Trent Alexander-Arnold was a young boy with stars in his eyes who realised his dream to become a world-class footballer for the club he loved.
But the Liverpool and England star knows his story is not common. The road from Academy football to the Premier League often ends in crashing disappointment for the teenagers who are trying to make it and Alexander-Arnold saw the pain that rejection can cause first-hand.
It is why the 24-year-old has made a significant personal investment to launch 'The After Academy Initiative' – the scheme, which will be supported by Liverpool, the PFA, Under Armour and Therabody, has been designed to support those players who are released from clubs.