Jack Bearne made his Liverpool debut aged 18, now 23, he is facing the prospect of creating FA Cup history

Jack Bearne rubbed shoulders with some of Liverpool's current and future stars but on Saturday, he is looking to write his own history.(Image: Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

In record-breaking circumstances, the memories of a surprise Liverpool debut are pinned up on the wall as a constant reminder for Jack Bearne.

Aged just 18, the forward made his first-team debut as a second-half substitute during a controversial period under Jurgen Klopp.

Boasting an average age of just 19 years, six months and three days, under-23s manager Neil Critchley took the reins, 24 hours before the senior squad booked their place in the Club World Cup final, with a bizarre fixture pile-up forcing the Reds to field their youngest side ever.

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It was eight days before Christmas and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool were continuing their path to supremacy, 4,000 miles away from Merseyside, as they battled for the Club World Cup in Qatar.

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The 23-year-old now plays in the Northern Premier League West, the eighth-tier of English football, with Hednesford Town, who are 90 minutes away from achieving their best-ever performance in the FA Cup - this side of the millennium.

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After navigating through nine rounds of the tournament already, dating back to their 4-1 win over Racing Club Warwick in the extra preliminary round, the Pitmen are eying another giant-killing against Gainsborough Trinity, one division higher, after knocking out Gateshead, three tiers above, in the Fourth Round Qualifying.

Bearne is one of a select few Liverpool players who made their first-team debuts in bizarre circumstances.

Also in the squad was Caoimhin Kelleher, Harvey Elliott and Sepp van den Berg, who left the club in the summer to join Premier League rivals Brentford.

"It was difficult because we only found out that we were playing four or five days before, we ended up training at Melwood with some of the first-team staff that stayed behind," the Nottingham-born forward says.

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"Neil Critchley took the sessions, we’d do the build-up, the patterns and prepare as we would for any game and take it to Villa Park.

"It was a strange time but just arriving at the stadium, the turnout from the away fans was incredible, it was an amazing experience."

Jack Bearne preparing to come on for Liverpool during their Carabao Cup tie in 2019.(Image: Photo by James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images)

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There aren’t many footballers who count Steven Gerrard and Klopp as coaches or playing small-sided matches alongside Mohamed Salah or Sadio Mane.

Liverpool caught a glimpse of Bearne playing for Notts County’s academy aged 13 and within two years, he’d penned terms in Kirkby, training under the iconic Reds number eight.

"He was coming into his coaching at the academy, he was doing U15s, U16s and U18s, he was a really good coach," Bearne explains.

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"In training, you see the things that he’s doing, like the techniques, coaching, lessons that he’s passing on.

"I watched him growing up, he was passionate and his technique was unbelievable, the training was enjoyable and he’d always have your back in the sideline.

He was a top, top coach."

The winger rose through the age groups, playing under Barry Lewtas and Neil Critchley, contributing in key matches - including derby winners against Everton and a penalty in the FA Youth Cup final shoutout win over Manchester City.

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Romeo Lavia and Cole Palmer were in the side that night, with Pep Guardiola in the stands, as Palmer blazed his effort over the bar during the spot-kicks.

During the international break for the first-team, the forward was afforded the opportunity to train with Klopp’s side.

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In that time, the youngster was up close and personal with two “phenomenal” Liverpool superstars who fired the Reds to dizzying heights.

But where there was jubilation, there was also frustration as ankle injuries saw the forward requiring surgery at the beginning of the season, hampering his development and chances of making his bow under the German.

“I had some ankle injuries that held me back really for a couple of years, which was frustrating,” he says.

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"They ended up needing surgery at the start of the season, you’d get fit, go into pre-season and then have the injury so it would hit your progression.

"You’ve got to play catch up really, injuries affected my chances and I thought I had a good chance [of featuring in the first-team]."

"The setbacks were the low points apart from that, I really enjoyed my time, not just the football side of things but growing up quickly and learning life skills," Bearne reflects.

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"Everyone has their own pathway and you may have to take a few steps back to go forward, I think leaving Liverpool was the right thing to do.

"I learned a lot in the five years I was there, but I felt that I had to start again, build myself up."

In, what proved to be, the final months of his time at Liverpool, Bearne got his first taste of regular senior football, joining Kidderminster Harriers on loan in the National League North.

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He made 26 appearances, scoring three goals as Russell Penn’s side earned promotion to the National League via the playoffs.

At the age of 21, Scotland came calling with Bearne penning terms with Greenock Morton in Scotland’s second tier.

Bearne explains: "I thought moving to Scotland would be a good experience, I heard a few things about English players moving up and staking their claim in Scotland, playing a lot of games then hopefully move their career on that way.

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"It was difficult but there was a lot of good moments."

Jack Bearne celebrates during his time at Liverpool(Image: Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

A further 31 appearances were notched under the belt for the 23-year-old as they enjoyed a 14-match unbeaten run, as well as date in the Scottish Cup quarter-final, live on television.

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His deal in the summer came to an end, and Bearne went in search of finding his love for football again.

The attacker remembers his time at Liverpool, Kidderminster and Morton with fond memories but there is a frustration at a lack of regular first-team minutes, making just seven starts in 31 appearances north of the border.

Bearne plies his trade in the Northern Premier League West, competing against local sides such as Bootle, City of Liverpool, Runcorn Linnets and Widnes.

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He has six goals so far this season, including the opener in their shock fourth-qualifying round win over Gateshead.

You want to be in the team and in the starting 11 every week.

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"It’s good to have that faith to play and show the impact I can have."

With inspiration from what his former teammates Jones, Elliott and Bradley are achieving on the Premier League and international stage, Bearne has hopes of rising through the football pyramid but first, he is looking to play a key role - as he did in the last round - and write themselves in FA Cup folklore.

"Everyone is really looking forward to it and hopefully create a bit of history," Bearne adds.
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