Richie Partridge (Midfielder)
Date of birth: 12.09.80
Squad number: -
Height: 5' 7" (1.73m)
Weight: 10st 7lb (67 kg)
Characteristics: Flying young winger, great crosser of the ball
Former clubs: Trainee
Birth Place: Dublin
Liverpool youngster Richie Partridge reflected on his first senior appearance for the Reds and admitted: 'I want more of the same.'
The Irish winger scored on his first team debut at Bournemouth in February as Liverpool coasted to a 4-0 victory against their Dorset
rivals.
It may have only been a friendly clash with little riding on the result,
but for Partridge it was his first chance to show what he could do at a higher level after impressing throughout the season with the club's
youth teams.
He says: 'It was a good chance for me to test myself at a higher level.
I know it was only a friendly game but for me it was a first opportunity and so it was important I took it.
'The fact that I scored so early in the game was just amazing. It was a
great feeling to see the ball hit the back of the net on my debut. I think I played quite well on the night and the manager seemed happy with my
performance.'
Boss Houllier was indeed pleased with his tricky winger, but he insists it
is too early to consider Partridge for the first team squad. He says: 'I am pleased with the way Richie is progressing. He is very talented and
very quick, but at the moment it is too early to think about him for the first team. In a year's time he could well be a lot closer.'
Partridge accepts he still has much to learn in the game, but he is excited with the progress he has made this season. He says: 'I now
train full time at the Academy and that is a great experience for me. I am working with top class internationals, and to be honest I could
watch them all day long because the tips I can pick up are invaluable really.
'I probably have to develop a bit more physically and I am working hard
on that on a daily basis at the training ground. I have a lot of time on my side and I want to work as hard as I can to force myself into the
first team squad as early as possible.
'I know it is tough to break into this Liverpool team, but then you only
have to look at the progress of Steven Gerrard to see that if you are good enough then you do have a chance at this club. I have a lot of
confidence in my own ability and I believe that one day I will make it, but there is a long road ahead of me yet.'