World Cup sparks memories of Leeds Trinity’s football history

After opening as two separate teacher training colleges in 1966, shortly after England had won that year’s World Cup, students quickly introduced football to the institution, setting up their own football teams that played and trained at the University’s Horsforth Campus.

Picture: A Trinity and All Saints College football team in the early 1980s.

A passion for the game among the University’s students is still evident today, with seven men’s and women’s teams playing competitively in the British Universities and College Sports (BUCS) leagues. 

Leeds Trinity has also welcomed plenty of famous footballing faces. This dates back to the very early years of the University when legendary Leeds United defender Jack Charlton, who went on to manage the Republic of Ireland in two World Cups, delivered a coaching masterclass to students. 

In 1995, Leeds United trained at the University, with the likes of Gary Speed, Gary Kelly, and Brian Deane, the scorer of the Premier League’s first-ever goal, put through their paces on campus. 

Picture: Leeds United train at the University's Horsforth Campus in 1995.

A year later, the French national team were based at Leeds Trinity while they were competing in the European Championships. The squad, which included a young Zinedine Zidane, Laurent Blanc, Marcel Desailly, and current France manager, Didier Deschamps, trained and completed media duties at the Horsforth Campus. 

Picture: Members of the French national team ahead of a training session at Leeds Trinity's Horsforth Campus in June 1996.

And, in 2004, some samba flair arrived from Brazil as 1970 World Cup winner Jairzinho and Socrates, widely regarded as one of the greatest ever midfielders, helped deliver a futsal session for Brazilian Soccer Schools. Founded by Leeds Trinity alumnus Simon Clifford, who graduated with a degree in Physical Education and Recreation with Public Media in 1992 before achieving a PGCE in Primary Education in 1993, the Soccer School is credited with introducing Brazilian training methods and popularising futsal in the United Kingdom. 

More recently, James Milner, who grew up in Horsforth and appeared in the 2010 and 2014 World Cups for England, supported Leeds Trinity’s social mobility work by serving as Chancellor of Leeds Children’s University – an initiative aiming to inspire a love for learning in children. While in the role, James attended graduation ceremonies at the Horsforth Campus to celebrate with participants. 

Leeds Trinity also has links to well-known football media personalities currently working on the World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

Picture: Gabby Logan is installed as Chancellor of Leeds Trinity University for a five-year term in June 2013.

Leeds-born Gabby Logan, who is working as a presenter on the BBC’s coverage of the tournament, became the first Chancellor of the University in 2013, a role she held for five years. And Guy Mowbray, a commentator who has developed a reputation as one of the best in his field over the last 30 years, appeared at the University’s annual Journalism and Media Week in 2023 to discuss his career and offer valuable advice to students hoping to break into the industry. 

Leeds Trinity is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2026, offering an opportunity for the institution to acknowledge its past with pride, look forward to the future with ambition, and showcase its strengths, successes, and impact. 

For more information about the history of Leeds Trinity, visit the University website.