Liverpool Academy Exclusive Q&A: Phil Roscoe, Head of Education and Welfare

We've been running our Inside Liverpool FC Academy feature all week here on Bleacher Report, and to finish things off on Friday we speak with an important figure at the institution, Phil Roscoe, on looking after the youngsters off the pitch.

Day 1—Meet "Liverpool's next Gerrard," Jordan Rossiter and the top five academy prospects.

Day 2—Interview with 15-year-old Yan Dhanda and why Harry Wilson is the next Harry Kewell.

Day 3—Interview with Academy director Alex Inglethorpe and Picking an All-Time Homegrown Liverpool XI.

Day 4—Interview with head of physiotherapy Andrew Renshaw and Interview with head of fitness Andy O'Boyle.

On-pitch performance is of course tantamount to getting any young players past the academy stage of development and toward the first team, but there is also an often-overlooked element of growth: off-field behaviour, mapping out a fallback plan and, especially in the modern age, awareness of social media.

Bleacher Report's final interview of the Inside Liverpool Academy week concludes with Phil Roscoe, the head of education and welfare at the academy, on all these issues and more.

BLEACHER REPORT: Is there a set format for young boys going to school, being on day release at the academy or taking all their tutelage within the club, or is it decided on an individual basis?

PHIL ROSCOE: We have two types of academic programmes at Liverpool. We have the full-time model and the hybrid model. The full-time model is where we have a partnership with a local high school (Rainhill High). We have over 50 players on our full-time model, which means that we are responsible for all their educational needs. 

Within this programme every player is looked on differently and has his own tailored education package to suit his own needs and make sure that every player within the programme is pushed to their maximum academic ability.

The hybrid programme consists of players who are currently at their own school and come out of their education for day release within the club. Education cover is provided by the club and work set by their own school in collaboration with the club. This means that there are strong links with primary and high schools within the local region.

Credit: Liverpool FC

BR: What happens when a schoolboy shows no aptitude or desire for studies whatsoever? How does this affect them within the club or their youth team?

PR: At Liverpool, football, education, community work, etc. all come together as the total package which a player must not only undertake, but do so to the best of his ability. Liverpool players are brought up knowing that they have to plan for a life away from football and are supported massively in this process as well as identifying from a young age that they must give their best at everything whether that be on or off the pitch.

BR: Social media is presumably an ever-growing concern and issue for young footballers to take care with; has anything else in your time given education/welfare staff such a new and fast problem to deal with?

PR: Social media is something that as a club we targeted several years ago and began using a consultant to educate all our players, staff and parents about the use of social media responsibly and correctly. I would like to think now we are in a far better place than we were when we started this process, but this is an area that we are always reminding and educating the players on.

Social media is something that is always evolving, so every year there are new ways that players can communicate with each other and other people. With this then comes an increased risk which the players need to be aware of. Some of the things that I have seen around potential threats using social media to players over the years is unbelievable, so this is a real concern of mine.

BR: What is the key message to youngsters about using social media and what, if anything, is strictly prohibited?

PR: If you are going to use social media, then be responsible and remember not only are you representing the club, but yourself. Poor use of social media can not only damage the club's reputation but seriously harm your up-and-coming profile.

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Get in!!!!!!! 3-0 v Basel and we go to the next round!!!! Yessss!!!!! Get in!!!⚽️⚽️⚽️ pic.twitter.com/YnqFZb672v

— Pedro Chirivella (@pedro5chiri) December 9, 2014"

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Big game! c'mon Liverpool ⚽️

— Ryan McLaughlin (@RyanMcL2) November 26, 2014"

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So buzzing for my boy @jordan_rossiter getting his debut and then scoring⚽️ brilliant #LFC

— harry wilson (@harrywilson_) September 23, 2014"

BR: When the time comes for players to leave the club and they haven’t made the grade to get a professional contract, how do you assist them with work opportunities, career advice or living skills? How long might this process go on for?

PR: As is the nature of academy football some players may unfortunately leave the club at different times throughout the age groups, and we assist them whenever and however possible to help them find another club.

If we cannot find another club, particularly with the older players, then we work very hard to help them find another career path. I regularly speak with and assist players who left Liverpool several years ago in guiding through their next career pathway. In my eyes no matter where they go and what they do, they are always a Liverpool player.

BR: What other activities do you do encourage the players to participate in off the pitch?

PR: Apart from the educational commitments that come from school or the pathway followed by scholars and professional players, we do a great deal of work within the local community. This can consist of visiting Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, helping out at the local city centre homeless shelter, visiting local schools, visiting the kids at Claire House Hospice, attending club functions, etc.

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