Rush launches Liverpool FC's N.Ireland Football Academy

[King Binny]

Liverpool legend Ian Rush feels the club’s first football academy outside Merseyside can prevent the cream of Northern Ireland talent slipping through the Anfield net — like George Best managed to do in the 1960s.

The Liverpool FC Football Academy was launched yesterday in Belfast by Rush and will kick-off early next year.

“Unfortunately the best player to come out of Northern Ireland, George Best, ended up at Manchester United — we have to make sure that doesn’t happen again, but it shows that football is in the blood in Northern Ireland,†said Rush, a Liverpool great who left the club in 1996 after scoring a record 229 goals in 469 appearances.

“There are a lot of Manchester United supporters in Northern Ireland and there have been a few Northern Ireland players at United recently. Hopefully our football schools will see more kids from here go to Liverpool.â€

The Welshman also acknowledged the huge support Liverpool have in Northern Ireland, with thousands travelling to Anfield on a regular basis.

“There’s a great fan base of Liverpool supporters in Northern Ireland and the Liverpool Football Academy will help connect the supporters with the club even further,†he said.

“Liverpool and Manchester United are, for me, the two best supported clubs in the world. And it’s great to see so many supporters of both clubs here in Northern Ireland.

“Northern Ireland has great footballing tradition, but it’s all about the kids enjoying themselves. It’s always great to see kids enjoying what they are doing.

“The Liverpool Football Academy is not about finding the next superstar. It’s all about kids enjoying their football.

“It’s about good coaching and then kids going away to practice what they have been taught.

“Kids can then move up from one level to the next.â€

And Rush pointed out that the Irish League could benefit from the Liverpool Academy.

“Some kids will end up at Liverpool and hopefully plenty more will end up playing for local clubs,†he said.

“If that happens then the Irish League will be better for it. In Wales, the Welsh League will be better for it and so on.â€

And Rush stressed that it is possible to make it to the top from a smaller club, though he accepted it is more difficult to do so now than when he was a teenage goalscoring sensation in the lower divisions 30 years ago.

“I started out at Chester City and they aren’t in the Football League any more,†said Rush, who admitted he was saddened to see Chester’s financial struggles as they slipped down the football hierarchy.

“Local communities have got to try and help their clubs as best they can, particularly in these difficult times.â€

With so many football clubs in financial difficulties, Rush’s emergence at minnows Chester illustrates the important role smaller clubs have to play.

Rush went from Chester to Liverpool, serving the club in two separate stints, with a spell at Juventus sandwiched in between.

And for a man who experienced the excitement of the footballing heights, his current role with the Liverpool Academy is one he is clearly relishing.

Thousands of youngsters here will be coached in the legendary Liverpool way by Anfield staff coaches.

There are already plans in place to open Academies around the world, with Northern Ireland — in association with the charity Happy Children — first up in early 2011, followed by Norway and Greece, with the aim of being able to give budding young stars the best environment in which to hone and develop their skills in a fun environment, but with carefully structured coaching sessions.

The primary school kids who attended yesterday’s launch will not remember Rush the player. Different playing style, but in terms of modern day superstardom Rush was the Fernando Torres of his day.

Rush was a great player in a great Liverpool team.

Football is all about finding the net and there were few, if any, better at that than Ian Rush.

 

[El Pistolero]

Great Idea to put an academy in that famous player producing country.

 

[King Binny]

I think Ian Ayre did admit in the interview with offal that the launching of the academies will be more towards publicity/commercial benefits instead of unearthing of talents, although they will a 'chance' to bring them over. Guess Rush's hinting at that when he mentioned its all about the kids enjoying themselves.

 

[Markeh]

give us a pre-season friendly again for fuck sake when was the last time they had a decent team over here?

the last one i went to was feyenoord and i think smicer, hyypia and henchoz were making debuts, has there been many since?

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=Redshrek link=topic=43055.msg1228529#msg1228529 date=1291428205]
Great Idea to put an academy in that famous player producing country.
[/quote]

It produced George Best.

A better player than England 'The Home of Football' has ever produced.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=43055.msg1228808#msg1228808 date=1291537284]
[quote author=Redshrek link=topic=43055.msg1228529#msg1228529 date=1291428205]
Great Idea to put an academy in that famous player producing country.
[/quote]

It produced George Best.

A better player than England 'The Home of Football' has ever produced.
[/quote]

I think Shrek was referring to the number of top class players that have come from NI mate. It's more a PR exercise than unearthing future LFC players but it would be an added bonus if an outstanding kid walks through the door and is picked up.

 

[Ryan]

Yeah I know mate, I was just being cheeky.

To be honest though, we've produced fuck all over the years. One of the big reasons behind that has been the complete lack of pathways, development centers and academies for any decent kids.

If you reach Thrace of 12 and have any skill whatsoever, there's fuck all there for you. Bar glentoran youth, which I can tell you from first hand experience is a crock of shit.

So even if this is a glorified pr exercise, it'll still be better than what's there already.

 

[Stulikesdrums]

Did you have scouts watching you at that age Ryan?

 

[Ryan]

Aye, the boy scouts.

 

[refugee]

[quote author=Markeh link=topic=43055.msg1228538#msg1228538 date=1291430874]
give us a pre-season friendly again for fuck sake when was the last time they had a decent team over here?

the last one i went to was feyenoord and i think smicer, hyypia and henchoz were making debuts, has there been many since?
[/quote]

That takes me back....

I think the last friendly I can remember was in Omagh to raise funds for the victims of the bombing.

 

[doctor_mac]

Any talented kids from N.I. over the past dew decades have ended up at Manu, Villa or Citeh. I think this is a good move.

 

[King Binny]

Liverpool Legend Rush Announces Academy Dates

Liverpool football legend Ian Rush was at the University of Ulster today to announce the launch of the summer series of the Liverpool FC Football Academy.

The patron of the scheme, Rush announced that the elite Academy coaches will host soccer schools in August at both the Magee and Jordanstown campuses.

In his long career, the former Wales star scored 346 goals in a Liverpool jersey, notched up five First Division titles, three FA Cups, five League Cups and a European Cup winner's medal.

Primary school-aged children from across Northern Ireland can sign up for the Academy and pick up tips from the coaches and Liverpool stars.

More that 100 children took part in the first three-day camp at Easter and learned to play ‘the Liverpool way’. The Academy schools are held in association with the charity, Happy Children.

The camps take place at Ulster’s Magee campus on 2-4 August and 24-26 August, and at the Jordanstown campus on 9-11 August. Full details can be found on www.liverpoolfc.tv/soccerschools

Ian Rush with Graeme Stewart, a pupil at Lisnagelvin Primary School, Londonderry at the launch of the Liverpool FC Football Academy summer camps. The Liverpool star met local schoolchildren when he visited the Fitness Complex at the Magee campus's Duncreggan Student Village.

Ian Rush presents a signed Liverpool football shirt to Magee Provost Provost Deirdre Heenan when he visited the University of Ulster to launch the Liverpool FC Football Academy summer camps.

 

[King Binny]

The new season may still be a couple of months away but according to legendary striker Ian Rush, Liverpool fans are in for a treat when the campaign kicks off in August, thanks to his old strike partner Kenny Dalglish.

The Welsh great even suggests with Dalglish at the helm, Liverpool can challenge for the Premier League title.

Rush is in Northern Ireland for a two day trip in his role as club ambassador to publicise a series of Liverpool Academy Soccer Schools going ahead around the province next month.

The Kop idol was at Assumption Grammar School in Ballynahinch today after visiting Magee College in Londonderry and Jordanstown yesterday. He is spreading a positive message, not just about the Soccer Schools, run in injunction with charity Happy Children, but about the inspiration of Dalglish.

“Kenny has put the smiles back on faces of Liverpool fans again and I can see that continuing,” said Rush, who scored a record 346 goals for the Reds and formed a deadly double act with Dalglish in the 80s.

“The first aim must be to get in the top four and qualify for the Champions League and I believe Liverpool will be in the mix for that.

“You have Manchester United, who must replace two experienced players in Edwin van der Sar and Paul Scholes, Chelsea, who as a squad aren't getting any younger, Arsenal, who need experience in their ranks, and Manchester City, who are looking for consistency. I would put Liverpool in the same bracket as those four.

“This summer is going to be exciting and much of what happens in the new season will depend on who signs who in the next couple of months.

“I would certainly back Kenny on that score – and with that being the case there's no reason why Liverpool can't challenge for the title,” added Rush.

Already the Scot has delved into the transfer market to buy young Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson. The £17 million fee was considered to be over the top, but Rush, who would like to see a top winger among the arrivals to get the best out of Andy Carroll, says: “Jordan has great energy and is good with the ball. I believe he is going to become a fantastic asset both in the short term and long term at Liverpool.”

Liverpool Academy Soccer School dates: Magee College, Londonderry, August 2 and 24, Assumption Grammar,Ballynahinch August 9, University of Ulster, Jordanstown August 9.