'Lucas's tweets are incredible'

McParland arrived at Kirkby in April 2009 and has overseen vast changes to the youth set-up in recent years.

Here he explains how the enthusiasm and commitment of Rodgers has lifted everyone at the Academy - and reveals that the boss has agreed to let the U18s use Melwood for this weekend's game...

It's been another busy week at the Academy and, as has been the case for everyone else, the snow has caused all sorts of problems. We've had to cancel everything this weekend - for now - which has been a real disappointment.

But this is probably the worst time of the year - the end of January to the beginning of February; we tend to lose a lot of games to the weather.

It's important that the players still train and we're lucky enough to have indoor facilities here, so we're just coordinating a schedule for that to make sure the kids stay fit and focused.

We're trying to get the U18s game against West Brom played at Melwood. I had a conversation with Brendan Rodgers last night. I called him up and said: "Boss, the U18s game is going to be off. What do you think about the possibility of the lads playing at Melwood?"

Now, not every first-team manager takes an interest in the U18s. But the boss said: "If it's possible to play and everyone agrees, then play here."

And I just think it's unbelievable that I am able to make a call to our first-team manager and ask about playing the game at the first-team training ground and for him to be so supportive.

He's so supportive in general about what we're trying to do. His approach is - let's get the boys over here playing. I'm really, really happy with that.

We've seen his commitment ever since the boss arrived. We've seen the likes of Raheem Sterling, Suso and Andre Wisdom play plenty of first-team games.

And I'm really proud of the kids and happy for their families. I'm delighted for everyone here at the Academy as well. It gives us a great buzz of satisfaction. We are like a family here and it makes everyone very proud when lads graduate to the first team.

From Martin, who makes the food every day, to the secretaries who do so much work helping the boys, to the education people - it's about the people who clean the dressing rooms, who give the players their kit fresh every day.

When we come in on a Monday, everyone is talking about how the lads in the first team did. When Raheem scored his first goal against Reading last year, it was a fantastic moment. Suso has done really well and I was really happy to see Andre signing a new contract.

They're really proud moments for all of us, but at an academy we can't just dwell on such success. Phil Roscoe, the assistant academy manager, always says to me after someone has done something in the first team: "Next."

And it's a great approach to have - I'm delighted with that. Phil keeps everyone's feet on the ground. He says: "Yes, we've done great there but let's bring the next player through."

And that's the way our club has always done things.

You do get very close to these lads during their time here. When they leave, it's like one of your kids leaving home, when they are going off to university.

But you know that they are moving up to somewhere that is a very special place with fantastic coaches, a fantastic young manager who loves working with young players.

When we let a player go out on loan and the experience has not been good for the player, we kick ourselves really because they are our kids and we want them to progress.

So much surrounds our young players these days and it's important that they stay focused and grounded.

For instance, I've not been brought up with social media but I understand it a lot more than I did a couple of years ago. When we speak to the boys now we have an advisor who works with us and he comes in and educates not only the staff but the kids and shows them good and bad examples.

And I don't mind saying it, but Lucas Leiva, when he tweets, is incredible. He's so supportive of the club; he's a really intelligent guy. He has got empathy with our fans and the people of the city. He's a fantastic role model for our kids.

I tell the kids that the only thing that they should be obsessed with as a footballer is being a footballer. Don't let all the things that surround the game get in the way of a small window of opportunity that you have to show a manager, the bosses here how committed you are.

Check out our third Academy column on Liverpoolfc.com next Friday.