From the Barrow bench to working with his idol Steven Gerrard - former Liverpool youngster on his surreal year

About a year ago we caught up with Liverpool Under-23s goalkeeper Andy Firth to reflect on an unforgettable loan spell at Chester FC, which coincided with the club losing players left, right and centre - and very nearly going out of business. Safe to say it was an experience he wouldn’t forget in a hurry. But after signing a new contract with the Reds, the youngster decided to make the move back into National League football, but this time on a permanent basis, and this time with Barrow. It was a move that started well. But come November he had lost his place in the team, and you wouldn’t have blamed him for having second thoughts about leaving Liverpool, the club he has supported all his life. But then he didn't know what was just around the corner. In December, Andy took a call from his agent informing him that his idol, and Reds legend, Steven Gerrard wanted to sign him for Rangers. He did not need asking twice – and come the end of the season he had not only experienced a famous Auld Firm win from the bench, he’d also made his competitive debut. So with Rangers about to start their Europa League campaign, Paul Wheelock picks the phone back up to Andy to look back on what, as the man says himself, has been a surreal year. They also talk working under Gerrard, Liverpool’s current and former loanees at Rangers, Sheyi Ojo and Ryan Kent, his big mate Harry Wilson, and what it was like to be a fan, watching on from the stands, as the Reds beat Barcelona and then Tottenham to be crowned champions of Europe for the sixth time. Enjoy. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices