Leeds United Players - 2008-09 Season - Coca-Cola League One - Midfielders
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.
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! 
