Leeds United have academy graduates littered across the EFL and in the National League as well.
For example, Robbie Gotts has excelled and since completed a move to Doncaster Rovers in League One when leaving Barrow in League Two, whom he joined from Leeds United back in 2021.
There are other examples given the quality and calibre of players the Whites are able to produce every year. In the last 20 years, James Milner, Aaron Lennon, Fabian Delph, Kalvin Phillips, Lewis Cook, and Archie Gray are just some of the Leeds academy graduates to play to an extremely high level.
It’s a source of income at times for Leeds, especially during the 16 years outside of the Premier League. However, not every player makes it to a higher level and many often have to cut their teeth in the lower leagues, with Charlie Crew at Doncaster and performing well.
Tyler Denton’s Leeds United tribute after Scunthorpe promotion
One other player who has found a route into professional football via the lower leagues since leaving Leeds is Tyler Denton. The now 29-year-old turned professional at Leeds in 2014 after captaining some of the youth sides.
The Dewsbury-born, Leeds academy product started his career at Leeds in 2003 and was appointed as the U-21 captain for the 2015/16 season. Eventually, under Garry Monk, Denton was called into Leeds first-team squad for their friendlies for the 2016/17 pre-season and handed squad number 33.
In that time period, Leeds rated Denton highly, so much so that they agreed a new three-year deal with him. But they were also prepared to let him out on loan so he could develop by playing regular first team football.
That came after his first-team debut on 23 August, when he started at left-back in an EFL Cup fixture against Luton Town and scored the only goal of the game. Since then, he struggled to get a look in at Leeds and joined the likes of Port Vale and Peterborough United on loan before being sold to Stevenage.
From Stevenage, he moved to Chesterfield in October 2020 and King’s Lynn Town in January 2021 of the National League North. He joined divisional rivals Scunthorpe United in July 2023 and was named in the 2023/24 Team of the Year at that level.
He’s Leeds and he knows he is #UTI #LUFC
Perfect end to a perfect season pic.twitter.com/Il8scEnlRg
Denton’s current side missed out on promotion last year in the play-offs but they secured their place in the fifth tier of English football thanks to a winner in extra-time, with Denton pictured performing a Leeds salute at full-time as part of the celebrations.
Denton has also retained his No.33 shirt from his time at Leeds with Scunthorpe as well. Next season, his Scunthorpe side will face the likes of former EFL mainstays in Carlisle United and Yeovil Town among others.
Tyler Denton is an inspiration to Leeds’ academy players
Denton capped a memorable first-team debut for Leeds when he came up with a 20-yard strike that gave Luton keeper Christian Walton no chance in the 23rd minute but the versatile full-back failed to ever establish himself as a regular in the first-team fold at Leeds.
He’s found a home in Scunthorpe, having agreed a deal to extend his stay at the Attis Arena for a further season last year following his fantastic debut campaign in claret and blue. You wouldn’t bet against him doing the same again this summer.
He was immediately inducted into Jimmy Dean’s starting XI and became a mainstay in the left-back position throughout the season. That has continued with Andy Butler now at the helm and another one-year deal could be on the cards as he steps back up to National League level football.
He’s a fan favourite for Scunny, having also been the same with King’s Lynn. Last season, Denton has made a phenomenal 91 appearances for the club and his excellent performances coupled with his four goals and countless assists have made him one of the standout full-backs outside of the EFL.
He highlights how it’s possible to have a good career, even if you can’t make it for a club the size and stature of Leeds. It offers hope to the current academy players to continue working as hard as possible to secure football at some professional level of the game.
