Team-mates help Waterfall enjoy life at the deep end

Jul 22 2008 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

TEENAGER Luke Waterfall says he is already beginning to feel settled with Tranmere after his developing career took a diversion from Barnsley to Prenton Park this summer.

The 17-year-old defensive prospect is into his fourth week of pre-season training with Rovers, signed a one-year professional contract last week and played for 90 minutes of a first-team friendly against Marine last weekend.

Leaving home for the first time hasn’t been easy for the six-foot-three centre-back from Sheffield, who progressed through the Academy and captained the youth team at Oakwell.

But Waterfall has found the Tranmere dressing room a welcoming environment, thanks in part to a familiar face in the shape of Antony Kay, a former Barnsley player who made the same journey from South Yorkshire to the Wirral last summer.

Waterfall says: “I have found it easy to settle in here because they are a friendly bunch of lads. I know Antony Kay from his Barnsley days and he has talked me through a few things and helped me to settle in. It’s not nice being away from my family for the first time – but that is what I have got to do.”

Manager Ronnie Moore reckons Tranmere may have stolen a march on rival clubs when they heard – via the family connections of assistant manager Peter Shirtliff – that Championship club Barnsley would not be offering contracts to any of their Academy scholars at the end of last season.

Rovers quickly set up a practice match, played behind closed doors, to make a first-hand assessment of Waterfall’s potential – and the youngster’s performance confirmed positive scouting reports.

Waterfall says: “I think I did all right in the trial game at Tranmere and they told me to come back for training. They rang me up in the summer break to say that they wanted me to come in for the pre-season work and to sign. It was a great relief to know for certain that I would be here this season. I was made up to be wanted.

“The end of last season wasn’t a very nice time but I did play a few reserve games around about then and what has happened just goes to show that people are watching you.”

Waterfall has played centre back since he was signed by Barnsley as a 15-year-old. He looked comfortable and competent alongside experienced Ben Chorley in the game at Marine.

Moore likens Waterfall’s style to that of Clint Hill, a Liverpool-born centre-back who emerged from the Prenton Park youth development ranks to play more than 150 games the Tranmere between 1997 and 2002.

Waterfall says: “I would have to describe myself as an old school centre-back, someone who likes to tackle and does not do anything fancy.

“I have enjoyed the pre-season training with Tranmere although it’s been very tough physically, just as I was warned it would be!

“Now I just hope I can do well in the pre-season games and progress from here.”

Waterfall could see some action when Tranmere play their fifth pre-season friendly of the summer against Southport at Haig Avenue tonight (kick-off 7.30pm).

Moore makes his selection decision after checking on the fitness of centre backs Kay and Ian Goodison, plus winger Chris Shuker, who missed the Marine game with minor injuries.

Southport, play-off semi-finalists in the Blue Square Conference North last season, changed managers in April when Gary Brabin replaced Peter Davenport – only to join Cambridge weeks later.

The Sandgrounders are committed to operating with a full-time playing regime in the 2008/09 Campaign.

The Southport fixture has become a feature of Tranmere’s summer preparations under Moore, who began a career as a manager in his own right at Haig Avenue in 1996 – soon after ending a successful nine-year stint as assistant to John King at Prenton Park.