FOOTBALL

More Reds coverage than any other paper ECHO Saturday, November, 22, 2014

WHY KEEPING STEVIE G IS KEY FOR THE LONG-TERM: BACK PAGE

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE MAN IN CONTROL OF MELWOOD ON PAGES 2-3

SPECIAL LIVERPOOL FC FEATURE

HAVING CONTROL OFBy Joseph Rietdyk-Johnson

S uccess on the field keeps a club flowing for longer. But for Anfield’s lesser known

heroes, they ensure the ship stays in place. From the stewards who keep supporters safe on matchdays to the chefs who cater for the players and staff, a football club works in func-tions in order to be number 1 in the game. Jimmy Lawrence, a member of Melwood’s security department is no exception to that. Jimmy has worked at the club for 13 years and as a native of the city and a lifelong Red himself, he is nothing but proud. “When you support the team as well, the nearest thing to be playing for them is to work on site, whether it’s here or in L4.” Lawrence’s job title is more than just making sure the training ground remains guarded, once he puts his red tie on and green jacket over the rest of his clothing, he is responsible for the safety of players and supporters hoping to catch a glimpse of their heroes. “I make sure the players and staff and anyone who is visiting get into and out of Melwood safe and trou-ble free. “Also not to let anyone in who shouldn’t be here. I meet and greet people, sort deliveries out and any-thing else that crops up.” Due to his long association, Jim-my has had the privelege of seeing many stars and the likes of Rafael Benitez and Kenny Dalglish driving

in and out of the training ground on a daily basis. But he still remains modest when mentioning names he has seen and are very much in the public eye. “As I have said, if you support the team as well it’s great to be near them. But you are not supposed to be over familiar,” he said. “This is a job after all.” For a man who has seen many of the club’s famous faces and the amount that most fans dream of to remain so modest and seemingly unfazed by being in their compa-ny speaks large volumes about his personality but also underlines the type of personality you need to be part of an elite football clun behind the scenes in the modern era. Player, staff and fan safety is one

of the most imperative parts of being part of a security team. With Liverpool one of the big-gest teams in Europe and on the planet, large numbers of fans and spectators from different parts of the globe visit the training ground so preventing overcrowding and keeping visitors at the gates happy and staff free to enter and exit the premises safely are on the minds of the security staff. “If someone, for example, Daniel Sturridge, a popular attraction for autograph hunters is driving into the training ground and there is a massive crowd, I’m there to make he is safe and the same goes for any club staff. “I also make sure no damage is done to cars and nothing silly

Jimmy has worked at the club’s West Derby complex for 13 years.

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THE TRAINING GATES

happens.” Lawrence may be familiar to some Reds fans who watched the club’s TV documentary ‘Being: Liverpool’ which aired in 2012 as he appeared in one of the episodes. Despite appearing on a show which went global, he dismissed the hype that may have surrounded his moment in the limelight. “I actually found it cringy! I am not critisising the show as it gave a good insight into how Liverpool Football Club is run behind the scenes and it is a rareity for the outside public to be given that level of access by an elite Premier League team. That must have been great for the supporters. “It wasn’t my choice for me to make a cameo but we done it. I’m

not too keen on appearing on cam-eras even though it happens quite a lot on TV and Sky Sports.” Like all fans, Jimmy wants to see the team doing well on the field but has to keep himself reserved when it comes to passing on judgement on the Reds performance on the field.“I have no opinion,” he said. “I have to be impartial as I work for the client and have a confidential

clause in my contract as does everyone working for the club.” Being a footballer is a short-lived career and players have to make the most of their best years and Law-rence is proud of his 13-year service so far. “I am lucky to be working for my local team, a massive name in the game. I am proud to have worked for them for so long and long may it continue.” According to many, football is a cy-cle and switching clubs is part and parcel in an era of the game that lacks any form of loyalty. Jimmy’s tie with the Reds has to admired and a local man working for his local club and embracing the job that he is required to do shows that there is still longevity existant in sport.

Where the players and staff enter.

A crowd of Liverpool supporters awaiting a glimpse of summer signing Mario Balotelli.

THE LIFE OF THE MELWOOD STAFF

STEVEN GERRARD’S FUTURE BEYOND THIS SEASON: COMMENT

TYING SKIPPER DOWN TO NEW CONTRACT ABSOLUTELY VITAL FOR 16 YEARS, Steven Gerrard has given nothing but blood, sweat and tears to the Liverpool cause. When he eventually decides to hangs up his boots, he will go down as one of the club’s greatest players of all-time and stand alongside the likes of Dalglish and Rush. Just a few months after missing out on that elusive Premier League title that his glittering career de-serves, his ‘decline’ added on top of losing last season’s top goalscorer Luis Suarez to Barcelona and nine new signing getting used to the demands of playing for such a big club has seen the Reds lagging behind early pacesetters Chelsea in this season’s league standings. Those critics who are queuing up in their numbers to label Gerrard as being in decline forget that as-well as Suarez and Sturridge’s

goal exploits, it was Gerrard’s lead-ership and best season since the ‘08/09 campaign which also took Brendan Rodgers’ side so close to ending that 24-year wait. No one more than Gerrard will be having sleepless nights as to why the league’s second highest goalscorers have gone from run-ning the world’s richest club so close to looking up at the likes of Southampton and West Ham Unit-ed in the space of a few months. But the fact remains other than Daniel Sturridge, who is currently sidelined, Raheem Sterling and Phillipe Coutinho, the Whis-ton-born midfielder still remains the club’s best player and if he is allowed to leave next summer, Brendan Rodgers (provided he remains in charge) and Fenway Sports Group will face an almost

impossible task, similar to the Xabi Alonso situation in the summer of 2009 of finding a real replacement. The club are locked in talks with the player and his representatives about a new contract and it is imperative that Steven Gerrard is still a Liverpool player once the 2015/16 season comes around. Gerrard will probably admit himself that this hasn’t been Steven Gerrard’s best campaign but he has still been the bright spark of a underwhelming season. The club’s players and manage-ment need to take full responsibilty for the poor start and unite togeth-er to kick-start a revival with their captain at the heart of it and salvage something that everyone connected to Liverpool Football Club can take into next season and convince Ger-rard that his future lies at Anfield.