Liverpool starlet Bobby Clark has revealed his surprise when he had his phone confiscated on his first day at the Reds’ Kirkby academy. The Premier League side have strict rules in place to ensure their young players do not get ahead of themselves.
Teenagers at Liverpool’s academy are not allowed a car engine above 1.3 litres. Another rule sees them hand their phones into reception at the start of the day before retrieving their devices before they travel home.
Clark, who has enjoyed a breakthrough season at Anfield, joined Liverpool from Newcastle aged 16 and had no idea about the disciplinarian culture. He has admitted that it came as a shock on his first day at the club.
“I joined when I was 16 and I learned on my first day that I had to give my phone in and then you get it back at the end of the day,” Clark told Sky Sports of his early surprise.
Pressed further on the rule, the 19-year-old added: “As a scholar you hand your phone in when you arrive in the morning, and then you get on with your day. You get it at the end of the day.
“It’s one of those things that they put in place to keep your feet on the ground. That’s really important because when you do get the chance and you take it, you still remember where you came from.”
Clark made his debut early last season and has gone on to make 13 appearances for Liverpool’s first team. He was one of the young players introduced late in the Carabao Cup final victory over Chelsea, a memorable occasion for the inexperienced Reds stars.
However, Clark is the son of Newcastle legend Lee, who has revealed that it is his ‘ultimate dream’ to see Bobby play for the Magpies. Lee Clark made 265 appearances for the fondly-remembered Newcastle team of the 1990s.
Clark Jnr spent several years in Newcastle’s academy before signing a scholarship contract with Liverpool. But the Merseysiders might need to fend off future interest from Tyneside to prevent dad Lee from getting his wish.
“My ultimate wish would absolutely be to see Bobby playing for Newcastle,” Clark told No Tippy Tappy Football. “I don’t know how many father and son combinations have both appeared for the club.
“I was lucky enough to play for them 265 times and, who knows, he might have to do an Alan Shearer and come back! That would be my dream.”
