As sore heads settle following a celebration and release from a gruelling 12 months, behind the scenes, planning is underway to prevent a need for another second division promotion party.

Ever since their formation in 1919, Leeds United have always had a core contingent of players that were 'Leeds'.

Iconic names such as Jack Charlton, Billy Bremner, and Peter Lorimer, all developed at the club where they became nothing short of legends.

Since 1994, when Howard Wilkinson designed and opened Thorp Arch, Leeds have had a long line of talent streaming through into the first team. Players like Jonathon Woodgate, James Milner, Paul Robinson, Fabian Delph, all became fan favourites when making that step up from the Whites academy.

Despite short falls on the pitch, and the running of the club in recent years, academy graduates are the only thing that has remained a constant. Multiple youngsters have gone on to make a career in the topflight, such as, Lewis Cook, Charlie Taylor, and Sam Byram.

A new era

It is all well and good looking back on the successes of Wilkinson's innovative Thorp Arch facilities, but it is now time to look to the future.

After spending 26 years at the Wetherby site, Leeds announced earlier in the year that they shall be relocating closer to the city centre again. Plans have been submitted and accepted by the Leeds City Council in order to allow the new project to go ahead.

Academy graduates such as Kalvin Phillips and Delph, have spoken about the difficulties they faced when reporting for youth team training at Thorpe Arch.

Delph revealed that it took him three buses and a train in order to reach the training ground from his Bradford home. Unfortunately, many inner-city talents have found it difficult coping with the travel commitments of the academy in Leeds, and that is the reasoning behind the move.

Back in the glory years of Leeds United, Don Revie used to openly train his title winning sides on the fields behind the West Stand - known as Fullerton Park. That area of land has since been converted from the training site of some of the best players in world football, to what is now a desolate car park.

No longer will that be the case. For the past couple of years, plans have been advancing that will transform the decrepit car park into a state-of-the-art training 'village' - much like that of Manchester City's facilities.

While Thorp Arch will still remain, this £8m development will not only be a secondary training base, but also a hub for the community of Leeds.

Along with four floodlit 3G pitches, there will facilities such as a gym and a GP surgery that will be open to the public.

The majority of the funding will be provided by Leeds City Council, however, Leeds United have agreed to pay for a publicly available 9-a-side air dome pitch - based on the air dome at the Etihad Campus.

If all goes to plan, the sports centre will be open and in full use in the summer of 2021.

Category one status

Not only will the Whites have training facilities that will be envied up and down the country, their youth teams will now be competing at the highest level.

Last month, the club were elevated to a category one status, along with fellow Premier League clubs Burnley and Crystal Palace.

This means that Leeds United Under-23s and Under-18s will now be taking part in the Premier League 2 Division 2, and the U18 Premier League North respectively.

There are further benefits, as yesterday the club accepted their place in the EFL Trophy. Leeds United Under 23s will be cutting their teeth against EFL League One and EFL League Two sides - along with additional category one academies.

Over the last three years it has been a prime target for Leeds to obtain this academy upgrade, but CEO Angus Kinnear believes there are more people to thank than just himself.

In an interview, Kinnear said "we tasked Adam [Underwood, Academy Manager] with delivering this within five years and as a team they have completed the job within three years... Our Academy has always been critical to our club"

Underwood also revealed his pride in the achievements of the club, saying that him and his team have "brought through some of the best young players in the country and they will now get the opportunity to showcase their abilities at the highest level."

Focusing on youth

So far in this summer transfer window, Leeds have put pen to paper on six signings, four of which are still teenagers.

Yesterday saw the confirmation of 18-year-old full back Cody Drameh join from Fulham. The youngster has had international experience at youth level with England and will be hoping to expand that experience over the course of the four-year deal.

Drameh featured 17 times in the Premier League 2, and a further three times for the Cottagers in the EFL Trophy.

He joins 16-year-old Charlie Allen who completed his move from Linfield earlier in the week. Former Leeds player and boss of the Northern Irish side, David Healy, speaks highly of the youngster, "this is a terrific opportunity for Charlie to progress and develop as a player...he’s a great kid who will hopefully thrive in the environment of Leeds United.".

Allen made his first team debut at the age of 15, and his since made another three appearances. On top of his early introduction to club football, Allen made his debut for Northern Ireland U-17s at the tender age of 14.

Now 16-years-old, he has made five appearances and scored one goal and is certainly one to look out for.

Finally, and potentially the most exciting young signing of the window, is the acquisition of Wigan Athletic forward Joe Gelhardt.

Although on the periphery of it, he seems to be a bulky, bullish attacker, Gelhardt has much more to his game. At the age 18, he is already proving himself at first team standard.

On just his second appearance in a Wigan shirt, against Hull City, he came off the bench to power in a thunderous equaliser. Gelhardt - or 'Joffy' as he is endearingly known by Wigan fans - looks like the front runner when it comes to stepping up to the first team next year.

What to expect

While most teams are gearing up for the Premier League season ahead, splashing out desperately on fresh first team additions, Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds United are looking long term.

The focus on youth has always been Bielsa's way, and while it appears a risky tactic for a newly promoted club, one can only trust in 'El Loco's' methods.

Much like the Argentinian's previous two years, a very similar starting eleven will reliably feature throughout the season. The core group on the front line, will be assisted by sprinklings of youth talent.

In his two years at the club, Bielsa has handed out 13 debuts to players from the Leeds United academy, expectedly that trend will be maintained again.