Rising star will be missed by all
‘‘You have to take every opportunity. And that's what Liam did’’ Grant Cradock
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In Taupo he played for many school teams and clubs including the Waitemata Football Club under 19s, the Taupo mens team, Ricki Herbert Academy squad and Waikato Bay of Plenty. He also tried out for the West Ham United Academy, the Nike Academy and had travelled through Barcelona and London playing football.
‘‘Liam always knew he was a good footballer,’’ Cradock said.
‘‘He worked hard for it, but he was never cocky or arrogant. He was always well grounded.’’
Liam would practice for hours on end. His sister Brittany would take him down to Crown Park to practice for hours.
It was that or listen to him bounce the ball off the back fence at home.
Although Liam could be a bit cheeky to his sister, she spoke of him highly and was proud of the man he was turning into. She said his time at Mount Albert Grammar School matured her younger brother.
‘‘He was always good to talk to but you really saw the difference in him when he started at MAGS,’’ she said.
‘‘There are only 110 spaces at MAGS school house and when he was interviewed there were just two left in his year. He was lucky to be selected.’’
Brittany, Karen and Grant all noticed the change in their son as he matured into a young man more and more with each return trip home.
Cradock was proud Liam had been selected as a prefect at the school house and, after his death, the family was told he was to be the head boy for the boarding school.
‘‘I think for me his selection as a prefect after just one year at the school showed his character,’’ he said.
Liam’s Facebook page has been flooded with messages from his friends since his death.
‘‘I know teenage boys don’t usually tell people they love each other but so many are saying that,’’ Cradock said.
‘‘Everyone just held Liam in such high regard.’’
He said his son’s death was a sobering reminder of how short, and precious life could be.
‘‘You have to take every opportunity. And that’s what Liam did,’’ he said.
‘‘He lived his life to the full right across the board.’’