Guest blog'Football has always been a big deal in my family – my mum's cousin was the late Bill Kenwright'

Football has always been a big deal in my family, but it has also been quite contentious… most of my mum's side of the family are Blue… and as Blue you could possibly get, with her cousin being the late Bill Kenwright (he was Uncle Bill to most of us!).

The controversial point was that my grandad (Bill’s uncle) was a diehard Red but never had the heart to admit it. We used to call him 'a purple' for his efforts in trying to have one foot in each stadium!

As a football fan, I was a late bloomer. I played rugby when I was younger and honestly resented footy because I wasn’t very good at it and would get stick at school for having ‘two left feet’.

However, that all changed in May 2005. We had arrived on a family holiday in Spain and I remember my dad insisting that he had to go straight to the nearest bar because the final was on… I didn’t have a clue at that point, but I sensed the importance of the occasion.

We arrived at the hotel to drop our bags, and he quickly turned the TV on to check the score. Liverpool were losing 3-0 and it was only half-time.

I thought that meant that we were going to sack off the game and go out for dinner instead, but no, in true fashion my dad marched to the nearest sports bar to watch regardless… and thank goodness he did.

I don’t need to say any more about that second half, but that was the moment I became a Liverpool supporter for life.

By no means was it legal for a boy nine years of age to be in a pub at that time, but the owner was a Liverpool fan and had no intention of kicking us out! The emotion that came over everyone in that room that night will stay with me for the rest of my life.

As a young boy, to be surrounded by strangers in a different country, who were all screaming with joy, grown adults shedding tears and hugging people next to them who they had never met before as if they’d known them their whole lives. The only word which springs to mind is ‘family’. I felt included in football, finally.

I have recently released my own cinematic cover of You’ll Never Walk Alone. This is a celebration of Liverpool’s 20th league title, but for me personally, it is a thank you to my grandad. He took me to my first game at Anfield and taught me to sing with feeling before I could even hold a note.

I didn't know the words then, but he showed me that it wasn't the point - I found the melody and belted out whatever I could along with 50,000 other supporters to create the cacophony of sound that defines Anfield. I never would've thought that someday I would become a singer for my job and get the chance to release my own version of our anthem.

I've spent the last few years touring and performing internationally as a session vocalist with artists like Dermot Kennedy, Dua Lipa, Elton John, Coldplay, Sister Sledge and Freya Ridings. But after some time off the road, I have felt inspired (and finally had time) to start finishing songs that I’ve been sat on for a while and putting pen to paper on new things.

So, this year I am putting lots of energy into my own project and there will be more things to listen to very soon. I cannot wait!

Aside from music, I am so proud to be a Liverpool fan and what a time to be so! Trust in Arne… I think this is the start of a very special chapter in our club’s history.

• Listen to James' version of You'll Never Walk Alone here and explore his full discography now