There are icon status figures, and then there is Steven Gerrard.
The thing every football fans enjoys, above all else, is seeing a local player come through the academy, break into the first team and become a club icon. Well, few have done that more successfully than Steven Gerrard.
Born and raised on Merseyside, he joined the Reds' academy at the age of nine, before making 710 senior appearances for Liverpool. The midfielder produced countless iconic moments, winning nine major honours, most notably hoisting the Champions League trophy aloft in İstanbul, following the comeback of all comebacks against A.C. Milan at the Atatürk Olimpiyat Stadı.
He made a career out of stepping up when Liverpool needed him most. Now, the iconic former captain is preparing to make a whole different kind of impact on the city he calls home.
For over a decade, Anfield relied on number eight to pull the club out of impossible corners on the pitch. Now, the legendary former Liverpool captain is stepping up off it, launching a major multi-million pound personal investment scheme designed to transform youth opportunities and grassroots sports facilities across Merseyside.
The 46 year old has decided to give something back to his city. As reported first on Thursday, via the Liverpool Echo Gerrard has unveiled a multi-million pound plan to invest in his home areas of Childwall and Huyton. As part of this, he is planning to fund major redevelopment of Childwall Sports and Science Academy.
Six new 3G football pitches will be built, alongside 16 padel courts across two sites. Other sports and educational facilities will also be given a major revamp. This would see the establishment of the UK's first school padel academy. Padel, which is a mini version of tennis, is the world's fastest growing sport, but is often expensive and somewhat elitist, so this plans to bring it to a mainstream educational setting.
As well as plans in Childwall, the King George V Playing Fields in Huyton is also set to enjoy a major revamp. This is located right round the corner from where Gerrard was born and raised.
When asked about why he has chosen to do this, the former Liverpool captain had this to say:
"Liverpool gave me so much growing up, and I’ve always wanted to give something back to the city where I was born and the place I’m proud to call home. I’m investing in these projects because I believe in the difference they can make for young people. The ambitions for Childwall Sports and Science Academy are incredibly exciting.Steven Gerrard
It is also fantastic to announce the plan for Huyton because this is not too far away from where I grew up. The facilities will be world-class. Sport has the power to change lives. It builds confidence, creates opportunity and opens pathways into education, training and employment."
Gerrard was back at Anfield recently, working as a television pundit for TNT Sports as Andoni Iraola's side drew 2-2 with Nottingham Forest, as well as being in attendance for the win over Atlético Madrid. When he was enjoying success at Rangers, guiding them to their only Scottish Premiership title since 2011, it seemed inevitable that he would succeed Jürgen Klopp.
However, less impressive stints at Aston Villa and then Al-Ettifaq mean we may never see Gerrard back at Anfield in an official capacity.
What It means for Liverpool and the City
In modern football, the bond between elite multi-millionaire athletes and match-going supporters often feels increasingly fractured.
Gerrard’s investment cuts straight through that. For Liverpool fans, seeing their greatest modern captain channel his personal wealth directly into the city's social fabric reinforces why the connection between the club and it's community remains so unique.
It also continues a long, proud tradition of Liverpool icons stepping up for Merseyside off the pitch echoing the ongoing work of the Jamie Carragher 23 Foundation and the late, great Sir Kenny Dalglish’s Marina Dalglish Appeal.
Gerrard could easily have taken his earnings and limited his post-playing investments to corporate property portfolios or overseas business ventures. Instead, he’s choosing to put his money where his roots are.
For the kid from Huyton who conquered Istanbul, this multi-million pound commitment might just prove to be his most enduring legacy of all.
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