Conor Coady’s family reacts to his England World Cup squad call up

CONOR Coady’s family have described their pride after the footballer earned a call up into the England World Cup squad.

The Everton defender was named in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad to travel to Qatar – a huge achievement for the former Rainford schoolboy.

There will be delight among his friends in St Helens, some of whom he still enjoys an occasional kickabout with in his hometown.

However, the sense of pride is strongest among his family, with mum Gail sharing an emotional Instagram post in which she looked back on Conor’s journey from a junior footballer to a World Cup call-up.

She told her son, who grew up in Haydock, to go “and soak up every second”.

Gail’s post, which she shared with the Star, read: “Conor.. an unbelievably proud day for us as a family, the absolute pinnacle for you, we always told you to reach for your dreams and you’ve done just that.

“We can’t express how proud we are of you, you’ve worked your whole life for this, all them nights up and down the East Lancs road for me and dad to and from training with you and H [his brother Harrison].

“Never in our wildest dreams did we think you would be selected for your country in a World Cup, now go and soak up every second, you deserve it all.

“We will be there once more to support you every step if the way. Your very proud family.”

The post features images of Conor as a young boy making his way through the Liverpool Academy, progressing to captain Wolves and making his England debut.

Conor’s wife Amie shared an emoji and reacted: “Ok. I’m crying”.

Coady, himself, later posted: “One of the proudest moments of my whole life and an absolute honour…we will give everything we’ve got for our country.”

Coady was part of the Euro 2020 squad that reached the final. He did not play in the tournament but Southgate praised his leadership qualities and influence on the squad.

Coady, a former Rainford High and Bleak Hill pupil, is not the only player in the squad to have attended school in St Helens.

Raheem Sterling and Trent Alexander Arnold both went to Rainhill High as part of the school’s link up with Liverpool FC.