Leigh marked 16 years of coaching at Albion by becoming the club's Senior Professional Development Phase Coach in the Under-21s. 

This came after three years leading 18s team, where Downing ended his time guiding the club's scholars by helping them reach the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup during the 2024/25 campaign. 

Having taken over from Peter Gilbert, whom Leigh was assistant to prior to his departure, the former Baggies scholar worked hard to progress through the ranks across several fronts at The Hawthorns. 

Although Downing's playing career in B71 didn't progress how he'd wanted it to, his coaching path began not far away with the Albion Foundation - carrying out their sports development programme for kids in Birmingham's community and schools, in addition to developing to the club's futsal initiative between 2010-2013.

Those lessons gave Leigh the opportunity to start on the coaching ladder with the club's academy, where he progressed through a plethora of roles to eventually gain the chance to lead Albion's scholars in the present day. 

Titles gained during his time in the Baggies' youth system include (chronologically); Academy Coach, Assistant Foundation Phase Coach, Lead Foundation Phase Coach, Assistant Youth Development Phase Coach, Lead Youth Development Phase Coach, Professional Development Phase Coach, before making the step to Lead U18 PDP Coach. 

Downing marked his 13th year coaching by being put in charge of the 18s in September 2022, while his 16th saw him take over the PL2 team, and Leigh will hope his steady coaching progression continues at Albion.