Alious
During my early days at Leeds United, youth development was handled through the YTS scheme rather than today’s scholarship system. Paul Hart and Eddie Gray were the key figures in youth development, operating with a much smaller staff than modern clubs employ. Their approach emphasized both technical skills and physical toughness – playing good football while being robust and aggressive.
I came up alongside talents like Ian Harte, Harry Kewell, and Andy Gray, followed by Jonathan Woodgate, Alan Smith, and Stephen McPhail. Paul Hart made me youth team captain, and while he was demanding and sometimes intimidating, he never crossed any lines. Eddie Gray, a Leeds icon, would even join our pre-season running sessions.
My first-team debut came under Howard Wilkinson in 1996, and George Graham gave me my full debut later that year. Though I was originally a center-back, Graham converted me to a defensive midfielder to help stabilize the team. When David O’Leary took over in 1998, he built on Wilkinson’s foundations, particularly the academy setup at Thorp Arch, and gave young players more opportunities.
My coaching journey began while playing at Scunthorpe, starting with fitness qualifications. At Farsley Celtic, I combined playing semi-professionally with assistant manager duties while also working various coaching roles. Though this was spreading me thin, it led to my role with Leeds Under-15s and 16s in 2015, despite the financial risk.
Working under Marcelo Bielsa brought new insights into tactical approaches and man-to-man football. Later, Jesse Marsch’s arrival introduced me to different playing styles. My journey then took me to MK Dons and eventually to Central Coast Mariners in Australia, where despite initial challenges, we achieved unprecedented success by winning the treble.
Alious
