I was lucky to find Liverpool - now it's time to give back with groundbreaking new partnership

Robbie Fowler says he is delighted to announce his award-winning academy has agreed a groundbreaking new education partnership with Alder Hey Children's Hospital.

And the Liverpool legend also has designs on opening another site in Toxteth next year in an effort to give back further to the community that helped shape him on his path to becoming one of the greatest strikers of his generation.

The Fowler Education and Football Academy, which was recently given a 'good' rating by Ofsted, has seen its number of employees swell to around 25 from just three that started at their initial Wavertree hub around a decade ago.

In the summer of 2021, the Fowler Academy moved into Melwood in West Derby and they now have around 250 students as a result of their growth while their first team currently sit top of the National Football Youth League.

Now, Fowler, and his specialist team have linked up with Alder Hey to provide students with career pathways into the NHS, with the launch night for the exciting new venture set for January 25 at Melwood.

"We want to be the best we can be every day. If that means we are one of the best education facilities in the city and UK, that's great. It is down to the staff and the culture they create; bringing out the best in young people," Fowler tells the ECHO.

"I think what we've said is we're about opening up different pathways for people to get to where they want to get to. In the football world, yes, it's brilliant. When we first opened, we looked at the stats and of the thousands and thousands of kids at academy level, those who go on to make it professionally, statistically, it's something ridiculously low.

“We support our students, and if they are good enough then the opportunities are