I read this as a player that had come through the entire academy system (U16's, U18's and U20's) but as you say we don't really know what criteria they are applying.

I thought the same FB but if the "Yoda" of SS.COM is questioning it we should step away and let "The Force" do the business!!

I always pictured him as more of an Obi Wan Kenobi (circa New Hope) type, all wise and old and that (no offence tvoc mate).

If York sign him I will be bloody delighted.

I, too, did not understand the '50th graduate' claim. In 2004 Carl Ablett was described as the 100th player to play for Leeds in SL and the 40th from the club's academy. There have been many more than 10 since - I make Singleton the 20th since Ablett, so 60th overall. Then, reading the claim, again, I wondered if it was 50th to make their debut in SL, thereby excluding those academy products who made their debuts in the Centenary season or before (Cummins, Morley, Fozzard et al.). If so, I make Singleton the 49th graduate unless someone counts as an academy product who I've not counted (e.g. Ambler, Pitts, Amor, Coady etc.). As our expert statistician, tvoc, I thought you'd be the man to know!

Im sure elsewhere it mentioned that he was the 50th in the SL era to graduate from the academy.

None taken. Wish I had that much hair.

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If there was an official list published it would be interesting to see who has missed out from the following 60 names:

Francis Cummins, Marvin Golden, Graham Holroyd, Mick Shaw, Adrian Morley, Nick Fozzard, Phil Hassan, Jamie Field, Marcus Vassilakopoulos, Matt Schultz, David Gibbons, Anthony Gibbons, Paddy Handley, Paul Gleadhill, Terry Newton, Leroy Rivett, Lee Maher, Gavin Brown, Adam Hughes, James Leatham, Kevin Sinfield, Garreth Carvell, Chev Walker, Dave Wrench, Danny Ward, Chris Chapman, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Andy Speak, Mark Calderwood, Matt Diskin, Gareth Morton, Jon Liddell, Jason Netherton, Rob Burrow, Danny McGuire, Andy Kirke, Ryan Bailey, Richard Mathers, Nick Scruton, Jonny Hepworth, Carl Ablett, Lee Smith, Scott Murrell, Ashley Gibson, Danny Williams, Jordan Tansey, Ryan Hall, Michael Ratu, Luke Burgess, Danny Allan, Ben Kaye, Michael Haley, Kallum Watkins, Joe Chandler, Ben Jones-Bishop, Paul McShane, Dane Manning, Tom Bush, Chris Clarkson and Brad Singleton.

All the above have played at 1st grade level for Leeds during the SL Era having, by my reckoning at least, graduated through the Headingley Junior grades. A defined criteria is probably needed.

tvoc, can you redo the list with those who have made their debut for Leeds during the SL years in red?

That's interesting when you read the reply I was working on as you posted.



I'm with you there also but the club stating Anthony Gibbons was the first has thrown me off as he played 8 times in the Centenary season. If he's in then I guess that opens the door for the others you mention - assuming the definition of 'Academy' is consistent throughout that period.

All 60 players on the list have made at least one appearance in the SL Reg Rounds so it's not as if I can lose any for only making an appearance in a Challenge Cup fixture (although I would still count that personally anyway.)



If only ......

Hopefully they'll be an explanation somewhere down the track although, as with the unique numbers, it could be another closely guarded secret.

hepworth played at wigan that much i do remember. Not sure when, around 2000 maybe?

Like it, although just to be awkward I'll highlight in red those who made their 1st Grade debuts before the SL Era, Marvin Golden, Graham Holroyd, Mick Shaw, Adrian Morley, Nick Fozzard, Phil Hassan, Jamie Field, Marcus Vassilakopoulos, Matt Schultz, David Gibbons, Anthony Gibbons, Paddy Handley, Paul Gleadhill, Terry Newton, Leroy Rivett, Lee Maher, Gavin Brown, Adam Hughes, James Leatham, Kevin Sinfield, Garreth Carvell, Chev Walker, Dave Wrench, Danny Ward, Chris Chapman, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Andy Speak, Mark Calderwood, Matt Diskin, Gareth Morton, Jon Liddell, Jason Netherton, Rob Burrow, Danny McGuire, Andy Kirke, Ryan Bailey, Richard Mathers, Nick Scruton, Jonny Hepworth, Carl Ablett, Lee Smith, Scott Murrell, Ashley Gibson, Danny Williams, Jordan Tansey, Ryan Hall, Michael Ratu, Luke Burgess, Danny Allan, Ben Kaye, Michael Haley, Kallum Watkins, Joe Chandler, Ben Jones-Bishop, Paul McShane, Dane Manning, Tom Bush, Chris Clarkson and Brad Singleton

Looks like that would remove 15 names from the 60 and crucially (as stated previously) that includes the player credited with starting the group (Anthony Gibbons.)

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Not at 1st grade level.



Jonny Hepworth had the shortest Leeds 1st grade playing career I've ever known (even shorter than Alan Rathbone's)

He came on as a sub for the final two minutes on the 9th May 2003 V London Broncos at Griffin Park to see out the Leeds win (14-32)

Like you, I imagine, off the top of the head.

Cummins, Morley, Newton, Sinfield, Carvell, Walker, Ward, Jones-Buchanan, Calderwood, Diskin, Burrow, McGuire, Bailey, Smith, Hall.

Do we agree?

Almost. I missed Carvell but included Fozzard.