Academy column: Living the dream

I am now into my 24th year working for this fantastic football club and I have to say I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.

Like the young boys in the Academy, I started as an eight-year-old living the dream of trying to progress through the age groups and one day play for the first team. I made the journey through to reserve-team level, I then had a three-year gap away from the club where I played professionally in the Scottish Premier League before returning in 2001 in a coaching capacity, working with age groups ranging from U9s to U13s. 

In 2010, the International Academy and Soccer Schools were being established and I was asked to move across into that area and help develop a number of football programmes around the globe. That was an exciting time and it was something that appealed to me. There was a fair bit of travelling involved to countries like China, Egypt, the United States and more recently India, where I went with Jamie Carragher to officially open the Pune Academy.

In 2014, Academy director Alex Inglethorpe called me and asked me if I would be interested in taking up a role working with the U6-U9 teams in the foundation phase at the Kirkby complex. It was something I was very keen to do as youth development is something I am very passionate about. I jumped at the chance and it's almost a year into the programme.

In fact, next week we will be signing the U9 intake for 2015-16 at a ceremony at Anfield before they are officially welcomed to the Liverpool FC family at the Player Awards at the Echo Arena - so my first year back has been really enjoyable and rewarding.

We have a great team of coaching staff working within the foundation phase who are very talented and have done a fantastic job coaching and helping young players settle in and feel part of the club.

What is important in working with this age group is that we are the first port of call. This means we help any young player coming through - and also their parents - to understand the history and the traditions of the club and our philosophy: What we stand for.

I've been very fortunate to have been a young player myself representing Liverpool from a young age through to reserve-team level, so this is something I relate to and I am really passionate about. The moment the kids walk through the door, it's about them enjoying their football and also learning about the game. It's not just about being a good footballer, we teach them the values and how it's important to be a good person off the pitch as well.

'The Liverpool Way' and our core messages are hopefully ingrained into our youngsters early, so it stands them in a good stead to go on a journey that will hopefully end with them being a Liverpool player. If not, then we hope they will be equipped with the skills to fulfil a positive role in society.

The Academy is a fantastic place to work and we are certainly going in the right direction. Alex [Inglethorpe] has done a fantastic job and we have some really good people working with some really exciting potential. We have all the ingredients to help produce players and it's a really healthy environment and an exciting time.

It has also been great to see Steve Heighway back at the Academy as he was my coach and a massive influence on everything I have done in football, from playing to coaching. Everybody is willing to listen and learn off people and the advice that Steve offers is invaluable. This is a man who helped produce players like Stevie G, Michael Owen, Jamie Carragher, Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman.

Steve works with some of the younger groups, in particular the U12s. He works with players on their technique and he is always there for anyone who wants to speak to him and ask any advice. I will always be grateful to Steve for putting his faith in me and recognising my potential as a coach.

I was very fortunate to be asked by our U21 manager Michael Beale and Alex to sit on the bench with the coaches for the game with Everton at Goodison Park last week. It was a fantastic insight for me and, with the lads winning the game, it was a great night.

It was also great to see players like Cameron Brannagan, Ryan Kent, Harry Wilson, Joe Maguire and Connor Randall in action, all of whom have been with us from a young age. Being on the bench is all part of the openness and willingness at the Academy to learn and share things within the club.

Everyone has a genuine interest in what each coach is doing and how players are getting on. The Liverpool philosophy is ingrained across all age groups. I know it's an old cliche, but everyday you are learning and this was an opportunity I was very grateful for.

As someone who was very fortunate to have played alongside Steven Gerrard in the youth teams at Liverpool FC, I will join thousands of supporters worldwide in saying what an outstanding player, role model and indeed ambassador for this club he has been. Steven will be sorely missed and his legacy is something that inspires everyone at this football club each and every day.