Column: They realise how lucky they are

Clive joined the club five years ago and his focus takes in the school programme, scholarship (U18s) education and the community work and the life skills of the club's U21 players.

On a daily basis, Clive tutors, teaches, mentors and provides counsel for the young Reds. He also accompanies them when they venture out into the community to learn valuable life lessons.

Here he reflects on particularly poignant moments - including the time Kristoffer Peterson's troubles were put into perspective by a visit to Alder Hey children's hospital.

At the Academy, part of my role focuses on the psychological and social development of our young players.

Off the field, we put a real emphasis on offering our lads a perspective of what real life is like - and we do this through community work and through life skills classes, which take place at Rainhill High School under the guidance of our link teachers, Caitlin Hawkins and Nicola Ericsson.

As a lot of you will know, our lads also go to Alder Hey each month, to local homeless shelters and to other projects around the city.

While they are there, they see for themselves that there is real suffering out there. That there's real suffering in this city.

The lads will have discomfort themselves during their development - injuries, loss of form, de-selection, all of which can affect confidence - but that will be a totally different challenge to the real issues in life.

In these times, when they are feeling a little down, the community work that we do helps them realise that what they may perceive to be big issues, aren't actually as bad as some of the wider issues of life.

Here's an example. One of our lads, Kristoffer Peterson, was fairly despondent after his performance in the U18s  2-2 draw with Tottenham. Later that day, he joined other lads on a tour of Alder Hey children's hospital.

While he was there, a mother, whose little baby was sick and receiving treatment, asked him if he'd like to hold her and when he did, she took a picture of them together.

It was within an hour of that game against Tottenham.

The baby he was holding in the picture had been born with half a heart.

Straight away it put his problems into perspective. You could see Kris's reaction, you could see it in his face, he didn't have to say anything.

For me, it was a snapshot of why we do this sort of community work with the lads and why it is so important. We feel this is vital otherwise we may give them a false sense of perspective both about football and real life.

We believe also that as a club, as well as developing professional footballers, it's about accepting that we have a responsibility to produce decent human beings.

As mentioned, our players also go to a local homeless hospice to help other volunteers serve food and drink, and they go in covertly, without club tracksuits on to help out.

The reason why there is never any reference to Liverpool Football Club during these visits is because it's not a PR exercise, it's just the right thing to do - to help others. Some people are born into poverty, they don't get what so many people take for granted like warmth, shelter, love and care. They don't choose this life.

And the lads who go there really appreciate its importance. They've all commented on how it's such a great thing to do and how rewarded they feel afterwards. They also learn important values and that it's a privilege to represent Liverpool Football Club and with that comes responsibilities both on and off the pitch.

A big emphasis within my role here is to make sure that I have a good rapport with the lads and that I'm encouraging them all the time.

You've got to make sure they are in a positive frame of mind to focus on the most important thing - progressing on the pitch.

A lot of people think footballers' lives are easy but that's not necessarily true when they have to constantly show that they are making  progress.

We've got U12 players who are getting up at half past six in the morning, going to school early, coming in after school to train and then they won't get home till half past eight in the evenings.

The journey to the top is not easy.

I remember Jamie Carragher said, 'People think sometimes that it's a bed of roses, but the reality is far from it.' There are so many obstacles in the way and young lads have to be able to find a way through them.

We must guide them through this process and ensure the lads have a 'fighting mentality' when things don't go well, not a 'victim mentality', because it's easy to make excuses, lose focus and get distracted during low points.

Our job supporting the players and their families doesn't stop at 9-5 either. I've taken phone calls from parents at 6.30am, calls from players or family members at half 11 or 12 o'clock at night.

It's demanding and it might seem never-ending but overall it's a challenge to the staff - we need to make sure the players don't think twice about coming to us and asking for help and support whilst acknowledging at times that it is quite a courageous thing to do for a young person.

We've got a very important date in our Academy calendar coming up in just over a week's time. A date that is extremely poignant for everyone involved with the club.

Next Monday is the 24th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster and a memorial service at Anfield will take place.

All our U18s and U21s will attend.

I was at the Hillsborough disaster myself, as a fan. I was in the Leppings Lane end on the day and it had a massive impact on my life.

At the time I hoped that the club would remember it and make an effort to make sure that the families were supported and that the victims were never forgotten. And I believe the club have done a fantastic job in doing that.

When players join the club, they are given information about the city, where the banks are, where the restaurants are and how to get about the city.

Then we move on to the history of the club and Hillsborough is very much the focal point. It's part of the club and it's important that our players understand that.

We've made it one of the most integral things that we do at the Academy, in terms of making sure that all of our lads know that, away from the playing side, attending the service and supporting the families is the most important thing that they will do each year. They know that they must play their part on the day with pride and honour.

Before I finish, I'd like to point fans towards a fundraiser that we are doing in May in memory of Stephen Packer, one of our U9s players who sadly passed away last year.

Stephen lost his incredibly brave battle with cancer in November 2012 and his passing was a really tragic event for everyone at the Academy.

Our staff and some of the players here are going to complete the Yorkshire three-peak challenge in his name and it would be great if you could help us raise vital funds for Alder Hey children's hospital, in memory of Stephen.

To donate now via our JustGiving page, click here>>

You can also donate by texting SPAC93 followed by the amount that you would like to pledge to 70070. For example, if you wish to send £5, text 'SPAC93 £5' to 70070.