NewsWhy LFC's first-year scholars received a commemorative cap on signing day
Liverpool's new group of first-year scholars received a commemorative cap to go with their recently signed contracts.
The class of 2026 were presented with the special memento when they put pen to paper during an event at Anfield in May.
Made by the company that produces them for those who represent the England national team, the cap serves as a physical keepsake from a landmark day.
"We came up with the idea of wanting the boys to have something that was not only meaningful but something that they could look back on in years to come and make them smile," Academy director Alex Inglethorpe explained to Liverpoolfc.com.
"It's individualised with the player's name and the class of this year, obviously [the] class of '26. They're beautiful.
"I was never fortunate enough to get an international cap myself, so it's the closest I've ever come to holding one! But when you do, you can understand exactly how significant they are."
By becoming scholars, the players will now embark on a two-year programme that combines elite football development with their education on a full-time basis.
Those who helped them reach this point – parents and other family members – were present when the scholarships were inked.
Inglethorpe continued: "The journey that you've been on to become a scholar is clearly a long one.
"It would have taken the best part of 10 years of dedication, not only from the boys themselves – training sort of four times a week – but also parents, siblings, often nans, grandads. There's an awful lot of support needed to get to this point.
"I think the significance of signing as a scholar, especially at a club like Liverpool, shouldn't just represent the hard work, but it should also represent the friends that you create, the opportunities that you're going to hopefully have and ideally take.
"And we want the cap to probably represent all those things and encapsulate all that's good about reaching this stage of your career.
"It is a milestone and as much as I want the boys to look forward and concentrate on the next thing and the next thing being, 'Can they get into the U21s? Can they get in and around the first team? Can they make that impression?', I do think it's important in life as well that you take time to occasionally look backwards and see the distance travelled.
"And I think the distance travelled should also include the help and support that they've had to get to the point that they are."
Making the occasion even more memorable, Sir Kenny Dalglish was on hand at Anfield to distribute the caps to the recipients.
"Arguably no-one is better to pass on those caps than Sir Kenny Dalglish," said Inglethorpe.
"Because not only is he someone who's present at the training ground and present in the first team, but he's also someone that's forever shown a huge interest in the Academy. He represents all that's good at the club."