Leeds United manager issues ambitious statement of intent as the Whites target return to club's former glory - YEP 27/7/22

-


New Leeds United Women manager Rick Passmoor has issued a rousing statement of intent ahead of his first season in charge.

By Flora Snelson

On Tuesday, the Whites announced that Passmoor would be replacing Dan O’Hearne as head coach as the former manager’s four-and-a-half year stint in charge came to an end.

O’Hearne’s successor boasts significant footballing pedigree; having once played for Scunthorpe United as a central defender, the 54-year-old has recently been back at Glanford Park working as Head of Academy Coaching and Coach Development.

But before he made his return to the Irons, Passmoor spent several years coaching women’s teams, first for Leeds and then for Notts County.

After taking charge in 2007, Passmoor oversaw something of a golden era for Leeds United Women in which the Whites reached the FA Cup final and lifted the 2010 League Cup.

In the late 2000’s, Leeds was a destination club for aspiring female footballers, with the likes of Ellen White, Sue Smith, Steph Houghton and Carly Telford among the stellar cohort coached by Passmoor.

Since Leeds United cut ties with the women’s team in 2014, the side’s glory days faded and the Whites – reattached to the club by owner Andrea Radrizzani in 2017 – now compete in the fourth tier of the women’s pyramid.

But Passmoor believes those days can return – and that the scale of support for Leeds United will be key to restoring the women’s team to their former success.

“One of the major products of Leeds and the hinterland really is that we've got a massive fan base, so therefore we get a lot of talented players coming through,” Passmoor told the Leeds United website.

"You're seeing right now at the Euros – we've got Rachel Daly – but if I go back to it, we’ve probably got 12 players from Leeds that have gone on into the WSL and played internationals.

“It has progressed from our days, maybe 15 years ago with Leeds, and what we're looking to aim to do in a progression, in a very sensible manner, is to build and have a foundation and go forward with Leeds United to be up amongst the top teams within the women's game.”

This season, United will compete in Division One North, in which the side who ends the season in first place earns the chance to compete in a play-off for a place in the third tier, the Northern Premier.

From there, the Whites would be two steps away from the Women’s Super League, a division which is progressively flourishing into a source of heroines and role models for aspiring young football players.

Certain that the road to success lies in nurturing young talent, Passmoor is eyeing long-term gains with Leeds United Women.

“Could you imagine being at Leeds United Regional Talent Centre as a 12 year old female footballer?” Passmoor said.

"You've got role models, you've now got an opportunity to develop, and that's particular where our strengths are within Leeds United, not only the girls’ game, but also within the academy – homegrown talent.

“We want to grow our own players to represent Leeds United, wear this shirt with pride, and also go on to deliver high performances, so therefore we are in the higher echelons of the women's game.”

Popular posts from this blog

The huge initial fee Leeds are set to receive for Crysencio Summerville’s move to West Ham — Leeds United News 31/7/24

-
Will Butcher West Ham United are closing in on a deal to sign Crysencio Summerville from Leeds United, and Ben Jacobs has shared how much Leeds will receive for the Dutchman. The 22-year-old has been strongly linked with the Elland Road exit door all summer and was targeted as the one big sale Leeds needed to make before the Profit & Sustainability Rules deadline this month. But instead, Leeds sold Archie Gray for £40m to Tottenham. Leeds have since sold five more players in the form of Diego Llorente, Marc Roca, Kris Klaesson and Charlie Cresswell – raking in around £60m in total. But more exits were always likely and Fabrizio Romano reported on Wednesday afternoon that West Ham had agreed personal terms with Summerville, and talks for a fee were ongoing with the Yorkshire side. Now, the story has moved on with multiple sources claiming a deal is done between Leeds and Angus Kinnear’s old club. The Dutchman is expected to sign a five-year at the London Stadium, until Jun...
Read more

Leeds United board break silence after transfer window with statement on upcoming Elland Road development — YEP 2/9/24

-
By Joe Donnohue Leeds United have confirmed supporters' commemorative stones at Elland Road's Centenary Square will be replaced free of charge in a bid to improve their longevity. Beginning next month, Leeds supporters' personalised stones will be replaced with exact replicas, courtesy of a new company, to ensure of a 'much better quality' installation. The work is expected to take around two months to complete. An official club statement confirmed 'three larger stones dedicated to former managers Don Revie, Howard Wilkinson and Marcelo Bielsa' will also be installed, 'similar to those located in Bremner Square', while additional space for supporters to purchase new stones has also been factored into the project. “The club have taken on board recent feedback from supporters on the stones at Centenary Square, and we are really happy that we can now announce that all of the stones will be replaced," chief executive Angus Kinnear confirmed,...
Read more

Leeds United transfer state of play as Whites knock back low bid and assert wing pair stance — YEP 3/7/24

-
By Graham Smyth Leeds United are not actively looking to cash in on Crysencio Summerville and Willy Gnonto and believe any further outgoing transfer business will be done on their terms. The Whites, who sold Archie Gray to Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday for £40m, expect that there will be continued interest in wing pair Summerville and Gnonto as the summer transfer window progresses. Summerville has been a target for Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion but their interest has not yet materialised into a bid. The Albion did, however, send a £30m proposal for Georginio Rutter, which Elland Road chiefs rejected. Rutter is not expected to try and force an exit this summer and appears settled at Leeds after a far more positive second season in English football. The sale of Gray has helped put Leeds into a position where they do not need to sell star players and can dictate any moves that do happen. Club sources say they are not actively looking to sell the likes of Summerville o...
Read more