Ross Barkley

ROSS BARKLEY

An attacking midfielder, Wavertree-born Ross joined Everton's Academy at the age of 11. His first-team debut arrived as a 17-year-old in an August 2011 game against QPR. Barkley went on to make 179 appearances for Everton before moving to Chelsea in 2018. His form for Everton earned Ross a senior England debut in August 2013, aged 19. He has featured in England squads at both the World Cup and European Championships.

ROSS'S TESTIMONIAL

I was 11 years old when I first joined Everton’s Academy. The only football I knew before that was Sunday League in Liverpool so I had to learn the basics of playing two touch, then all the different drills at the Club. That took me up a level by learning different ways to receive the ball and playing with better players.

All the Everton coaches over the years upped the standards that were set in training sessions. Sean Lundon and Paul Tait helped me progress from a young age to the Under-18s. They improved my game and made me realise I had a good chance of making the first team. They really helped me play for Everton and England.

The Academy was important is developing my position, too. When I arrived at Everton, I was a centre-half so I only knew that role. When the coaches at the Club realised I was good on the ball and playing in different positions, they tried me out at full back, centre-half, winger and striker - I played all over. I learnt what all the other positions needed so I recognised, if I was playing centre midfield, what angles I should be making for a centre-half because I’d played there. That’s what I learnt and has helped me now and understand more of the game by playing in different positions as a youngster.

Coming through the Academy, the goal has to be making the first team. There’s no point being here if you are not hungry enough to aim for that. I had a lot of injuries when I was younger, but it never took my focus away from wanting to get on the Goodison pitch for the first team. That’s what I did and it’s unbelievable.