Pupils grill Liverpool legend

Budding journalists and moviemakers from Kirkby High School met Liverpool FC and England legend Phil Thompson as part of a media project to learn more about the area’s history.

Year 9 pupils at the school have been perfecting the art of film making by recording Mr Thompson as he underwent a grilling at the hands of youngsters from three local primary schools.

The pupils also interviewed older members of the local community for a documentary film called ‘Kirkby The New Town’ which is being produced by Bootle-based SAFE Productions.

It is being supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and is exploring the area’s growth as part of a community project.

Assistant headteacher Karen Soper said the pupils were enthralled by the tales they heard.

“Phil Thompson was a pupil at Brookfield High School which was a forerunner to Kirkby High School and was based on the same site,” she said.

“He stressed how everything that happened to him growing up in Kirkby informed him in his adult life and his football career.

“When he joined Liverpool, he tried to do everything perfectly, such as cleaning the players’ boots, and eventually the management saw this quality in him and gave him a contract.

“The pupils were inspired by his answers which reinforced a sense of pride about coming from Kirkby”.