QPR to draw 2-2.

The American has been a lightning rod for fans since his first season at the club when United spiralled towards relegation under his compatriot Jesse Marsch.

"It has been frustrating the last two or three games because I haven't been able to see the ball because of the way teams are playing" Aaronson told LUTV before last weekend's fixture.

"I watched a lot of film, I spoke to the coaches a lot, I want to find a way to get back to where I was at my best."

Aaronson's work rate has never been in doubt, and Farke spoke about it in his post-match news conference, when the Leeds manager explained why he did not play Gnonto from the start.

"Because I opted for our two ballers in the double-six role, I thought that we couldn't afford to lose the running and relentless work of Brenden Aaronson in the number 10 position."

Farke emphasised Aaronson's defensive work rate, probably because the American has the same number of goal involvements as Gnonto (10) – despite playing over 1,200 more minutes of football this season.

Aaronson's metrics for pressing and pressures are world class, but pressing can only get you so far, and it seems Leeds must turn to Gnonto for goals.

Find more from Adonis Storr at The Roaring Peacock, external.

Image source, Rex Features

Speaking after his side fought back from 2-0 down to draw at QPR, Leeds United boss Daniel Farke said:

"During this period of the season when you have to play the third game in six days and you are 2-0 down after 30 minutes, it's a good point.

"QPR deserved to be in the lead because we were poor in the first 25-30 minutes.

"What was good was the reaction of my team today. Last season we were 2-0 down after 20 minutes [QPR won the game 4-0] but today we fought back.

"Second half we were completely on it, pressed the game, had four or five good situations where we were so, so close in the six-yard box.

"Yes, of course, we wanted to win this game [but] after the story of the game it's a good point on the road."

On Willy Gnonto's performance off the bench: "I was convinced he would make an impact.

"If I had opted for Ilia Gruev [to start the match] I would also have opted for Willy Gnonto. Perhaps we would have had a better start if we had made those changes.

"The feeling is he's playing more and more to create good situations in the centre and that's what he did in the second half."

Lewis Deighton
Fan writer

On the eve of yet another 400-mile round-trip for a 12.30pm kick-off at QPR, I wonder how many 3pm kick-offs are left for Leeds United this season?

Last Sunday we set off at 4.30am on a 520-mile round-trip to Portsmouth for a 12pm kick-off, to watch a 1-0 loss.

Leeds United's record in pre-3pm kick-offs this season hasn't been great to say the least – winning just two out of 10 (D5, L3).

With Sky Sports moving our home match against Preston North End to 12.30pm for TV, it begs the question whether Swansea's visit to Elland Road will be the last 3pm kick-off we see this season – being the only one not selected from their pool so far.

It also, once again – must be stressed how little the fans are taken into consideration when these decisions are made.

I set off at 5am from Leeds in the morning, which means a 4am start for me at the latest. Some people come from further away, even abroad, and have in some cases already booked travel, plus hotels etc in advance of the rescheduling – rarely reimbursed.

Too much time and money is spent following your team up and down the country for the inconvenience being caused by TV selections – further notice and consideration is a must.

It doesn't help that I'm not at all confident tomorrow – the 4-0 hammering at QPR to practically end our automatic promotion hopes last season replaying in the back of my mind.

Not only have we an awful record in early kick-offs, but an awful one in London and more specifically Loftus Road.

Whatever will be will be – but please can we start kicking off at three?

QPR are looking to end a four-game losing streak when they host Championship leaders, Leeds United on Saturday (12:30 GMT)

Three of Leeds' four league defeats this season have come away from Elland Road.

• QPR have won five of their past six home league games against Leeds (L1), keeping a clean sheet in each victory. They beat them 4-0 last April despite being 40 points behind them in the league table.

• Leeds United beat QPR 2-0 earlier this season and are looking to complete a league double over the Hoops for the first time since 2017-18.

• QPR have won seven of their past nine league games at Loftus Road (L2), although they lost 2-1 most recently against Sheffield United. They last suffered consecutive home defeats in October.

• Leeds lost 1-0 against Portsmouth at Fratton Park in their last away league game and the Whites haven't suffered consecutive away defeats since December 2023.

• Since beating QPR 3-1 in December 2017, Leeds have lost 24 of their 31 league games in London (W4 D3) and nine of the last 10 in the capital.

Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter

Image source, PA Media

It's a swift turnaround for Leeds United as they head to QPR on Saturday lunchtime (12:30 GMT) after Wednesday night's 2-0 victory over Millwall.

Daniel Farke held his pre-match press conference at Thorp Arch and here are the standout lines...

• Farke says he has no fresh injury concerns hopes and hopes to have defender Isaac Schmidt back from illness.

• Captain Ethan Ampadu is making progress with his recovery from a knee injury. He hopes to have the Wales international back in team training after this month's international break. Patrick Bamford and Max Wober remain sidelined.

• On what is the tipping point as to who decides who is fit to play when the medical department, the analysts and the manager are involved. "They (medics) are always worried and give warnings about players in the red zone, but I pick the team. They present data and opinion about recovery status, but it's my responsibility to take the call. If it doesn't work, they can't be blamed."

• On the decisions of officials going against his side with Joel Piroe denied a goal against the Lions due to offside. "I've calmed down since yesterday. But if you look how many fouls and penalties should have been given, we are normally on the wrong. So many obvious penalties were stone wall. Overall I like when the referee is careful with showing cards because I like it when we go for it and both teams, as long as its not over the line, are competitive.

• "The tackle on Illan Meslier (at Portsmouth by Connor Ogilvie) in the Bundesliga would have been a red card. We want to have the best refs in the world. But I don't complain too much."

• Farke says he will not use the free agent market to recruit before the end of the season unless there are extraordinary circumstances. He would rather bring an academy product into the first-team squad.

• On being the fastest manager to 50 Championship wins with a single club, he said: "I'm happy with my players and my club. I work for a club where it is a bit easier to reach this. If you have excellent players and staff it is sometimes difficult for the manager to mess it up! All credit to the players."

Listen to West Yorkshire Sport Daily, weeknights at 18:00, and subscribe to BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on BBC Sounds

Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter

Image source, Rex Features

It is a reflection of the standards being set at Leeds United that manager Daniel Farke was visibly angry in the wake of a 2-0 victory over Millwall which sent his side back to the top of the Championship.

His ire was not aimed at any of his players but rather the assistant referee who denied them a second goal in the first half by raising his flag for offside.

"I could be relaxed, because it didn't influence the result but it annoys me really," he told BBC Radio Leeds. "Because what has happened in the last weeks against us in terms of decision making is not acceptable."

Joel Piroe and Brenden Aaronson combined with intricate footwork for the former to score a sumptuous goal.

As Piroe found the net, for what he thought was the 16th time this season, he had not seen the signal to quell his celebration as it was deemed his team-mate had been offside when back-heeling the ball into his path.

With 30 minutes on the clock, and the visitors showing little sign of troubling the host's net, a 2-0 lead would have put the game to bed way before Ao Tanaka's controlled finish five minutes from time.

"Back-to-back games for us and the same assistant gives an offside decision against us which is never offside." Farke went on, referring to a late Willy Gnonto goal in the 2-0 win at Coventry City last month which was incorrectly ruled out by the same assistant.

"To be fair to him, it was tight and more difficult to see than the Coventry game anyhow."

In real time Aaronson appeared onside, on the replay he appeared onside, so without VAR it is understandable why Farke was bemused how the official could feel convinced to immediately raise his flag.

Farke then added, "I say to myself why do we have the rule - if in doubt you give it to the offence anyhow. It was such a great goal.

"My feeling is, more or less, that if you are in doubt then make sure that I'm in the spotlight by waving the flag. This is more or less our new rule."

In the laws of the game there is nothing specifically written to provide an advantage for the attacking team but it's my understanding that assistants are trained that if they are not sure then do not flag.

The official must have been convinced. Just as referee Rob Jones was to not award Dan James a penalty after his legs were taken from under him in the defeat at Portsmouth. VAR would probably have called Jones to the screen and made him see what everybody else already had at Fratton Park.

"I have to calm myself down," said Farke. "But this is one thing that is difficult to accept. You can't blame the referee, he has to rely on the assistant.

"If it happens two times with the same assistant in back-to-back games it is difficult to accept because it can more or less change the outcome of the whole season."

With or without technology, strikers miss chances, goalkeepers drop clangers, officials and managers make bad calls. There is imperfection everywhere in football, its just a shame when it denies the perfect goal.

Listen to West Yorkshire Sport Daily, weeknights at 18:00, and subscribe to BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on BBC Sounds

Leeds United defender Pascal Struijk says high energy and "a little bit of luck" helped the side move back to the top of the Championship with a 2-0 win over Millwall.

It was a first win in three matches for the league leaders, who saw their 17 game unbeaten streak ended by Portsmouth on Saturday following a competitive 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion at the start of the month.

"We wanted to show more energy, especially," Struijk told BBC Radio Leeds.

"I felt like the last game was a little bit flat and there were moments as well in the West Brom game where after we scored, we got a little bit flat."

The Whites led from the third minute when Manor Solomon's cut-back deflected off Millwall defender Jake Cooper and into the net.

Leeds then went onto to seal the win with Ao Tanaka's strike from the edge of the box.

"I'm happy that we got the luck on our side tonight," Struijk added.

"It's been frustrating when you have so many chances like on the weekend and you don't finish them off, so to get this little bit of luck to start us off straightaway, it's always nice."

You can listen to Struijk's full post-match reaction and more on the Don't Go To Bed Yet podcast.

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke spoke to BBC Radio Leeds after their 2-0 victory against Millwall returned them to the top of the Championship.

"It was an excellent win for us tonight in a pretty busy period. Also, it was an excellent performance," he said.

"We were quite respectful today because we haven't lost many games, but it is so important for us that when there is a little set-back that we answer straight away.

"That is what we have always done during the season so far. I love it.

"But also the game after a loss can also be difficult because you can have a great run of form, with many wins or 17 games unbeaten, but then you lose one game and that does something with the confidence and the rhythm, and you have to fight your way back to get momentum back on your side.

"That is what we did today against an excellent Millwall side that always shows resilience, that is competitive, and tries to press and go for it."

Leeds United will look to bounce back after a shock defeat by relegation-threatened Portsmouth with a win over Millwall on Wednesday (19:45 GMT).

Pompey upset Leeds' 17-game unbeaten run on the weekend to leave the league leaders level on points with second-placed Sheffield United.

Both the Blades and fellow promotion rivals Burnley, two points adrift, will have had the chance to go top on Tuesday before the Elland Road fixture the following day.

A win for both would see Leeds out of the top two and chasing, while the Lions will be looking for three points to try and close in on a play off position.

• Leeds United have won each of their last three home league games against Millwall and have recorded eight victories across their last nine matches against the Lions at Elland Road (L1).

• After winning the reverse fixture 1-0 in November, Millwall will be looking to record a fourth league double over Leeds United after the 1987-88, 2009-10 and 2017-18 campaigns.

• Leeds United are unbeaten in their last 15 home league games (W13 D2), scoring 40 goals in that time and scoring the opening goal in 14 of those matches.

• Millwall have won only one of their last eight midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) away league games (D2 L5), conceding 14 goals across those games.

• Leeds United have won four of their last six league games against London opposition (L2), including their last three in a row at home. The Whites had only won four of their previous 26 league games against sides from the capital before this (D4 L18).

Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Leeds United are in the unusual position of having to bounce back from defeat for only the fourth time in the Championship this season when they face Millwall on Wednesday night (19:45 GMT).

Daniel Farke delivered his pre-match press conference and here are the key lines...

• On how he dealt with his players in the aftermath of the 1-0 loss at Portsmouth, the Leeds United boss said: "I quite like to have a little talk after the game to give my thoughts so everyone is on the same page. Sometimes the players give an opinion, that's normal."

• When asked whether it was better to play again in midweek rather than wait until the weekend and recuperate, he said: "Yes, I agree. I'm not concerned about this turnaround. Three full nights of sleep. Millwall have a day more to recover but we are not searching for excuses."

• On team news: "There were one or two knocks and bruises but I'm hoping to have the same amount of players as Portsmouth."

• On Ao Tanaka's level dropping off at Fratton Park: "It's not to criticise him too much for one game he's not his best. The same with [Ilia] Gruev and [Joe] Rothwell. For two years, Rothwell has hardly played a game so when we have three games in seven days we have to switch it up.

• "Gruev was our most consistent player before his injury. He worked so hard from his rehab to get back. After three and a half months, he played and we got several away clean sheets."

• On Sam Chambers new contract progress, he said: "Perfect day for him. I like this player. It was not a coincidence he had his start in the FA Cup. The new contract is not a gift, we believe he can play an important role for us in the future. We want to develop players. It's perfect news for him and his family and for us.

• When asked about young striker Harry Gray, he said: "Before a player makes his first step I'm always careful about praising him too much. He's with us, trains well and is doing well. He's back in team training for several weeks and is progressing. We won't rush it too much. He's in the category of Sam Chambers who can play a part in our future. We will look after him."

• Farke will not leave Jayden Bogle out because he is at risk of a two-match suspension should he pick up a 10th caution against Millwall: "No, we won't rotate Jayden for this suspension reason. He's a top player for us. Maybe you could say rotate because of the load. He came through the last game without a yellow card. We need his drive going forward."

• On Millwall, who have beaten Leeds twice this season already: "Alex Neil's sides are always competitive and it is difficult to beat them, especially in away games when they can use their position against the ball. We have to be back at our best....and hopefully we can create as many chances as yesterday but find our scoring boots again!"

• In delivering a rallying call ahead of Wednesday night: "We are top of the league and we are the best home team. If our supporters sing us to five home wins we will finish in the top two. We have to build unity. The basement in our home games and we need the fans to carry us during difficult periods. "Everyone has to be at their best at Elland Road on Wednesday and make sure the stadium is bouncing. We cannot rely on anyone else, we need to help ourselves."

Listen to West Yorkshire Sport Daily, weeknights at 18:00, and subscribe to BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on BBC Sounds