THE England squad boasts one St Helens lad in the shape of Conor Coady going into tonight’s Euro 2020 final.
But one of England’s key men also has a local connection – having gone to Rainhill High and lived in the borough for three years as a teenager.
Raheem Sterling, who grew up in London, moved to the area when he signed for Liverpool when still a secondary schoolboy.
He was placed at Rainhill High – which has an education link up with the LFC academy – and lived with a couple nearby during his time at the school.
BBC North West Tonight last week spoke to Peter and Sandra Reeves, the couple who Sterling, now a player for Manchester City, lived with during his years at the school.
Sandra said: “Raheem was really good. He was such a grounded young man.
“He had a path is his head and he knew where he wanted to go.”
Both say they are really “proud”of him.
Peter added: “He’s really come good now and is on a roll, so let’s hope he can keep it going.”
The couple remain in touch with Raheem, having exchanged text messages with him during the tournament.
A picture from the Star’s archives shows Sterling and Coady at St Helens Cultural Awards in 2010, where Raheem was won an award for elite sports performance while a pupil at Rainhill.
Rainhill High, meanwhile, has sent a message of good luck ahead of tonight’s final versus Italy.
In a statement, the school said: “We are immensely proud of our former pupil, Raheem Sterling, and his role in England’s historic journey to the European Cup final this Sunday.
“It seems like only yesterday that he was at Rainhill High School and now he is lighting up Wembley and the whole country with his footballing talent.
“Good luck to Raheem and the rest of the England squad from all of us here at Rainhill High School.”
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