Published in The Telegraph today:
I am officially returning to my spiritual home today.
Robbie Fowler and I have joined forces to take over the site of Liverpool’s former training ground at Melwood. Our academies are merging to offer a pathway for those looking for work in the football or sports industry.
It is our ambition to help create a new generation of well-trained professionals who, if they cannot revive their playing careers, will become sport scientists, physiotherapists or coaches. We will be offering several courses and scholarships for those seeking help gaining employment across many fields.
Robbie and I have been in discussions for some time about forming a partnership, so when the Melwood site became available, the emotional connection was immediate and we realised it was the perfect venue. We’re thrilled the deal is being formally announced.
We will be keeping most of the Melwood facilities we enjoyed during our playing careers, including the main building and a couple of the football pitches. As ex-Liverpool players, we will also be preserving the spirit of the old training ground, ensuring visitors are left in no doubt about the rich history of the venue.
Although many who attend our academies are those we are trying to help get back into the game, the opportunities will extend beyond helping former or future professional footballers.
We are also liaising with other notable sporting figures such as Merseyside Olympians, gymnast Beth Tweddle and swimmer Stephen Parry, as we seek to take advantage of outstanding facilities Liverpool FC left behind when they relocated.
Robbie and I have also spoken to the Professional Footballers Association and will be offering the site as a hub for dementia research and support for members, a subject which the public has become increasingly aware of following several high-profile cases.
Since Liverpool vacated Melwood, it’s been a personal joy for me to be able to return to the place where I spent all of my playing career.
When I retired as a Liverpool player, my morning routine was so engraved in my memory I would sometimes find myself heading towards the training ground as if I was still working there. I would have to reverse the car and realise I was no longer a Liverpool player!
It makes me extremely proud to know that I can get back to driving through those famous gates again every day.
