Leeds United U21

The Case For Them

Here is the argument for Leeds United U21: England, England EFL Trophy, and a ground called Thorp Arch. A second team should give you something your first one cannot, and this is a different country's whole weather system.

• Easy weekend

  Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) is about 5km from the ground, and Otley railway station is 1km closer still. A home fixture is a genuinely doable two-night trip.

• The calendar you inherit

  England EFL Trophy is cold-weather football: mud in February, breath visible under the lights, and a fixture list that rewards anyone who sticks it out. England does not do easy neutrals.

• Old enough to matter

  1904 is the founding date, old enough that the club has survived a war, a rebuild and at least one financial scare, young enough that the good years are still in living memory.

• Loaded cabinet

  12 distinct honours on record, including The Central League (Tier 1) Winners (2): 1936–37, 1997–98. Adopt them and you inherit expectation, which is more fun than it sounds when the trophies keep coming.