'Stephen and Steven are inspirations'

Roscoe's pastoral role (he is also assistant Academy manager) means he oversees the academic progression of the club's 198 young players from the Elite Development Squad, U18s and U9-U16 schoolboy programme.

This week he talks about the Academy's plans to take on a three-peak challenge in memory of Stephen Packer, the U9s player who sadly passed away in November 2012.

He also reflects on Steven Gerrard's appearance at the Youth Cup game against Leeds at Anfield last week...

We had always planned to do the three-peak challenge as part of the Duke of Edinburgh award in May and now we are going to complete the hike in memory of Stephen Packer.

It's a fundraiser that will bring us all together and it's perfect because it's at the end of the season and everyone at the Academy can get behind the effort.

We had a meeting with Stevie's parents and they have been 100 per cent involved with the planning and they are completely behind what we are doing.

A lot of staff from the Academy will take on the challenge but there'll also be others from various areas of the club, like Chapel Street and Melwood. We've also got some players from the U21s and down who will be doing the challenge.

Stevie was a boy who came into the pre-Academy programme and was in the U9s. He was developing really well as a footballer.

Like any U9 child that we have here, he was a boy who would come in every day and he loved his football and loved being involved with Liverpool.

He became ill and tragically passed away.

Until something like that happens, you tend to think that it's never going to happen to someone that you know or someone who you work with. But for the coaching staff here, for Stevie's family and for the boys who played alongside him, it became a reality.

It hit everyone extremely hard and it was a really tragic event.

We want to raise money for Alder Hey with our walk but we also want to carry on doing things to further Stephen's name and make sure that his memory will live on around the building.

We spoke to his parents about where to donate the money. We mentioned Alder Hey because that is where Stevie went for his care and his mum and dad spoke about how fantastically he was looked after there.

Click here to visit the JustGiving page set up to support the event in memory of Stephen Packer>>

We also have a very strong link with Alder Hey as a club and we go there regularly with the players. We've spoken with the hospital and they are delighted with the plans. The money will go towards helping other sick children in the hospital.

On the field we've been busy at the Academy - our U21s battled back to grab a 1-1 draw away against a tough Southampton side.

And before that our youngsters beat Leeds United 3-1 at Anfield in the Youth Cup.

Leeds have had a great season in their league and the coaching staff worked really hard to prepare the team for that game and the lads were fully aware of what they had to do.

They were also fully aware of how privileged they were to be able to play at Anfield because you have got to be able to play on that pitch, whether it's in front of 45,000 people or 200 - you've got to be able to perform.

On the night we were able to progress, which was fantastic.

We knew that Steven was coming down. It's fantastic that the captain of the club wants to come down and watch the lads.

The fact that Steven has took time out to come and watch that fixture, not only gives the players a lift but everyone else involved. It demonstrates how, throughout the club, everyone is interested to see what is going on.

It's fantastic when any player from the first team or the coaching staff come to watch. Regularly this season the boss, Colin, Marshy and John will come to the Academy to check on the progress of players from all age groups while having meetings with Frank, Rodo, Alex and the other coaching staff. This support is great for everyone concerned.

Click here to visit the JustGiving page set up to support the event in memory of Stephen Packer>>