Jamie Carragher checks in on his Sports and Learning Academy

When Jamie Carragher walked into the old Brunswick Boys Club in Bootle, the area he grew up in, it didn't take long for the subject of the Merseyside derby to crop up, and the fact that he misses them greatly.

"I'd have played a Merseyside derby every week, I'd have loved to have done that," he said with typical enthusiasm. "Since I hung up my boots, I knew it was the right decision, but the days when the derby comes around you wish you could reverse it."

Jamie was checking on the progress of those attending the Jamie Carragher Sports and Learning Academy. 

Currently midway through its first year in existence, over 20 students aged 16-21 are being prepared for a career in the sports industry.

Carragher added: "It's nice to see the lads wanting to be involved in the game and if we can help them on their way it's great for me, but, more importantly it's great for them. Not everyone will end up being a full-time football coach but we're giving them an opportunity and they can go into other employment as well. Hopefully it will be a good grounding for them."

The students work towards the BTEC level 2&3 Extended Diploma in Sport and enrolment is now open for September's second intake.

It's nice to see the lads wanting to be involved in the game and if we can help them on their way it's great for me

"We can't guarantee that everyone will leave a top coach," commented academy director James Olsen, "but they can earn a valuable qualification. Then there are opportunities to work for ourselves with the Jamie Carragher Soccer Schools providing coaching in over 60 schools across Merseyside and expanding into Europe and North America. We also have links with academies, foundations, local authorities so there are plenty of opportunities out there."

So far the majority of students live locally, but Olsen says the catchment area is growing.

"We have a student from Newcastle who's moved down here, a student from Bulgaria signed up and a lad who travels from Wales gets two trains and every day is the first one here." 

A work ethic to match the academy's founder.

But is producing coaches as far as Carragher is now looking to take his own coaching career?

"It's all about opportunity," he replied. "I came out of the game and had the offer from Sky Sports. I'd always watched Sky, loved watching the football on there. Now I'm delighted to be a part of it and long may it continue. But you never say never in terms of a coaching role or a managerial role because you love the game so much, it has been your life since you were a kid."

Find out more about the Jamie Carragher Sports and Learning Academy at the official website