Stevie: I love this club

From the Liverpool Echo, 23 Dec 2004
Stevie: I love this club
By Chris Bascombe

STEVEN GERRARD today spoke of his pride at being voted the club's player of the year following an emotional 12 months at Anfield.

The Liverpool skipper was given the accolade by the club's Official Supporters' Club, recognising his outstanding contribution in 2004 when he inspired the Reds into the Champions League.

Gerrard pipped Jamie Carragher to the honour.

After a difficult summer when the skipper considered his future at Anfield, he says it means a lot to know the fans are so supportive.

And he vowed never to put what he described as 'selfish' ambitions above those of the club he loves.

"When you receive an award which comes from the fans who pay their money to come and watch you every week it means even more than any other," said Gerrard.

"But if I've played well it's down to my teammates as much as myself.

"There have been a number of outstanding performers this year so I'm buzzing to pick up this award.

"In the position I play you have to strive for consistency and I think over the last 18 months I've managed to get that and I've been really happy with my form.

"It's definitely been that consistency which has pleased me the most, but I'm not just settling for that. I feel I can get even better and I'm working hard to improve my game even more.

"I feel there's more to come from me so I can help win the club more honours.

"The fans at this club have been great to me ever since the day I made my debut. I feel they've always been behind me and recently I know there have been some people looking for a few of them to turn against me after certain comments I have made.

"It's important to me that the supporters know I didn't say those things from a selfish point of view.

"All the comments I've made have been because I love this club so much and desperately want to be successful.

"I want us to do everything we can as a club to be winning trophies again and I want to be part of a successful Liverpool. "

Les Lawson, chairman of the Merseyside Branch of the Supporters' Club, which organised the annual event, believes the vote shows the fans are fully behind their captain.

"It was an easy choice for the supporters this year," he said.

"I think after his performances, only one player was going to win, although it's testimony to how well Jamie Carragher has played that he should be runner-up considering he missed half last season with a broken leg.

"There's been a lot of scaremongering about Stevie and we were all in a panic when the Chelsea thing happened over the summer.

"The main thing is Stevie has said he wants to stay and he's made it clear he thinks the manager should be backed to bring in the players he wants.

"Every supporter will agree with that and last night's award shows the fans are with him."