FRANK McPARLAND: Suarez showed his true colours by spending hours on a hospital visit... before scoring a hat-trick against the Baggies

Published: 02:30 EST, 13 November 2013 | Updated: 08:27 EST, 13 November 2013

 

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Liverpool’s Director of Academy and Player Development Frank McParland returns for his latest Footballers' Football Column. He pays tribute to the work of the Alder Hey hospital looking after sick children in the city. He also explains how striker Luis Suarez is a keen volunteer and made a visit to the hospital ahead of scoring a hat-trick against West Brom. McParland also praises youngster Harry Wilson after his shock call-up to the Wales squad – which subsequently allowed his grandfather to retire. Finally, McParland welcomes Liverpool icon Kenny Dalglish back to Anfield as a director in a move he describes as a ‘masterstroke’.

My role at Liverpool's academy means I see all sides of life. Naturally, people associate football with the euphoric moments but there is another side too.

One of the most heartbreaking was the untimely death of nine-year-old Stephen Packer who was a talented player in our Under 9 side. It is nearly a year now since Stevie lost his battle with cancer but he is far from forgotten.

We have been working closely with his family and the other week it was a privilege for myself and Luis Suarez to join them as we donated a £12,000 cheque to Liverpool-based hospital Alder Hey who looked after Stevie when he was ill.

Keen to support: Luis Suarez spent time at the Alder Hey Hospital

Backing: Suarez poses with Chris, Vic and Susie Packer and Clare White at Alder Hey Hospital

Making a difference: The Packer family and Suarez get to see first-hand the difference their donation will make

The money will go towards building a room at the new hospital which also provides a bed for parents.

Readers of this column contributed to that figure as we did the Three Peaks Challenge and held a football tournament and I can only pass on thanks from Chris and Vicky Packer for your support.

All the top clubs sent teams to play in the football tournament we hosted for Under 9s, The Stephen Packer Memorial Cup, and the fitting beauty of it was that it was Stevie's Liverpool side who ended up winners.

Luis Suarez volunteered to go to Alder Hey with the Packer family. The first-team players have a rota of events to attend and, although it's a story that has touched everyone at the club, Luis was particularly keen to attend.

I think with being the father of two young children himself, in his baby boy Benjamin and daughter Delfina, he has terrific empathy with the Packers and what they have been through. It certainly hit him.

He spent a lot of time talking to Chris about it and it was clear he wanted to show his full support.

As Luis said: 'I admire the strength of the family. It must have been difficult to come back to the hospital but they find more strength from being able to help other families who are going through what they did.'

We went to the Oncology ward and Luis spent an hour or so talking to the children and parents, posing for photographs and signing autographs. Whatever they wanted he was happy to do. He recognised how much his being there helped and lifted everyone's spirits.

He presented the donation with the family to the hospital and then proceeded to go and score a hat-trick against West Bromwich Albion on the Saturday.

It's such an important role that the club has in the community though. As I've said before we don't just develop footballers, we develop human beings, young men. All our scholars and young professionals visit the likes of Alder Hey to lift everyone there and to see the other side of life. Sometimes it's not just the poorly children who are affected but the parents and our visits hopefully help take their minds off things even if only briefly.

Putting a smile on their face: Academy players (l-r) Ryan Fulton, Brad Smith and Ryan McLaughlin at Alder Hey

Doing their bit: Frank McParland is keen for his academy players to help out where they can

In terms of young Stevie, it is a real honour to be able to raise funds in his name. He was an absolutely brilliant kid and we all miss him. We will continue to support the Packer family in any way we can.

Harry Wilson making his international debut came as a surprise to everybody - not least his grandad who ended up retiring the next day as a result of it.

At 16 and 207 days, when he came on in the World Cup qualifier against Belgium, Harry became Liverpool's youngest ever international and the youngest player to play for Wales.

His grandad Peter had put a £50 bet on at odds of 2,500/1 when Harry was just 18 months old that he would play for his country and I'm delighted for him that it paid off.

Harry came in to the Academy the following day and told me his grandad, who is an electrical contractor, had decided to retire early as a result of his winnings so it turned out well.

Big future: Wales boss Chris Coleman has backed Harry Wilson to play for Wales for many years to come

Teenage kicks: Wilson is congratulated by Wales legend Craig Bellamy after his international bow

Making strides: Wilson's call up was a shock to a lot of people at the club

Fortunately, Harry is a humble and sensible kid. I got everyone to give him a round of applause in the canteen and he was very embarrassed by it all.

We had a chat about the importance of him continuing to focus on his game and sure enough his first game back for the U18s he scored two, played really well and we won 4-2.

We knew of course that Harry was going with the Wales squad but I'm glad he only came on for a few minutes.

Physically, Harry has a lot to do before he grows and is able to compete with international players, particularly those that play for the likes of Belgium.

He has only come on once before for our U21s so it was a huge step up but Wales were keen that he played for them before other countries found a way of selecting him.

The man in charge: McParland oversees all the young players coming through the Liverpool academy

One of our first team staff Ryland Morgans, who is head of fitness and conditioning, is on Wales's staff so he was able to look after Harry anyway but we are thankful he came through it unscathed. It was a great experience and lovely milestone for the kid but hopefully he will keep a focus on his Liverpool career

A lot has been said lately about the development of British players, or lack of it, and how the system is failing the national sides.

Michael Owen even went as far to say that the structure of academies is the flaw. He believes not enough is being done to bridge the gap between the last under age side and the first team.

Getting his views across: Michael Owen (right) says the academy system is flawed

New careers: Former Liverpool pair Owen and Steve McManaman are now working with BT Sport

So, in his opinion, subsequently players are falling off the radar or drifting out of the game.

He put forward two ideas: one was to have an American-style draft system where any club can pick up a Premier League reserve on loan and his other proposal was to have a Premier League B team entered into the lower leagues similar to Spain.

Personally I'd be totally against the 'draft' idea.

When you groom and nurture players from a young age you want to continue to have control.

It's no use a club putting that time and effort into a prospect if they go to a club where they don't play the style you want. It could be detrimental to the player's progress.

The manager, Brendan Rodgers, is very keen on making sure we are sending players to the right clubs. He and I will have a chat about their strengths and weaknesses and where may be the best options for them to continue their education and he always has the final say.

We treat every player on their individual merits. For example, Krisztian Adorjan we have sent to Groningen in Holland but we wouldn't send Harry Wilson out on loan right now because he's not right physically. So lumping them all into a pool just wouldn't work.

Getting it right: Manager Brendan Rodgers wants to see players loaned to the clubs that will help them

We like to know how the manager plays, the way he sets up his team, maybe even what training they may do. It's all part of making sure our players are looked after and develop.

Personally, I'd be more in favour of a tie-up with a team or developing your own B team. I think that's a great idea. That way you can imprint your own ideals with your own coaches. It works fantastically well in Spain and maybe it's something that will come on more with the difference in finances between Premier League sides and those in the lower tiers.

If it's a tie-up with another side you obviously have to respect that club's traditions and fanbase. I remember talk of us forming a link up with Crewe many years ago but for one reason or another it didn't happen. All the same, hypothetically speaking now, the way they play would probably suit where we would want some of our players to grow.

It's something worth looking at but we have to have utmost respect for the other club's identity.

It's an important point about ensuring players don't fall by the wayside but at Liverpool we work hard at giving the lads total support. That's where staff such as Phil Roscoe and Clive Cook put in so much work and are invaluable.

Where it started: Robbie Fowler (right) has been back at the training ground helping the young players

They look after education and welfare to ensure the players are aware of the pitfalls.

Even if young players leave us we always want them to know we will help them in their next step and we do.

We've had Steve McManaman, Robbie Fowler and Rob Jones coaching at the academy recently. They've had varied careers; Steve playing here then for Real Madrid, winning Champions League trophies; Robbie scoring goals all over the world and then Rob who in a way is possibly more important to us because he finished his career early due to injury.

He was a top full-back with Crewe, us and England but then had to re-evaluate his life and developed a successful business. It's not just about good players coming back and showing how they can play, it's about the the good advice they have picked up and how that is imbibed by the new ones we are developing at Liverpool Football Club.

To that point the return of Kenny Dalglish is also a masterstroke. You have to give great credit to the manager and the owners for making it happen. It's a fantastic idea as Kenny is such an influential figurehead for Liverpool.

He's a massive icon to so many people not just in Britain but around the world and it can only be advantageous for the club.

Masterstroke: McParland is pleased to see Kenny Dalglish back at Liverpool

Indeed, Steve McManaman will tell you Kenny played a pivotal role in him signing for Liverpool. Maybe now some of the kids we want to take on don't realise straight away who Kenny is but the parents do. Already Kenny has been down to watch a couple of academy games and it gives everyone a real buzz to see him there. If ever we ask him for help with anything to do with the academy he is there.

Liverpool are always thinking of how we can evolve and spread the club's good name. In the new year we are launching an academy with Indian side DSK Shivajians who are based in Pune.

We believe it is the first of its kind and the intention is to mirror what we do well at the academy here over there in India and help develop local footballing talent.

The players will be scouted locally and earn places on merit from ages eight, nine and up to 18. It will be a purpose-built residential complex featuring full-size pitches, practice areas, classrooms, changing rooms, a gym, canteen, lecture theatre, medical facilities and coaches from Liverpool will work on the project.

Praise: England U17 coach John Peacock was pleased with Jordan Rossiter (left) as well as team-mates Tom Brewitt and Seyi Ojo

We believe there is a high level of talent over there and we want to help.

I was delighted last month when John Peacock, the England U17 coach, called to pass praise on the three players we had in the squad who helped secure European Championship qualification through the first round. Jordan Rossiter, Tom Brewitt and Seyi Ojo all played their part as England comfortably finished top of their group.

The plaudits have been coming our way recently. Yan Dhanda, who joined us from West Bromwich Albion earlier in the year, won Up and Coming Asian player of the Year at Wembley last month, ironically presented by Steve Clarke the West Bromwich Albion manager.

And at the North West Football Awards, Jerome Sinclair was voted the Rising Star, Jamie Carragher was named Player of the Year, while Jay Spearing at Bolton won Championship Player of the Year and Jon Welsh at Preston won League One Player of the Year. All of them former academy graduates.

Picking up the gongs: Sportsmail columnist Jamie Carragher was named North West Football's player of the year

It was also pleasing that we were able to see Sergio Canos, a young player we signed from Barcelona, figure for our U18s against Stoke last weekend. He came on in a 3-1 win.

It says a lot when players from that part of the world want to come to Liverpool because they believe in the way we help young players improve.

I keep saying we aim to develop outstanding players and good human beings. Last season seven academy players made their first-team debuts. Hopefully, it all shows that we are doing things the right way, the Liverpool way.

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