Foundation participants make special trip to Thorp Arch | OneFootball

Ahead of the Leeds United Foundation’s dedicated matchday on Saturday, four participants from different community initiatives were invited to Thorp Arch to meet some of the first-team players and share their stories around how the club’s official charity has impacted their lives.

Zion Gatewood, Holly Saunders, Emre Can and Rob Jennings all made the trip to the club’s training ground prior to the game, where they had conversations with different first-team players about their personal experiences.

Zion grew up in an underserved area known to be a crime hotspot, but at a young age he chose a different path and joined a football programme set up by his mother and from there he has progressed from a player to a coach, now working with the Premier League Kicks programme to help encourage positive pathways for other youngsters, breaking down barriers in his local community.

Sam Byram was on hand to meet with Zion, and during their conversation, Zion said: “What I do within the community is try and help the participants and give them the opportunity to make better choices for themselves, ultimately allowing the children to express themselves on the field and allow them to set better goals for their future.”

The journey Holly has been on shows the importance of increasing opportunities for girls in sport. Holly’s commitment to football has seen her progress through the Foundation’s Female Pathway earning her a place in the 2025/26 Emerging Talent Centre, which is part of the England Talent Pathway. Alongside playing, Holly has also become a voice for young girls which saw her campaigning for the Leeds Youth Mayor Award.

During her visit to Thorp Arch, she met up with Dan James, and Holly explained her love for the game: “The atmosphere at training is just amazing because you've just got all these girls playing football together. The coaches are amazing, and they help me so much. I feel like typically most girls think that football is more of a male-dominated sport. So, helping to get more girls into football was a barrier that needed breaking down.”

Emre is a part of the Foundation’s Technical Centre, where staff have been able to tailor football sessions to meet his individual needs. Due to his autism and related behaviours, he previously found it difficult to progress before joining the Foundation. However, since coming under the Foundation’s support, he has gradually developed new skills. Over time, he has gained confidence in his abilities and has shown noticeable improvements in both his communication and football skills, and has also demonstrated a growing interest in becoming a part of our pan-disability team.

“The hardest part for me at the start was making friends,” Emre told Ilia Gruev during their meeting. He continued: “It was easier to make friends in the past weeks, that became a bit easier, and it helps me to be confident. I would say to other people, come and do this session because it's very good.”

Our final participant, Rob, has been on an incredible journey that demonstrates the power of community and understanding. After serving eight years in the Royal Corps of Signals, Rob faced decades of social anxiety and isolation, until he joined the Veterans Combat Café which provided a safe and welcoming space where he could connect with peers who shared similar experiences.

Speaking with goalkeeper Karl Darlow, Rob showcased how far he has come, noting that five years ago he could have never sat and had that very discussion. He said: “I have a diagnosis of PTSD, social anxiety, health anxiety, and hypersensitivity. By socialising with the other lads every week that are also challenged by mental health and come from the same service background as me, it is just really, really rewarding. I didn't get it before, I always thought football was just a game, but the influence that it has on so many people and the ability to bring people together, it's just incredible.”

After the visit, Leeds United Foundation CEO Frances Milner commented: “The Leeds United Foundation’s designated game will be highlighting the incredible work of the Foundation in the local community. Thanks to our fans and partners, we reach and support thousands of people each year through our programmes.

"This year we are celebrating our work in breaking down barriers and we were delighted to be joined by some of our players at Thorp Arch to highlight four powerful stories from Foundation participants who have broken down barriers to achieve incredible things for themselves and for their communities. It was an inspiring afternoon with some powerful discussions."

The club is thrilled to be welcoming all four of these guests to the Premier League clash against Arsenal on Saturday afternoon, and we would like to thank them for being an inspiration to us all and for their continued dedication to the Leeds United Foundation.