Leeds United Players - 2008-09 Season - Coca-Cola League One
Casper Ankergren
Real name
Casper Ankergren
Height
6' 3"
Weight
14st 7lbs
Date of birth
9 November 1979
Place of birth
Denmark
Position
Goalkeeper
Nationality
Danish
Int. Caps
Yes, Denmark
Signed on
August 2007
Term
3 years
Previous Clubs
Brondy, Leeds Utd (on loan 06-07)
Squad number
1
Casper Ankergren finished last season with a man of the match display at Wembley against Doncaster Rovers in the League One play-off final. He made three vital saves within the first twenty minutes that kept Leeds United in the game.
Casper was eventually beaten in the 48th minute by Hayter and that was enough to seal Leeds' fate of another season in League One.
Casper remains the number one choice for the keepers jersey at Elland Road having kept 23 clean sheets in the 2007-08 season.
Despite not being given a first team squad number for 2007-08 by Dennis Wise, Jonathan has received one from Gary McAllister for Leeds United's second campaign in League One.
Page Last Updated: 27 August 2008
Alan Martin
Nickname
-
Height
1.82m
Weight
-lbs
Date of birth
1/1/1989
Place of birth
Glasgow
Position
Goalkeeper
Nationality
Scottish
Int. Caps
U-19
Signed
31 August 2007
Fee
undisclosed
Term
-
Squad #
25
Alan is a Scottish youth international goalkeeper who was signed on deadline day as cover for first choice keeper Casper Ankgeren. Martin had been expected to move to Glasgow Rangers over the summer under the freedom of contract rule.
Alan said on joining Leeds, "I'm on top of the world to be signing for a club like Leeds. The facilities here are top class and I'm looking forward to working with the manager and coaching staff and becoming a better player."
About the points penalty he added optimistically, "The 15 points doesn't mean anything, it's already down to minus six, and the players here have a good chance to make history."
Alan signed his professional contract with Motherwell on 23/12/2006 but made no first-team appearances.
This page last updated: 1 August 2008
Scott Gardner
Club Debut
14 August 2007 Carling Cup
Debut v
1-0 Macclesfield Town
League Debut
May 2008 L1 2-1 home win v Gillingham Town
Date of birth
1 April 1988
Place of birth
Luxembourg
Position
Midfielder
Nationality
English]
Int. Caps
U-16 and U-17
Signed
7 August 2007
Fee
Trainee
Other teams
Farsley Celtic (loan for 1 month)
Squad number
17
Scott Gardner has been given the 2008-09 squad number 17 by Gary McAllister
Page Last Updated: 1 August 2008
Paul Huntington
Height
6' 3"
Weight
-lbs
Date of birth
17 Sept 1987
Place of birth
Carlisle
Position
Defender
Nationality
English
Int. Caps
None
Signed
31 August 2007
Fee
£150,000
Term
3 years
Squad number
3
Paul Huntington was signed by Dennis Wise on deadline day 31 August 2007.
Although he had made a few appearances for Newcastle United in the Premier League and Europe he was seen as one for the future.
Paul only started fewer than twenty games last season but they did include the play-off semi-finals and the Wembley play-off final under Gary McAllister's leadership. He was also the 2007-08 runner-up in the Fans' Young Player of the Year Award.
So can Paul do better in 2008-09? Well it seems McAllister still has faith in him as he gave Paul the Leeds United captain's armband for the pre-season friendly against Shelbourne FC. A match in which Leeds didn't impress but Huntington scored Leeds' only goal in a 1-1 draw! Quite a night for Paul an an indication that McAllister sees great leadership potential in the youngster.
Further confirmation came in August when Paul was rewarded with squad number 3 for the 2008-09 League One season.
This page last updated: 1 August 2008
Manuel Rui Marques
Squad Number
5
Height
5' 11"
Date of birth
3 Sept 1977
Place of birth
Portugal
Position
Striker/M/D/G
Nationality
Angolan
Int. Caps
None
Signed
29 July 2005
Signed from
Fee
FREE
Previous clubs
Signed by Kevin Blackwell he was largely ignored during Blackwell's time in charge. It was under Dennis Wise that Rui was 'discovered'. Rui Marques made a central defence starting berth his during the first half of the 2007-08 season but it fell away when he departed for the African Nations tournament for Angola and then was injured on his return. He had to watch the Wembley play-off final from the bench as Macca kept faith with young Paul Huntington.
Rui has retained the number 5 squad number for the 2008-09 League One season.
Leeds United (loan), Bolton Wanderers, FC Senec (Slovakia)
Lubomir signed for Leeds United a couple of days after Dennis Wise left the club. He had been on loan for a month under Wise at the end of the 2006-07 season when Leeds United were relegated from the Championship.
The loan should have been longer but Sam Allardyce terminated it early.
Lubomir became the first choice central defender under
McAllister. However he had little chance to form a partnership with Rui Marques, Wise's first choice, due to Rui's African Nations commitments and then injury.
Lubomir also played in the Wembley Play-off final defeat against Doncaster and looks certain to start the season at the heart of the Leeds United defence with Rui.
His importance to the team is indicated by his new Leeds United squad number for the 2008-09 season - number 5, he was number 33 last season.
Frazer received the ultimate club accolade when he was appointed team captain by Leeds United manager Gary McAllister on the morning on the first day of the 2008-09 League One season.
Although born in Rotherham, Frazer Richardson is a lifelong Leeds fan who emerged from the Leeds United Academy during its Premier League years to work his way tirelessly through its ranks eventually to become captain.
Frazer spent many of his early years as understudy to Gary
Kelly and Danny Mills.
He spent three months on loan at Stoke City in two spells during 2003.
When Danny Mills left under a cloud it was Kelly who benefited and Richardson didn't really replace Kelly until Dennis Wise took over and Richardson was the beneficiary of the icy relationship that developed between Kelly and Wise.
Kelly left the club at the end of the 2006-07 relegation season and Richardson became the starting right back for 2007-08.
This continued when Macca took over in January 2008 and the rapid rise to prominence continued with the captaincy in August 2008.
Frazer's first game as captain was a 2-1 away win at Glanford park over Scunthorpe United.
Alan was signed permanently by Leeds manager Gary McAllister on 1 July 2008 from newly-relegated, League One rivals, Leicester City. As he is 21 years of age Leeds will pay Leicester a transfer fee even though he was out of contract this summer. It will be set by a tribunal if the clubs cannot agree a fee.
Alan is a known quantity to Leeds United have spent the back end of the 2007-08 season on loan at Elland Road. He played ten games for Leeds in League One but suffered a premature end to the season with a silly red card which cost him his place in the team during the play-offs and in the 2008 League One Play-Off Final at Wembley against Doncaster Rovers.
Alan was the second permanent signing at Elland Road by, relatively, new Leeds United manager Gary McAllister, after Andy Robinson from Swansea City.
Sheehan is regarded as a specialist free-kick taker.
Sheehan joined Leicester City in July 2003 from Belvedere FC. He debuted in 2004-05 against Plymouth Argyle.
He was their Academy Player of the Year in 2004-05. During this time he debuted also for the Irish Republic's U-19 team and made his first appearance for the Irish U-21 v Israel in June 2005.
However, Alan never became a regular first team player. He was loaned out to Mansfield Town for ten games in the 2006-07 season and to Leeds United in the 2007-08 season. Alan made just 21 starts and 3 sub appearances for Leicester City.
Alan's importance to the team was underlined when he was given the Leeds United squad number 11 for the 2008-09 season. He made his debut as a permanent Leeds United player in the 2-1 away victory over Scunthorpe United on the first day of the 2008-09 League One season.
This page last updated: 28 August 2008
Paul Telfer
Squad Number
-
Height
5' 9"
Date of birth
21 October 1971
Place of birth
Edinburgh, Scotland
Position
Defender
Nationality
Scottish
Int. Caps
1
Signed
28 August 2008 - contract until end of 2008-09 season
Signed from
Bournemouth
Fee
Free
Previous clubs
Luton Town, Coventry City, Southampton, Celtic, Bournemouth,
Paul signed on as a non-contract player at the start of the 2008-09 season.
He made his first start for the club in the 4-0 defeat of Crystal Palace at Elland Road in the 2nd round of the Carling Cup on 26 August 2008.
Leeds manager Gary McAllister was so impressed with the veteran's display that two days later he gave Paul a contract until the end of the season.
Telfer has another Leeds connection in Gordon Strachan. Paul Telfer followed manager Gordon Strachan to Southampton from Coventry City on a free transfer in November 2001.
Telfer followed Strachan one more time for what must be the pinnacle of his career - a stay at Celtic and the SPL. Like Strachan Paul was born in Edinburgh.
Paul won B and U21 honours for Scotland but after winning his solitary full Scotland cap he decided to opt out of international football.
This page last updated: 28 August 2008
Fabian Delph
Squad Number
15
Height
Date of birth
5/5/1991
Place of birth
Bradford
Position
Defender
Nationality
English
Int. Caps
U-19
Signed
1/7/2006
Contract
4 years
Contract started
September 2008
Previous clubs
Trainee
Fabian missed the 2008 summer, pre-season, Irish tour because he was called up for the England team in the U-19's European Championship in the Czech Republic.
Gary McAllister hinted that Fabian would have a chance
of playing in the league in the coming 2008-09 season.
In fact, Delph started both pre-season games against Barnet and Darlington in midfield and his chances of making an impact in 2008-09 seem to be growing every day.
McAllister spoke about Fabian to the official Leeds website on 31 July 2008,
when he said, "When I first arrived both Fabian and Jonny Howson caught the eye.
"If we'd have hit the play-offs a little earlier last season we may have seen a little more of him then.
"This could be his season though. He has a lovely poise and feel for the game.
"He did well against Barnet last Saturday and it's certainly given me food for thought."
A couple of days later McAllister rewarded Fabian with the squad number 15 for the League One 2008-09 season.
Fabian has actually made his United debut already - as a 16 year-old against Derby County in the Championship.
Update: On September 5th 2008 Fabian signed a new four-year deal with Leeds United.
And he celebrated in style by scoring the first goal in Leeds United's 5-2 demolition of Crewe Alexandra, with a powerful shot from outside the box.
Page Last Updated: 12 September 2008
Jonathon Douglas
Real name
Jonathon Douglas
Height
6'0"
Weight
173lbs
Date of birth
22 Nov 1981
Place of birth
Monaghan, Eire
Position
Midfielder
Nationality
Irish
Int. Caps
2
Signed on
31 Aug 2006
Fee
n/a
Term
3 years
Squad number
4
Douglas was signed on loan on the same day that we sold Matthew Spring to Watford at the start of the 2005-06 season.
Douglas started in the 2-0 League Cup victory over Oldham and his home debut was in the 3-3 draw with Brighton (10/9/05) in which he scored the sensational added-on-time equaliser.
He signed permanently for Leeds United on 31 August 2006.
Jonathan was captain of the club during the 2007-08 season but Gary McAllister replaced him as captain for the 2008-09 season with Frazer Richardson who is the loan survivor of the club from the Premier League days.
Jonathan's contract
expires at the end of this League One season and his removal as captain suggests a new contract will not be offered.
Douglas is free to negotiate with another club on 1 January 2009.
There were unsubstantiated rumours that Burnley were interested in signing Douglas just before the 2008-09 season kicked off but there should be no shortage of suitors for a player who is a current Republic of Ireland international.
Sidelined at the start of the season Jonathan gave an excellent display in the 4-0 destruction of Championship side Crystal Palace, including scoring the opening goal.
Last Update: 28 August 2008
Jonathan Howson
Nickname
Jonny
Height
5' 11"
Weight
-lbs
Date of birth
21 May 1988
Place of birth
Leeds
Position
Striker
Nationality
English
Int. Caps
None
Signed
18/9/2007
Fee
Youth player
Term
3 years
Squad number
14
Jonny Howson made his debut for the Leeds first team against Barnet on the 20 September 2006. Jonny made a shock debut in Dennis Wise's starting line-up for the Coca-Cola Championship fixture with Hull City at Elland Road on 23 December 2006. He played central midfield. He eventually finished the season with 11 senior appearances to his name, and scored his debut goal at Norwich City on 3 February 2007. Despite relegation Jonny stuck by the club he has supported since a boy and was given number 14 for the club's first season in League One.
2007-08 was great season for Howson who became a first-team regular and a hero to the fans of Leeds as he struck both goals in the play-off semi-final, second leg against Carlisle, to take his club to Wembley and the final against Doncaster Rovers. In the final his first half shot just curled away at the last second as he nearly gave Leeds the lead against the run of play. Despite the disappointment of missing out on promotion Ken Bates went on record to say that he would be offering Howson a new contract in the summer of 2008.
In August it was confirmed that he would keep squad number 14 for the 2008-09 season.
It was announced in late June that Leeds United had given their blessing to Neil Kilkenny to play for the Olyroos in the Beijing 2008 Olympics. He will miss the start of the 2008-09 League One season.
Neil
Kilkenny was born in England but moved to Australia as a kid and was brought up in Brisbane. Just before the 2006 FIFA World Cup he committed to play for Australia. Neil made his international debut for Australia on June 7, 2006, coming on as a sub in their 3–1 victory in a World Cup warm-up game against Liechtenstein.
In 2007 he played for the Australian Olyroos in their 2008 Beijing Olympics qualifying campaign and helped them qualify. Former Leeds player Harry Kewell was due to be an over-age player with the Olyroos (Olympic teams are essentially U-23 teams), but his treacherous move to Galatasaray has put his participation in doubt.
His 2008-09 squad number 8 suggests we'll be seeing a lot of Kenny in the white of Leeds during the forthcoming League One season.
Dave Prutton finished last season again with regrets. At least he made the final last season (unlike with Forest where he was sent off and his side lost a big lead in the 2nd semi-final, at home!) but played badly in the first semi-final at Elland Road, played much better at Carlisle United in the second leg but reverted to his previous form in the final - and Prutton was substituted in the 69th minute.
Dave will be well-motivated to get Leeds to the 2008-09 League One championship if only to avoid the League One play-offs for the third successive season!
He has retained his squad number 7 for the 2008-09 season.
Andy Robinson left Swansea City as a free agent having just won the League One championship with them, to join Leeds who were facing the Play-off final at Wembley the following weekend.
Swansea City record (sub apps in brackets) - from 12-08-2003:
League apps: 159 (33) goals: 43
FA Cup apps: 14 (3) goals 5
League cup apps: 2 (1) goals 0
Other apps: 14 (0) goals 6
Robinson made his league debut against Scunthorpe United in the first game of the 2008-09 League One season.
This page last updated: 28 August 2008
Peter Sweeney
Squad Number
24
Height
6' 0"
Date of birth
25/09/1984
Place of birth
Glasgow
Position
Midfielder
Nationality
Scottish
Int. Caps
None
Signed
10/01/2008
Signed from
Stoke City
Fee
Free
Previous clubs
Walsall (loan), Yeovil (loan), Stoke City, Millwall
This season is a big one for the Scot having made just half a dozen starts and three sub appearances in League One last season. Half the appearances were made in January before Wise left Elland Road. He was signed by Dennis Wise and so has to prove himself to Macca who only put him on the team sheet five times in three months.
There is a strong opinion that Peter is marked for a summer exit from Elland Road.
However, he has been given squad number 24 for the 2008-09 season whereas other prime candidates for departure have been given numbers in the high thirties - so maybe Peter is staying for the duration!
Ian's Leeds United squad number has slipped from 11 to 37 for the 2008-09 League One season. This would seem to confirm the rumour that he is leaving Elland Road in the near future.
Known as "Luciano" in Spain he played for Mérida Union Deportivo during the 2007-2008 season.
Luciano finished Segunda B's top scorer, with six goals coming in the last 4 games, including a hat-trick on the final day against Baza.
Luciano's nick-name is the 'battering-ram' and his principal skills are his power, pace, aerial ability and his clinical finishing with with either foot.
Becchio previously played for Boca Juniors, Cuidad de Murcia, Barcelona Athletic (Barcelona's B or reserve team) and Real Mallorca
B
He was Gary McAllister's fifth signing as manager of Leeds United.
Contrary to initial reports that Luciano signed on a free transfer, Leeds United paid an undisclosed sum for the Argentine.
The day after his signing the Leeds United squad numbers were announced and Becchio was confirmed as a major player at United by being given the squad number 10 for the League One 2008-09 season.
Boca Juniors
RCD Mallorca B
Ciudad de Murcia
-> Terrassa FC (loan)
Barcelona Atletic
-> Merida UD (loan)
Merida UD
0 (0)
29 (5)
16 (3)
24 0(2)
10 (0)
12 (5)
38 (22)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as at 14 May 2008.
Becchio made his league debut against Scunthorpe United, as a sub, in the first game of the 2008-09 League One season.
Luciano scored his first goal in a Leeds United shirt from the penalty spot in a 3-2 defeat for the Leeds United reserves against their Huddersfield Town counterparts on 20 August 2008.
His first goal for the first team came in the first minute of the away fixture against Yeovil Town. The game ended in a disappointing 1-1 draw though.
How different it was just four days later when Becchio scored again, this time in the 4-0 demolition of Neil Warnock's Crystal Palace side in the 2nd round of the Caring Cup.
This page last updated: 28 August 2008
Jermaine Beckford
Squad Number
9
Height
Date of birth
9/12/1983
Place of birth
London
Position
Striker
Nationality
English
Int. Caps
None
Signed
01/7/2005
Signed from
Non-league
Fee
Previous clubs
Carlisle Utd (loan), Scunthorpe Utd (loan)
Jermaine Beckford went from a bit part player, sent on loan to (then) League One Scunthorpe United in 2006-07, to centre stage as League One's Player of the Season 2007-08, and a 20 goal tally as Leeds United reached the Wembley play-off final in an incredible attempt to overcome a vindictive 15 point penalty imposed by the Football League.
By the end of the season he had lost his way a little and benefited from the inspirational loan signing of Dougie Freedman.
Now Freedman has returned to Crystal Palace and we wait to see if Beckford has learnt enough to bring more thought to his play and keep his mouth shut when near the referee!
Update: Beckford scores his first hat-trick for Leeds United in the 5-2 victory over Chester City in the Carling Cup 1st round.
Tom made his first team appearance debut during the 2006/07 Championship relegation season when he became the first Leeds United player to make his senior debut while still at school when he appeared as a substitute in league game against Norwich City at Carrow Road.
Tom has retained the 29 squad number for the 2008-09 League One season
Enoch is Gary McAllister's third signing for Leeds after the end of the 2007-08 season.
"I'm delighted to be [at Leeds], you only have to look at this club with its history and its fanbase to see how big it is," he told the Leeds United official website.
Leeds had tried to sign him in January 2008 but he chose to go on loan from Bristol City to fellow Championship side Sheffield Wednesday
where he made six starts and four sub league appearances in two months and failed to score!
Enoch spent two seasons at Bristol City having signed on a free from Luton Town. At Bristol he scored 18 goals in 61 appearances and was part of the City side that won automatic promotion from League One in 2006-07. At Luton Town he was part of the team that won back-to-back promtions from League Two to the Championship. With three promotions under his belt that seems to be the factor that interests McAlliser as his statistical record makes dismal reading.
Prior to joining Leeds United his record is: (figures in brackets are sub appearances where he played)
League apps: 84 (78) goals 27 [6 games per goal]
FA Cup apps: 7 (5) goals 3
League Cup apps: 3 (10 goals 1
Other apps: 6 (1) goals 3
Enoch has been given Leeds United squad number 21 for the League One season 2008-09.
Showunmi made his league debut against Scunthorpe United in the first game of the 2008-09 League One season and scored the equalising goal with a header.
This page last updated: 28 August 2008
Robert Snodgrass
Squad Number
23
Height
-'-"
Date of birth
7 September 1987
Place of birth
Scotland
Position
Striker
Nationality
Scottish
Int. Caps
U-21
Signed
24 July 2008
Signed from
Livingston
Fee
Compensation
Previous clubs
Livingston, Stirling Albion (loan)
Robert signed for Leeds United late on Thursday 24th July 2008. News of United's interest in Robert broke only hours before the signing was completed, which is the way Leeds United have always done business under Ken Bates.
He is the fourth summer signing by Gary McAllister.
Scottish U-21 international Snodgrass has been with Livingston since signing as a trainee in July 2003. Livingston, relegated from the SPL in 2005-06, finished mid-table in Scottish Division 1 last season.
Snodgrass played 16 games for Livvy in their Scottish Premier League season (2005-06), scoring three times. In 2005-06 he scored four times in 25 Scottish Premier League matches.
He spent the latter half of the 2006-07 season on loan at Scottish Division 2 side Stirling Albion, where he netted 7 goals in 15 appearances.
Last year, playing as a left winger he managed 10 goals in 37 games and also picked up a red card in an bad tempered game against Clyde which saw three red cards in total.
However, the red card was his first and only one of his career and seems to have been an aberration. Other than that indiscretion, he picked up just four bookings during the rest of the season and he does seem to have averaged just one booking every ten games or so through his career.
Snodgrass made his league debut against Scunthorpe United in the first game of the 2008-09 League One season, playing in the wide right position.
Dave will be well-motivated to get Leeds to the 2008-09 League One championship if only to avoid the League One play-offs for the third successive season! 
