I asked Santa for a Liverpool kit - now I'm the Reds' record appearance holder

Growing up, there was one item that always featured on Gemma Bonner's Christmas lists.

"Dear Santa," reads one letter the defender handwrote at the age of five. "Please may I have a computer and a Liverpool football kit."

More than two decades on, Bonner has grown accustomed to donning the famous red shirt she once so coveted, having since made 138 appearances for her childhood club. It is a tally that sees the centre-back take the crown for the most Liverpool appearances in the Women's Super League (WSL) era and, to celebrate that feat, men's record appearance holder Ian Callaghan presented her with a commemorative shirt ahead of the Reds' 4-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion last month.

"I actually got a little bit emotional because, being a Liverpool fan, I realise how significant it was for Ian to come to the game with his family and present me with the shirt," Bonner told the ECHO. "It showed a huge amount of support from the club and it was a really special moment for me.

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"I’m lucky I got to share it with my family and my boyfriend too. My mum’s not able to get to many games now but both her and my dad have been so important throughout my entire career. I would never have gotten to this position if it wasn’t for them so to have them there, being made a fuss of, was extremely special."

It was the latest in a long line of special moments Bonner has encountered while playing for Liverpool. Having grown up in Leeds, she recalls trips to watch the Reds play at Elland Road as well as countless hours spent watching a VHS tape of 'Michael Owen's Soccer Skills'.