Departing Heighway hails ‘best ever’ side after FA Youth Cup win

STEVE HEIGHWAY’S reign as Academy director ended with a glorious victory as his Liverpool youngsters scored a superb 4-3 penalty shoot-out victory over Manchester United to win a second successive Youth Cup at Old Trafford last night.

The former Liverpool winger confirmed that his 29 years at the club will come to an end this summer after last night’s Youth Cup final triumph.

An emotional Heighway hailed his young side as the best group he has coached since becoming first youth development chief and then Academy director.

He said: “This is the best bunch of boys I have worked with. I am really pleased. It was terrific night and very dramatic. That's the 16th consecutive match we've played in knockout football. You only have to lose one and you're gone, so to do what they've done is just fantastic.

In Jay Spearing I've got someone with whom I'd trust my life. Same with Stephen Darby, Robbie Threlfall and Michael Burns. For lads of average size, they are fantastic people and fantastic players. I'm convinced Spearing could play at a much higher level, and I'm convinced he could do it now. 

“With the traditions of both clubs, nobody was going to lie down and it was fitting it was a draw. The penalties are a side-show and two minutes to go from extra-time I said to (United coach) Paul McGuinness why don’t we share it. Why go to the agony of penalties. I was quite happy to share it.”

"Our boys showed a lot of maturity when the spot kicks came. We left them to it, they decided between themselves who'd take them, then just bombed them in.

“It was just very special to be with these boys for one last time and to win the trophy was great. It is my choice to leave. The club have never intimated to me that they want me to move. I just feel it is the right time for me to leave.”

Chief executive Rick Parry, who was watching with new co-owner George Gillett and his son Foster, also hailed the youngsters’s victory and said there may still be a role for Heighway at the club.

Parry said: “It was a huge achievement. Steve won’t be leaving the club completely there will be a role for him. He will still be around but what a way to go.”

Liverpool defender Robbie Threlfall made up for his own goal in last week’s first leg with the goal that sent the tie to the shoot-out and also converted the winning kick.

He dedicated the victory to the departing Heighway. He said: “It was unbelievable really. I was saying to my mum and dad to put some money on me to score because I fancied it. and I did in the end.

“We have got a good team spirit here we have been together since we were eight and that pulled us through to win.

“We dedicated it to Steve because he has been a special player and a special servant to the club. We are really pleased for him to go out on a high.”

Captain Jay Spearing, who had missed last year’s Youth Cup triumph with a broken leg, added: “It is the best moment of my life so far. Having not been able to play last year because of a broken leg, to come back and be captain and lift it was a great honour.

“It was all for Steve on how he has helped us from a young age.

“We are all like brothers in the end.

“We have been together so long we know each other like brothers.”

I feel very emotional," he said. "It will be unbelievably difficult to go. I don't have to go but the time is right.

"I don't really have any plans for the future. Sometimes even boys need a new face. I have been around the staff here for 18 years now and maybe it is time they listened to someone else.

"It is up to the club to decide whether they would like me to stay in some capacity.

"We have new owners who may not want me around.

"But I have spent 29 years of my working life at Liverpool. If they have something of value they want me to do, that allows me the freedom to do some of the things I want to do, I would be more than happy to stick around."

Copyright - Liverpool Daily Post.