The city's Premier League teams may have had seasons that haven't lived up to expectations, but the next generation of Liverpool youngsters continue to make their mark. And one group in particular is leading the way.
Having won the U11s Boys District Cup at the English Schools FA National finals last year, Liverpool Schools FA made it a rare double by following it up and claiming the U12s title this year when beating Bournemouth Schools 4-1 at Stoke City's Bet365 Stadium.
With the North West League title having already been secured, it continued an outstanding run of results for the youngsters, which has delighted Paul Gow, manager of the team.
"It's a hard competition to win on its own merit, so to win it two years on the bounce with largely the same group of players was really good," he said. "We lost a couple of players who did well last year such as Noah Mutch, but most of the lads are still there such as Frankie Freeman and the captain Frankie McGivern, who came back from two months out with an ankle ligament injury to play in the final.
"The new lads who have come in have done really well. Siem Haile is from Eritrea and hasn't been in the country too long, and he scored twice in the final. Frankie McGivern also scored and so did Alan Khoshnaw, who is of Iranian descent. Samuel Roberts, who did well last season, was also a big player for us, as was the goalkeeper who came in this season, Ruben Savvas.
"Beau Brown is a grassroots player who is really good at both football and boxing. He is one of those boys who should be in an academy, and epitomises what it is it to play for Liverpool Schools. And it would be unfair not to mention the other players, George Bootman, Harry Caton, Tom Browne, John Blackburn, Brandon Hughes, Luca Rice and Charlie Whitehead."
And it's not over yet for the Boys U12s, who have won through to the semi-finals of the North West Cup and hope to emulate the U13s in reaching the final.
One player who wasn't involved was Junior Connolly, who won with the U11s last season having played a year ahead despite being an U10, and this year stayed with the U11s and helped them beat Oprington and Bromley 2-1 in their national final at Stoke.
The Girls U12s were also crowned national champions after thumping Swansea 8-1, but the Girls U13s were beaten by West Kent in their District Cup final. A Merseyside representative team beat Sussex 2-0 in the Boys U16 Inter-County Cup final., although in the Girls U11 Inter-Association Cup final, Bootle and District were beaten by Brighton 2-1.
In the Boys U13 District final, Sefton were beaten 2-1 by North Kent and in the Boys U15 District Cup, Wirral won 2-1 against Chester-Le-Street, Washington and Derwentside.
Many of the boys players for Liverpool Schools are associated with the academies at either of the city's two Premier League clubs. And Gow said: "Liverpool and Everton have been instrumental in allowing their academy boys to keep playing for the schoolboys.
"Other clubs sometimes stop the boys from playing schools football, but Liverpool and Everton recognise the fact if benefits both them and the players to be representing their city. It's a special thing. And the likes of Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and Robbie Fowler have all come through representing Liverpool schoolboys.
"With the successes at various age groups, it shows the strength of talent across the region. We’re also grateful for the continued support of the Sovini Group, who have been sponsoring teams for several years now. They have been brilliant again."
More opportunities for success will arrive this week in the next national finals at The Hawthorns, home of West Bromwich Albion.
In the Boys U12 Elite Schools Cup final, Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School take on Northampton School for Boys on Monday. In the Boys U13s Schools Cup, West Derby School play Redden Court School of Havering on Thursday, while on Tuesday in the U14 Schools Cup, Halewood Academy face The Ashcombe School of Kingston in the final.
The previous day, in the Boys U14 Schools Cup for B teams final, Formby High School take on Kingsdale Foundation School from south London.
