Heighway has always seen his role as creating well-rounded individuals as much as multi-talented players.

“It does give me immense pride when I see what the players who came through here achieved, but I get more pride listening to Carra on TV, or to Steven (Gerrard) and Michael (Owen) whenever they come here. We will always have lunch with Steve McManaman and Robbie Fowler. They are all here all the time.

“When I first met Carragher, Owen and Gerrard I liked them as footballers, but there was something special about them as people. If there were sitting with us now they would be the sharpest cookies in the room. Others who came through who don’t get the same recognition such as Steven Warnock, David Thompson, Jay Spearing, or a young full-back Stephen Darby who played in the lower divisions, were the same.

“My career has been about helping young people. I was tough with them - incredibly tough with them at times. I could be confrontational with them. Not one of them has held it against me. That’s what makes me proud. That’s my style. It’s how I work.

“Not everything can be about technical evaluation. There is more to it. Who you are and what you are is about more than what you can do.