Yorkshire Evening Post, 8 February 2009
Simon Davey's capture of Adam Hammill might just prove his shrewdest acquisition yet – the youngster desperate to impress and ultimately fulfil his boyhood Liverpool dream.
Highly-rated Hammill, 21, joined Liverpool's youth set up when he was just seven years old and 14 years later he remains one of Anfield's brightest long-term prospects.
The winger recently signed a new deal at Anfield until 2011 but, stuck behind the likes of Dirk Kuyt, Albert Riera and Yossi Benayoun, the youngster has now joined Barnsley for his fourth spell on loan.
Already Hammill has thrived from stints at Dunfermline, Southampton and most recently Blackpool, the Tykes sealing the signature of a footballer who says he is improving all the time.
Hammill's motivation will also never be questioned – the born and bred Liverpool fan is determined to impress watchers at Anfield and one day fulfil his ultimate dream.
"Personally I am looking to help Barnsley and force them up the table where they deserve to be," Hammill told Yorkshire Sport.
"On a personal level I want to impress the fans, the manager and also the staff at Liverpool who will be watching me.
"I want to show them what I can do and hopefully I can push on from there.
"I signed a three-year deal there in the summer so hopefully I am able to see that out and earn a new one if I perform well each year.
"It's a gradual process, I know that, but it's another step up the ladder for me at Barnsley and it's a step in the right direction as far as I'm concerned.
"If I do well here I can always go back in the summer but you never know in football, it all changes every day but when I go back if I have done well maybe I will be rewarded with a first-team call."
Hammill, who can play on the right wing but preferably the left, was part of a triple raid by boss Davey who also brought in striker Michael Mifsud and defensive midfielder Andranik Teymourian.
Arguably the most exciting capture, Hammill is delighted with his first impressions of Oakwell.
"I am really impressed with the facilities, the manager has been great to me and also the players," said Hammill.
"I am really looking forward to pulling on a Barnsley shirt and playing every week.
If it starts off really well hopefully I can go upwards from there."
Hammill is yet to make the substitute's bench for his beloved Liverpool but the hot prospect was a key part of the Reds team that defeated Manchester City in the 2006 FA Youth Cup final.
Through his loan spells, the Liverpudlian also brings with him a healthy amount of Championship experience through 23 appearances for Blackpool and 28 for Southampton.
Hammill is not one to sulk at being sent out on loan, quite the opposite, the Scouser relishing his next challenge and stressing he has benefited enormously from his previous spells.
"I have enjoyed them all," said Hammill.
"They were all different and that has helped my game as I have had to add different bits.
"At Southampton it was all about playing football, getting your foot on the ball and expressing yourself whereas at Blackpool it was a different side to the game, more the second ball, playing when you can and learning to defend as well.
"All of them have helped me to lift my game up and develop me and this is another step up the ladder."
Hammill ultimately dreams of reaching the top of that ladder and pulling on the famous red shirt for the club he has supported since he was a boy.
Barnsley's new loan star admits the calibre of players in front of him is making his task incredibly hard at Anfield but Hammill still holds high hopes of one day making the grade.
"There are a few wingers who are ahead of me but if you've got the class you get there eventually," said a confident Hammill, capped at England under-19s level.
"It's about plugging away and working hard, it's a long process and as a young lad you need a lot of experience as it can be tough if you are thrown in the deep end.
"I think by going on loan you get the experience for when you do get in and it looks good on your CV – you give yourself a chance.
"I've got a few years left on my contract and if I do well here which I have got no doubts I will, then it will put me in good stead for when I go back in the summer.
"For me, I am a Liverpool fan so if I was to step up into the first team it would be a dream come true.
"I have supported Liverpool ever since I was younger and my dad used to take me on the Kop.
Simon Davey's capture of Adam Hammill might just prove his shrewdest acquisition yet – the youngster desperate to impress and ultimately fulfil his boyhood Liverpool dream.
Highly-rated Hammill, 21, joined Liverpool's youth set up when he was just seven years old and 14 years later he remains one of Anfield's brightest long-term prospects.
The winger recently signed a new deal at Anfield until 2011 but, stuck behind the likes of Dirk Kuyt, Albert Riera and Yossi Benayoun, the youngster has now joined Barnsley for his fourth spell on loan.
Already Hammill has thrived from stints at Dunfermline, Southampton and most recently Blackpool, the Tykes sealing the signature of a footballer who says he is improving all the time.
Hammill's motivation will also never be questioned – the born and bred Liverpool fan is determined to impress watchers at Anfield and one day fulfil his ultimate dream.
"Personally I am looking to help Barnsley and force them up the table where they deserve to be," Hammill told Yorkshire Sport.
"On a personal level I want to impress the fans, the manager and also the staff at Liverpool who will be watching me.
"I want to show them what I can do and hopefully I can push on from there.
"I signed a three-year deal there in the summer so hopefully I am able to see that out and earn a new one if I perform well each year.
"It's a gradual process, I know that, but it's another step up the ladder for me at Barnsley and it's a step in the right direction as far as I'm concerned.
"If I do well here I can always go back in the summer but you never know in football, it all changes every day but when I go back if I have done well maybe I will be rewarded with a first-team call."
Hammill, who can play on the right wing but preferably the left, was part of a triple raid by boss Davey who also brought in striker Michael Mifsud and defensive midfielder Andranik Teymourian.
Arguably the most exciting capture, Hammill is delighted with his first impressions of Oakwell.
"I am really impressed with the facilities, the manager has been great to me and also the players," said Hammill.
"I am really looking forward to pulling on a Barnsley shirt and playing every week.
If it starts off really well hopefully I can go upwards from there."
Hammill is yet to make the substitute's bench for his beloved Liverpool but the hot prospect was a key part of the Reds team that defeated Manchester City in the 2006 FA Youth Cup final.
Through his loan spells, the Liverpudlian also brings with him a healthy amount of Championship experience through 23 appearances for Blackpool and 28 for Southampton.
Hammill is not one to sulk at being sent out on loan, quite the opposite, the Scouser relishing his next challenge and stressing he has benefited enormously from his previous spells.
"I have enjoyed them all," said Hammill.
"They were all different and that has helped my game as I have had to add different bits.
"At Southampton it was all about playing football, getting your foot on the ball and expressing yourself whereas at Blackpool it was a different side to the game, more the second ball, playing when you can and learning to defend as well.
"All of them have helped me to lift my game up and develop me and this is another step up the ladder."
Hammill ultimately dreams of reaching the top of that ladder and pulling on the famous red shirt for the club he has supported since he was a boy.
Barnsley's new loan star admits the calibre of players in front of him is making his task incredibly hard at Anfield but Hammill still holds high hopes of one day making the grade.
"There are a few wingers who are ahead of me but if you've got the class you get there eventually," said a confident Hammill, capped at England under-19s level.
"It's about plugging away and working hard, it's a long process and as a young lad you need a lot of experience as it can be tough if you are thrown in the deep end.
"I think by going on loan you get the experience for when you do get in and it looks good on your CV – you give yourself a chance.
"I've got a few years left on my contract and if I do well here which I have got no doubts I will, then it will put me in good stead for when I go back in the summer.
"For me, I am a Liverpool fan so if I was to step up into the first team it would be a dream come true.
"I have supported Liverpool ever since I was younger and my dad used to take me on the Kop.
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