Steven Gerrard - Portrait Of A Hero

As the faithful fans sing another heartfelt and dedicated rendition of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' and the reds walk out onto the hallowed turf at Anfield, Steven Gerrard leads the way, carrying the hopes and dreams of thousands of Liverpool fans with him. An inspirational captain and hero to the fans, Stevie G is one of the brightest talents in football history. The former YTS trainee and boyhood Liverpool fan is one of the most successful products of the Liverpool FC youth academy and having risen through the ranks, Gerrard has spent his entire career wowing the fans in front of the Kop end. His intense pride and determination to win have made him an inspiration to fellow professionals and fans alike. A tough tackler with great vision, he has often been Liverpool's saviour gaining that all important goal and result. But all the plaudits and praise aren't enough for this Anfield hero - he wants silverware. In the 2004/5 season, Liverpool stunned spectators with their outstanding form in the UEFA Champions League, culminating in Gerrard's Herculean efforts to inspire his team to fight back against AC Milan and be crowned European Champions on a breathtaking evening in Istanbul. Gerrard turned fromlocal tonational hero as he lifted Liverpool's record fifth European trophy. And he wasn't finished there. Inspiring Liverpool to another dramatic comeback against West Ham in the 2006 FA Cup Final, Gerrard scored a spectacular goal to help take the trophy back to Anfield.

Adam Cottier has been following and reporting of football in the north-west of England since his childhood. The sport is his lifeblood. Born in Lancaster, Adam is a graduate of the University of Salford and lives in Lancashire.