Despite Being Born With A Birth Effect Called ‘Clubfoot’ He Lived And Breathed Football An Inspiration To Nigerian Youths
Steven George Gerrard was born on the 30th of May, 1980 in Whiston, Merseyside by Paul Gerrard (father) and Julie Ann Gerrard (mother).
He was born with a birth defect called ‘clubfoot’ which made his foot to be twisted in (inverted) and down. He was treated onetime. His parents didn’t want him to walk on his ankles or side of his feet.
Growing up, he had many injury problems while he forced his way through his birth defect recovery. He even passed through a series of troublesome back problems as a little child. All these he recovered.
Steven Gerrard went to St Michael’s Primary (now Huyton-with-Roby CE). He was described as a shy, private boy according to his teachers.
“He was always a nice, polite kid, well brought up,” a teacher remembers. “But it was when he went to the juniors, at about six, and started playing football that his personality came out.
You didn’t need to be an expert in football to see he was special. He was everywhere. He just loved it. He lived and breathed football.’ says Gill Morgan who was his school team teacher. “In those days, and his team had lots of success, mostly because of Steven.” Gill Morgan continues
Football came as a natural for little Steven Gerrard. As a little boy of 5, he developed a fantastic desire to focus solely on football after falling in love with the sport.
He participated in grass-root football close to home which was close to Everton FC. Based on proximity, Steven’s love for Everton soared. He would always wear its jerseys and visit Goodison Park to take photos with trophies on several occasions.
He received an honorary fellowship from Liverpool John Moores University on 26 July 2008 as recognition for his contribution to the sport.
LP
He is the only footballer ever to have scored a goal in an FA Cup Final, a League Cup Final, a UEFA Cup Final and a Champions League Final. (Well that’s why he’s Captain Fantastic you know).
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