Liverpool F.C. Reserves and Academy

Liverpool Reserves

Full name	Liverpool FC Reserves
Nickname(s)	The Reds
Founded	1892
Ground	Prenton Park Tranmere
Capacity	16,567
Manager	John McMahon (Reserves)
League	Premier Reserve League Premier Academy League
2009–10 2009–10	Premier Reserve League South 3rd Premier Academy League Under-18 Group C, 4th
Home colours Away colours

Liverpool F.C. Reserves are the reserve team of Liverpool.

Reserve team

Liverpool Reserves play in the FA Premier Reserve League. In their division, the reserves became Champions in 2000. They competed in the Lancashire Combination from 1896 to 1911, with the exception of the 1898–99 season, in which they joined The Combination. From 1911 on they took part in the Central League until becoming inaugural members of the Premier Reserve League North in 1999. They also participate in the Liverpool Senior Cup, although in recent years the teams entered in this competition have featured an increasing number of youth players.

The current Reserve team manager is John McMahon, who replaced Gary Ablett in 2009. Liverpool Reserves play their home games at Prenton Park in Birkenhead, the home of Tranmere Rovers. In previous seasons the team has also played at Halliwell Jones Stadium the home of Warrington Wolves, Haig Avenue, the home of Southport, Knowsley Road, the home of St Helens RLFC and Wrexham's Racecourse Ground.

The team was the subject of a famous quote from legendary Liverpool FC manager Bill Shankly, who while telling a joke at the expense of local rivals Everton, declared In my time at Anfield we always said we had the two best teams on Merseyside, Liverpool and Liverpool Reserves. Another version of the quote has Shankly saying There's only two teams in Liverpool: Liverpool and Liverpool Reserves.

The most successful Liverpool Reserves coach has been Roy Evans. Evans spent most of his playing career as a reserve team player, making only 11 appearances for the first team. After an injury ended his career in 1974, he was appointed coach of the reserves by Bob Paisley. Evans subsequently led the reserves to victory in a series of Central League championships, including three in his first three seasons, a four in a row sequence from 1978 and two more in the early 1980s. Throughout the history of Liverpool FC many of the club's best known players have progressed through the reserve team. These include current first team squad members Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher as well as the likes of Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen and Steve McManaman.

The Academy

In 1998, a new state-of-the-art Youth Academy was opened in Kirkby, north Liverpool. It replaced the older, more informal youth system, and enables the club to focus their youth development and scouting, employing new techniques and FA standards.

It is overseen by Frank McParland. The Academy now allows the main training ground at Melwood to be kept solely for the first team squad and allows all the areas there to be kept in excellent condition. It also provides is a stepping stone for youngsters to progress to the highest levels of football at Liverpool.

Scouts attend many local youth matches looking for talented boys. A boy will then be invited to attend training sessions at the Academy. They are taken in as young as the age of eight. Former England International player Jamie Carragher who is part of the Englands 2010 World Cup team, started at Liverpool when he was aged just nine, with Michael Owen joining at eleven,and Steven Gerrard joining at the age of eight. At this age, the boys start by simply attending after-school training sessions, but as they reach their middle-teens, their academic needs will be taken over by the Academy if they are deemed athletically-talented enough. As such, the Academy has a lecture theatre and a computer-equipped classroom.

The Academy can handle up to twenty boys in each year group, though more usually the figure is around eighteen. Between the ages of eight and twelve the boys play in eight-a-side games of three twenty-minute periods. It allows the boys to play as defenders or as attackers in small groups within a system and is not as physically-demanding as playing eleven-a-side matches.

There are four full-size grass pitches and one with a Polytan surface. There are also a further seven smaller pitches and an indoor arena. The grounds cover an area of 56 acres.

On the walls of the indoor centre hang the words 'Technique', 'Attitude', 'Balance' and 'Speed'. 'TABS' is the key word preached at The Academy.[1]

Players

Reserves

The following players are expected to play for the reserves during the Premier Reserve League 2010–11. In addition, all members of the first team squad are eligible to play for the reserves, as are players from the Academy. Additionally, some of the younger players in the reserves may still feature for the academy side:

As of 22 September 2010. Squad Numbers refer to players' first team squad number (for season 2010/11), where applicable. Reserve and youth games are 1–11.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
22	DF	SCO	Danny Wilson
30	GK	FRA	Charles Itandje
33	MF	ENG	Jonjo Shelvey
34	DF	ENG	Martin Kelly
36	DF	ENG	Steven Irwin
39	FW	ENG	Nathan Eccleston
40	DF	ESP	Daniel Sánchez Ayala (on loan to Hull City)
41	GK	DEN	Martin Hansen
42	GK	HUN	Péter Gulácsi (on loan to Tranmere Rovers)
43	GK	AUS	Dean Bouzanis
44	MF	ISL	Guðlaugur Victor Pálsson (on loan to Dagenham & Redbridge)
45	MF	ENG	Thomas Ince (on loan to Notts County)
46	FW	ENG	David Amoo

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
47	DF	ENG	Andre Wisdom
48	MF	ARG	Gerardo Bruna
49	DF	ENG	Jack Robinson
—	GK	ENG	Deale Chamberlain (on loan to Leeds United)
—	DF	FRA	Chris Mavinga
—	DF	ESP	Emmanuel Mendy
—	MF	SCO	Alex Cooper
—	MF	DEN	Nicolaj Køhlert
—	MF	ENG	Michael Roberts
—	MF	ESP	Jesús Fernández Sáenz
—	FW	NED	Jordy Brouwer
—	FW	DEN	Nikola Sarić
—	FW	HUN	András Simon

Academy (Under-18s)

The following players are expected to play for the team during the Premier Academy League 2010–11. As of 1 September 2010.

	Player	DOB	Position	International caps	Profile
3rd Year Academy (players born between 1 September 1991 and 31 August 1992)
2nd Year Academy (players born between 1 September 1992 and 31 August 1993)
	Krisztián Adorján	(1993-01-19) 19 January 1993	FW	Capped at Under-17 level	View
	Karl Clair	(1992-09-30) 30 September 1992	MF	–	View
	Conor Coady	(1993-02-25) 25 February 1993	DF	Capped at Under-17 level	View
	Kristjan Gauti Emilsson	(1993-04-26) 26 April 1993	MF	Capped at Under-19 level	View
	John Flanagan	(1993-01-21) 21 January 1993	DF	–	View
	Matthew McGiveron	(1992-09-03) 3 September 1992	DF	–	View
	Michael Ngoo	(1992-10-23) 23 October 1992	FW	Capped at Under-19 level	View
	Craig Roddan	(1993-04-22) 22 April 1993	MF	–	View
	Stephen Sama	(1993-03-05) 5 March 1993	DF	Capped at Under-17 level	View
	Alex Whittle	(1993-03-15) 15 March 1993	FW	Capped at Under-16 level	View
	Andre Wisdom	(1993-05-09) 9 May 1993	DF/MF	Capped at Under-19 level	View
1st Year Academy (born on or after 1 September 1993)
	Peter Aylmer	(1994-02-12) 12 February 1994	DF	–	View
	Tyrell Belford	(1994-05-06) 6 May 1994	GK	Capped at Under-16 level	View
	Lewis Hatch	(1993-09-04) 4 September 1993	MF	–	View
	Tom King	(1994-07-20) 20 July 1994	DF	–	-
	Adam Morgan	(1994-04-21) 21 April 1994	FW	Capped at Under-17 level	View
	Henoc John Mukendi	(1993-11-20) 20 November 1993	FW	-	View
	Patrik Poór	(1993-11-15) 15 November 1993	DF	Capped at Under-17 level	View
	Jack Robinson	(1993-09-01) 1 September 1993	DF	Capped at Under-17 level	View
	Joseph Rafferty	(1993-10-06) 6 October 1993	DF	Capped at Under-18 level	View
	Matthew Regan	(1994-02-22) 22 February 1994	DF	Capped at Under-17 level	View
	Toni Brito Silva Sá	(1993-09-15) 15 September 1993	MF	Capped at Under-17 level	View
	Brad Smith	(1994-04-09) 9 April 1994	DF	–	View
	Jamie Stephens	(1993-08-25) 25 August 1993	GK	-	View
	Josh Sumner	(1994-01-03) 3 January 1994	FW	–	View
	Tom Walsh	(1994-03-23) 23 March 1994	MF	–	View
Unknown status
	Jakub Sokolik	(1993-08-28) 28 August 1993	DF	Capped at Under-16 level	–
	Jesús Fernández Sáenz	(1993-11-19) 19 November 1993	MF	Capped at Under-17 level	–
	Adam Hajdu (on loan from MTK Hungaria)	(1993-01-16) 16 January 1993	MF	Capped at Under-17 level	–
	Gonçalo Filipe Gonçalves Serras Ribeiro	(1994-02-23) 23 February 1994	FW	-	–
Notable Under 16s
	Ryan Crump		GK	Capped at Under-16 level	–
	Jordan Lussey		DF	Called-up at Under-17 level	–
	Dave Moli	(1994-11-30) 30 November 1994	FW	Capped-up at Under-16 level	–
	Kristoffer Petersson	(1994-11-28) 28 November 1994	MF	Capped at Under-16 level	–
	Raheem Sterling	(1994-12-18) 18 December 1994	MF	Capped at Under-17 level	–

Out on loan

Some of Liverpool's reserves and youth players are on loan at other clubs. See Liverpool F.C. players out on loan.

Staff

Current coaching staff

• Reserve team manager: John McMahon
• Reserve goalkeeping coach: John Achterberg
• Reserve fitness coach: Remy Tang

• Academy director: Frank McParland
• Academy technical manager: José Segura
• Academy manager: John Owens
• Academy International Recruitment and Development: Kenny Dalglish
• Academy local recruitment officer: Ian Barrigan
• Academy national scout: Stuart Webber
• Academy scout: Dave Moss
• Academy Under 18's coach: Rodolfo Borrell
• Academy Coach Under 12's – Under 16's coach: Steve Cooper
• Academy Under 16's coach: Mike Marsh
• Academy Coach Under 6's – Under 11's: Mike Garrity
• Academy Goalkeeping Coach: Mark Morris
• Academy fitness coach: Mark Hulse
• Academy Physiotherapist: Andy Renshaw , Liam Kershaw

In addition, the reserves and academy employ staff from the first-team.

Reserve team manager history

• Bob Paisley (1954–1957)
• Joe Fagan (1971–1974)
• Roy Evans (1975–1984)
• Chris Lawler (1984-1986)
• Phil Thompson (1986–1992)
• Sammy Lee (1993–1998)
• Joe Corrigan (1998–2002)
• Hughie McAuley (2003–2006)
• Gary Ablett (2006–2009)
• John McMahon (2009–present)

Honours

Reserves

League Champions

• The Central League / Premier Reserve League North: 18
  • 1956–57, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1989–90, 1999–00, 2007–08

• Premier Reserve League National Champions: 1
  • 2007–08

• Lancashire Combination: 2
  • 1896–97, 1899–00

Cup Winners

• Liverpool Senior Cup: 40
  • 1893, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1905, 1907, 1909, 1910 (shared), 1912 (shared), 1913, 1915, 1920, 1925, 1927, 1929, 1930, 1934 (shared), 1936 (shared), 1937, 1939, 1942, 1943, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1951, 1952, 1962, 1964 (shared), 1968, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982 (shared), 1997, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2009, 2010

• Lancashire Senior Cup: 11
  • 1919, 1920 (shared), 1924, 1931, 1933, 1944, 1947, 1956, 1959, 1973, 2010

• Liverpool Challenge Cup: 4
  • 1954, 1959, 1960, 1961

Youth Team

League Champions

• Premier Academy League U19: 1
  • 2001–02

• Premier Academy League U17: 1
  • 2001–02

• Lancashire League Division One: 6
  • 1965–66, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1971–72, 1977–78, 1982–83

• Lancashire League Division Two: 7
  • 1961–62, 1965–66, 1967–68, 1972–73, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1992–93

• Lancashire League Division Three: 1
  • 1960–61

Cup Winners

• FA Youth Cup: 3
  • 1996, 2006, 2007

• Liverpool Youth Cup: 3
  • 1954, 1956, 1958

• Lancashire Division One League Cup: 3
  • 1960, 1966, 1967

• Lancashire Division Two League Cup: 5
  • 1962, 1966, 1967, 1973, 1980

• Lancashire Division Three League Cup: 1
  • 1961

Noted graduates

Liverpool's youth system has been successful over the years, many players who have come through it have gone on to make an impact in the first-team.

Pre-WW2 Harold Barton Cyril Done Alf Hanson Jack Parkinson Syd Roberts	1940s Bill Jones Terry Newton Billy Liddell Jimmy Payne Eddie Spicer
1950s Alan A'Court Eric Anderson Gerry Byrne Bobby Campbell Don Campbell Jimmy Melia Ronnie Moran Roy Saunders	1960s Alf Arrowsmith Phil Boersma Ian Callaghan Bobby Graham Chris Lawler Ian Ross Tommy Smith Phil Thompson
1970s Jimmy Case David Fairclough Colin Irwin Sammy Lee John McLaughlin 1980s Gary Ablett Mike Marsh Steve Staunton Ronnie Whelan
1990s Jamie Carragher Robbie Fowler Steven Gerrard Dominic Matteo Steve McManaman Michael Owen David Thompson Stephen Wright 2000s Neil Mellor Stephen Warnock Emiliano Insúa 2010s Martin Kelly Daniel Pacheco And those that made it elsewhere Several former Liverpool youth and reserve team players have found success with other clubs. None of these players became established members of the Liverpool first team. Keith Burkinshaw Synan Braddish Phil Charnock Paul Dalglish Ken DeMange John Durnin Howard Gayle John Gidman Alan Harper Benjamin Howard Baker Craig Hignett Paul Jewell Jimmy Kelly Jim Magilton Joe Maloney Hughie McAuley Ted MacDougall Frank McGarvey Brian Mooney Jon Newby Mike Newell Matt O'Mahoney Jon Otsemobor Richie Partridge Jason Koumas Darren Potter Nicky Rizzo Gareth Roberts Colin Russell Mark Seagraves Kevin Sheedy Tommy Tynan Tony Warner Alex Watson Dave Watson Danny Williams Alan Navarro John Welsh Zak Whitbread David Raven Danny O'Donnell Danny Guthrie Steven Gillespie Paul Anderson Adam Hammill Mikel San José Shane O'Connor

Sources

• Who’s Who Of Liverpool (2006): Tony Matthews
• LFCHistory.net

External links

• Liverpool FC Official Website
  • The Academy
  • 1st Team/Reserves Squad Profiles
  • Youth Profiles
  • Reserves Fixtures and Results
  • Under-18s Fixtures and Results
  • Reserve League Table
  • Academy League Table