'How LFC will fill Carra's boots'

As Carra's final game beckons, Frank reflects on the centre-back's momentous Liverpool career.

The Academy manager also looks back on a year when the youth system flourished in providing players for the first team... 

As I'm sure you're all aware, today feels something like an end of an era for everyone associated with Liverpool Football Club.

Carragher, who first arrived here as a nine-year-old and has racked up over 700 games for the club since, will play his final match as a Liverpool player against QPR at Anfield.

As a local lad and a truly inspirational professional, it goes without saying that Carra is, and always has been, nothing short of a shining example to all the young players that come into our Academy.

The level of commitment he has shown to the club, his love for the club and what he has achieved as a player should inspire any young lad who wants to be a success in the game.

One of his traits that I always point to is how he has given us absolutely everything in every game he has played. You never see Carra give anything less than 100 per cent for the cause and you can't ask any more than that from him.

Another player, who is also hanging up his boots at the end of this season, is Paul Scholes.

What an unbelievable player he has been for Manchester United - and I think that the same level has been reached by Carra for Liverpool. Both are utter professionals and superb players.

They'll both be a loss to the game.

One of the things that really got me yesterday was when the manager spoke in his press conference about Carra's preparations for the QPR game.

I found it really interesting to hear the boss say that, even though he was days away from his last game, Carra was in the gym, working hard and grafting away, as though he was getting ready to make his debut.

If there's a better example for our young lads than Carra, then I'd love to know who or what it is!

We've always said here at the Academy that we are looking to bring Scouse lads, like Carra, through and into the team.

We're recruiting as hard as we can in our area and we have we number of really talented payers, who we have had from the ages of five or six. I'm sure that in the next couple of years some of them will be in the first team.

For me, I'll still see Carra and his dad Philly, because they'll be coming to the Academy to watch his son James play.

Carra said this week that you don't realise what the parents have to do in terms of putting the effort into making the kids players and that he's realising it now through his son James.

And that's a really important point, which pays great testimony to all the parents at the Academy. Carra has come out and said it publicly and he's right - we have to thank the parents for working with us.

Without the parents' help and assistance, the player simply cannot succeed.

When I look back on this year at the Academy, the number of first-team debuts we have had makes me so proud. It's really phenomenal form our point of view.

Most recently, we've had Conor Coady, who made his debut against Fulham last weekend. Suso and Andre Wisdom made their debuts for the first team early on in the season.

Adam Morgan started against Hearts in the Europa League. Samed Yesil started in the League Cup against Swansea.

Jerome Sinclair even became the youngest player in the history of the club when he came on against West Brom at the Hawthorns.

So in all, we've had six debuts this season.

But with the highs come the lows.

And we've had some difficult moments at the Academy this season. When Stephen Packer, one of our U9s players, passed away in November 2012 after a brave battle with cancer, everyone involved with this football club came to a standstill in shock and grief.

In the days and weeks that followed, there was a minute's silence held at Anfield, Stephen was mentioned on Match of the Day and Sky Sports and his passing really seemed to bring people together.

It was such a tragic event for everyone at the Academy.

Next Thursday, I'll be joining staff here who are going to complete the Yorkshire three-peak challenge in his name.

And I'd like to finish my final column of the season by asking you to help us raise vital funds for Alder Hey children's hospital, who cared so brilliantly for Stephen and work wonders helping children, not just in Liverpool, but around the country.

Stephen's mum and dad have decided to join the group and take part in the challenge as well, so we're delighted about that.

Let's do what we do best here at Liverpool Football Club and come together in order to raise these vital funds for such a worthy cause, in memory of Stephen.

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