NewsAcademy column: Special tributes and great experiences over the summer

The Academy has been a hive of activity during the past few weeks, with tournaments held in memory of Ian Frodsham and Stephen Packer.

We do this every year across all our age groups, and we will never forget Ian and Stephen.

In terms of the Academy’s schoolboy programme, which has now finished for the season, it has been another year where there has been lots of development taking place throughout the group.

That accumulates when you have had lots of great experiences through the year – and none more so than the tours we have been on.

It has been great to see the boys develop over the course of the season and the different challenges they have faced.

We have travelled all over the place – from Norway to the Netherlands, Poland – and we have just come back from the Pyrenees.

That was very testing, the tournament in the Pyrenees, especially with the weather conditions as it was 34 degrees on one of the days at pitch level. So, it was a completely different experience for them and experiencing a lively touchline.

But it was an absolutely brilliant experience playing against a number of different teams, including a La Liga select side.

We take the boys out of their comfort zones on these tours with the travelling and meeting really nice people along the way.

We recently played at a tournament in Norway – the Flint Cup in Tonsberg – when we met Juventus and we extended our show of friendship.

It was around the 40th anniversary of Heysel when we met Juventus.

I did a special presentation to the players about why we will never forget about Heysel, and I think it’s important that they understand the background and the connection the two clubs have.

It tied in with the club announcing plans for a new Heysel memorial at Anfield to mark the 40th anniversary of the disaster, titled ‘Forever Bound’.

We took a special shirt to exchange with our friends from Juventus.

For the tournaments we hosted at the Academy, we would also like to thank our friends over at Orange Veins for their support in helping us stage these tournaments and look forward to our continued relationship with them.

We are conscious that a lot of people who walk through the doors at the Academy will always see the Ian Frodsham Indoor Arena and the Stephen Packer Stand – but a lot of people probably don’t know their story.

We have a mural for Ian as you walk through the doors, which Steve Heighway penned the words for. Steve, along with Hughie McAuley, Dave Shannon and Frank Skelly, all loved Ian and they played a big part in his footballing journey until it was sadly all taken away far too soon.

We were delighted to welcome Ian’s mother, Lynn, to the Academy with her family, and it’s always a pleasure to welcome back Frank Skelly, who was with them.

We presented Lynn with some flowers at the U13 tournament and it’s so nice for them to see how highly Ian is still thought of here and always will be.

It’s so important we think of these young men at this time of the year. I have a connection with Froddy because I was a young player during his time at the club.

He was four years above me but I was well aware of Froddy and hearing people talking about just what a good player he was.

Before the tournament starts, I always take the boys to the Ian Frodsham Arena and tell them about who he was and what he stands for.

I just think it’s so important that these boys can get everything out of Liverpool as they can and not take anything for granted.

Touching on Stephen Packer’s legacy, our head of coaching for our foundation phase, John Thompson, has written the following tribute.

John Thompson

Stephen Packer and Ian Frodsham were two very special boys who were sadly taken too early – but their legacy will never be forgotten at the Academy.

Stephen touched the hearts of everybody he met during his sadly-too-short time at the Academy.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have the pleasure of meeting Stephen, but my dad – who was a scout at the Academy – knew him and his family really well.

Stephen was popular with players and coaches alike for his enthusiasm, sense of humour, his humility and, above all, his ability to play the game so well. He was a very talented forward who was exceptionally quick – with and without the ball.

He was a huge LFC fan and his favourite player was Luis Suarez, who he would watch while attending games at Anfield.

Sadly, Stephen fell ill shortly before the 2012-13 season and passed away on November 25, 2012.

Stephen’s legacy at our club may be different to the legends who had the chance to fulfil their potential – but his influence is no less significant due to the courage and strength he displayed in the face of his illness.

It is always an honour for us to welcome Stephen’s mum and dad and the family. They are always so welcome with us and it’s always brilliant to see them.

Ian Frodsham and Stephen Packer, YNWA

Mike Yates and John Thompson were speaking to Liverpoolfc.com's Steve Hunter