Rick - an experienced A Licence coach - will be the new first team manager and he has coached some of the best young players in the men’s game at the Leeds United Academy.


Rick works full time for ‘Football in The Community‘ at Leeds United and he is no stranger to the women’s game as he is the Leeds United Girls Centre of Excellence Director .

Leanne Hall rejoins Leeds for her second spell at the club after previously spending two years at Leeds as a goalkeeper. Leanne has 24 caps for England but unfortunately is currently recuperating from a serious neck injury.

She does, however, hope to be able to play again towards the end of the year. Leanne is currently taking the second part of her A Licence coaching badge and runs her own coaching school.

Chairperson Melanie Vauvelle is delighted with the new management team. “I am thrilled we have managed to get Rick and Leanne to Leeds. We sat down and discussed what Rick could bring to Leeds. He has so much ambition and drive to take Leeds forward that it didn’t take long before we were convinced we had found the right person to manage Leeds United Ladies.

“We are working hard throughout pre-season to ensure the backing is in place to give the management team the support to develop Leeds United Ladies and to take the club to forward. 

“What happened at Charlton shows how essential it is to be self-funding. Charlton are now in the same predicament that Leeds were in two years ago and it has taken a lot of hard work and drive for Leeds to get to this position.

“Women’s clubs now need to have their own structure of financial support. We used to be fully funded by Leeds United and I still hope that some day we will get support and financial help again but we must ensure that we are never fully reliant upon the men’s side. After all, it is the men’s team and the league that they are in that dictates how much financial help they may give”.

Melanie says that Leeds will also shortly be announcing a long term partnership that will secure the future of Leeds United Ladies for up to five years and help to take them to the next level both on-off the pitch. 

The club are also about to launch a Leeds United Ladies season ticket, where for just £25 you can watch all of Leeds United Ladies home League games [at their new home venue of Tadcaster Albion] between Leeds and York, as well as player sponsorship packages.

Further information can be obtained by emailing: leedsunitedladies@hotmail.co.uk or calling Tel 07805 896977 between 5pm – 8pm.