FeatureMeet the Academy: How Tommy Pilling continues to carry on his family's LFC legacy
Tommy Pilling is the second member of his family with the honour of representing Liverpool's senior team.
The U21s midfielder turned out for Arne Slot's Premier League champions a few months ago, in one of the pre-season encounters with Athletic Club at Anfield.
That debut outing saw him uphold a legacy first established by his great-grandfather more than eight decades ago.
Indeed, Jack Pilling played 118 times for the club between 1942-43 and 1945-46; however, because it was wartime, none of those came in the Football League or FA Cup. The fee paid to South Liverpool for the left-half's services was £350.
"I've only seen newspapers and pictures of him and stuff," Tommy says. "My dad's grandad played for Liverpool – it's mad really."
A boyhood fan born in St Helens, Liverpool Football Club is pretty much all Tommy has known in his life.
His own journey with the Reds began at the age of five, when he joined the pre-Academy stage, and is now at the point where he's on the fringes of the seniors.
"A dream," comes the reply to Liverpoolfc.com when he's asked about the last 15 years or so.
"Each opportunity is even better because the club is all I know. I love the club. The opportunity to be at Anfield is better than anywhere else, it's that extra buzz.
"I've been to so many games, watched in the stadium, so to actually have an opportunity to be on the bench or warm up there, I won't get that feeling anywhere else."
It's why the 21-year-old's appearance on that August evening in L4 – an introduction off the bench in minute 67 – was such a crowning moment for him and his family.
His shirt from the occasion has been framed and proudly sits on the wall at home.
Pilling recalls: "Even though it wasn't a competitive game, just the feeling of being at Anfield, being around the fans, warming up, sitting on the bench behind the coaches, listening, getting an insight into what the first-team players listen to before the game, how people are moving about before the game, what they're doing.
"To actually come on, I had a good 25 minutes too, it was just a moment to express myself, to show what I can do.
"I was nervous before the game but warming up and stuff, it just felt natural. When the gaffer said, 'You're coming on', I was just focused and happy."
Pilling's development hit another encouraging milestone last month when he was part of the matchday squad for the Carabao Cup tie with Southampton.
Such an opportunity came about after frequent invitations to pop over to the senior side of the AXA Training Centre and take part in sessions.
"I think in the first two or three times I was nervous," he admits. "But then you just sort of get used to the lads and how they are, the different personalities.
"But it's no different, you're playing football, you're enjoying yourself. It's very good."
In recent seasons, Pilling's versatility – and the quality produced in whichever role – has made him a much-relied-upon figure in Liverpool's U21s set-up, now led by former Wales boss Rob Page.
Having played as a No.6, left-sided attacker and striker to list some, there are few positions he wouldn't feel comfortable lining up in for 90 minutes.
"Midfield is my main position, so I'd like to say I'm composed, creative," Pilling says. "I don't mind mixing my game up – dribbling, one- or two-touch, long passing, short passing. I'll throw a tackle in, get myself in there.
"I'd say I'm pretty all-rounded. If you can play, you can play anywhere. It's just football."
He's now looking to hone that skillset with the next natural step in his career – whether that is at Liverpool or elsewhere.
Outlining his future objectives, Pilling finishes: "Hopefully go on loan [and] get as many opportunities to train with the first team.
"I'd like to play men's footy. I'm not in too much of a rush to do that, but the aim is to get towards that."