It is their humility and connection with the community. If
there is a recurring theme from the day of 'integration' between the senior and
junior ranks, it is impressing on academy graduates there is more to being a
Premier League player than just being a great footballer.
In the past, boot cleaning and dressing room sweeping used
to be the rite of passage for apprentices needing to know their place. Many
lament the passing of such an age, but Liverpool's Academy staff reject the image
of emerging youngsters as too pampered. Cooking, bricklaying and car mechanics
are part of the ritual now.
Right-back Ryan McLaughlin, an 18-year-old Northern Irish
youth player who has already had a taste of the first team on last year's North
American tour, understands why supporters think emerging youngsters are living
in a bubble. He is also reassuringly honest about how to alter misconceptions.
"The manager has made it clear it's not about cars and
money. It's about going out in front of 40,000 people and winning games and
trophies," he says. "We're taught that every day. It's needed as
well. You do see people go off the rails, more interested in the party life,
but we're taught humility and how to keep away from complications.
"We have to appreciate how lucky we are, and that keeps
us humble. This week we've gone to Alder Hey Children's Hospital and to the
homeless shelter to help out there. That's something the club always wants us
to be involved with.
"There is an emphasis on other life skills. We'll have
cooking lessons so we can look after ourselves, or we'll have people teaching
us how to replace a flat tyre. Day-to-day stuff you need to know.
"We all know we have this brilliant opportunity, we
haven't done anything at all. Some people have been here in the past and fallen
out of football completely at a young age."
Phil Roscoe, the Assistant Academy manager and head of
educational welfare, says clubs have a responsibility to not only advise
youngsters of the pitfalls of fame, but also assist those whose dreams go
unfulfilled.
"Society has changed and the clubs have to deal with
that," he says. "The lads now are different to ten years ago, and
they will be different again in another ten years. It's hard for them because
they are told what they should do by us, but there will also be their mates
saying 'come out and spend some of that money'. It's not easy when you get
those pressures.
"The biggest thing here now is everyone is in agreement
what needs to be done and how to do it. We have complete support. If you don't
have that cohesion, it won't work. I've been in situations where one staff
member would advise one thing and another the opposite. It's not like that
here."
The Academy's Education and Welfare Officer, Clive Cook,
agrees. "There is a perception the boys have it easy, but I can assure you
they don't," he says. "If they don't progress, they get released and
that can be very difficult for any young person to deal with.
"What we want is well-rounded people, some of who will
go on to achieve football success but others who might be successful at another
club or in an another field.
"We can warn them about the distractions, but we know
it's difficult. The real mates will be the ones who say 'don't go out tonight,
stay in and make sure you're right for that game you've got coming up'."
The images of Liverpool's most famous sons are everywhere
here, not least the giant canvas of a youthful Gerrard on a 'wall of fame'.
"I'm not thinking about it in terms of replacing any of
those great players," says McLaughlin.
"The Scousers here know more about the traditions of
who has come through, which may add some pressure, but we can all take
encouragement from the knowledge Gerrard and Carragher went through the same
process that we're now going through. We know what's possible if we do
everything we can to achieve it."
