There are some stories about former Liverpool players that just make you feel proud.
And this is one of them.
Steven Gerrard is helping bankroll a multi-million-pound plan to create new sports and educational facilities across Merseyside.
For me, this is exactly what Stevie G has always been about.
Not forgetting where he came from.
Not forgetting the city that helped shape him.
And making sure young people growing up in Merseyside have opportunities that perhaps weren’t always available to him.
Gerrard has explained why the project means so much to him:
> “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.”
That says everything.
Stevie has never forgotten his roots
Gerrard grew up in Huyton and came through Liverpool’s academy before becoming one of the greatest players in the club’s history.
But long before he was lifting trophies at Anfield, he was simply a kid from Merseyside who dreamed of becoming a footballer.
And Gerrard has spoken many times about how important his upbringing was to him.
He previously explained that the street football he played growing up helped him learn how to use both feet, pass, shoot, turn and compete with older players.
That’s why giving young people opportunities clearly means so much to him.
He knows what sport can do for a kid.
It can give you confidence.
It can give you somewhere to belong.
It can teach you discipline and teamwork.
And, sometimes, it can completely change the direction of your life.
This isn’t something new for Gerrard
One thing I really like about this story is that Gerrard has been doing this for years.
His charitable work has previously focused heavily on children and young people across Merseyside, with his foundation supporting organisations helping children and families in need.
He has also previously spoken about wanting to use his position to help youngsters in the area he grew up in.
Back in 2014, while visiting his old area of Huyton, Gerrard spoke about the affection he still had for the place where he grew up and the importance of giving something back to the community that had supported him throughout his career.
So this latest project doesn’t feel like some sudden decision.
It’s a continuation of something Gerrard has believed in for a very long time.
Imagine being a young kid in Merseyside
This is the part that really gets me.
Imagine being a youngster growing up in Merseyside and having access to new sports and educational facilities because someone like Steven Gerrard decided to put his money and influence behind the project.
You don’t know where that opportunity might lead.
Maybe it’s a future footballer.
Maybe it’s a coach.
Maybe it’s a teacher.
Maybe it’s simply a kid who finds something they’re passionate about and gains confidence from it.
And that’s why projects like this can be about so much more than football.
It’s about giving kids somewhere to go and something to aim for.
Gerrard knows better than most what can happen when a youngster is given the opportunity to develop.
From Huyton to Liverpool legend
When you look back at Gerrard’s career, it’s easy to focus on the trophies, the goals and the incredible moments at Anfield.
The UEFA Cup.
The FA Cup.
The Champions League.
That unforgettable night in Istanbul.
The famous goals against Manchester United and West Ham.
The moments that made him a Liverpool legend.
But I think this is another important part of his legacy.
Steven Gerrard didn’t forget the kid from Huyton.
He didn’t forget the streets where he learned to play football.
He didn’t forget the people who supported him.
And he hasn’t forgotten the city that gave him so much.
That’s why I love seeing this.
Liverpool has given Gerrard an incredible life.
Now he’s using some of what he has earned to try to give something back.
And honestly, what more could you ask from someone who has always said how much this city means to him?
This is Stevie G
There will always be arguments about footballers.
Who was the greatest Liverpool midfielder?
Who scored the best goal?
Who deserves to be in the greatest-ever XI?
Those debates will go on forever.
But when it comes to Gerrard’s connection with Liverpool, there is no debate for me.
He is one of our own.
And seeing him continue to invest in Merseyside and help create opportunities for the next generation makes me incredibly proud.
Because perhaps somewhere in one of those new facilities will be another young kid dreaming of becoming a professional footballer.
Another youngster kicking a ball around.
Another kid who just needs somebody to believe in them.
And who knows?
Maybe one day we’ll be talking about another Liverpool legend who started out with nothing more than a football and a dream.
That’s the legacy I want Steven Gerrard to leave behind.
Not just the goals.
Not just the trophies.
Not just the captain’s armband.
But giving something back to the city that gave him everything.
That’s Stevie G.
Scouser. Liverpool legend. And still giving back.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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