Liam (in blue top) with the St Bernard's RC football team in 1984 (Image: Manchester Evening News)
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WHAT'S THEIR STORY? NOT MUCH GLORY; WE FIND LIAM'S OLD TEAMMATES (INCLUDING ONE IN JAIL).
The Daily Mirror | October 4th 1996
He looks like an angel but the little lad, pictured second from the right in the back row, grew into a hard-nosed rebel.
By the age of ten, Liam Gallagher always stuck out from the crowd - when he turned up for this picture with the football team at St Bernard's Primary School, Manchester, the future Oasis star had no kit.
His old school pal Paul Walsh says: "He didn't want to be in the photo at all.
"He didn't have his kit because his mam was washing it and he was embarrassed.
"But the PE teacher, Mr Jepson, told him he would be letting the boys down if he didn't take his place in the line-up."
So what else do Liam's school pals remember about the young rock rebel?
The Daily Mirror tracked down all 12 of the boys in our exclusive picture and asked them What's Their Story on Liam's rise to fame and his turbulent childhood.
On the facing page the team tells all:
MARK SHENTON
Mark Shenton blames young tearaway Liam for introducing him to crime.
Builder Mark, 24, says: "By the time we'd moved to secondary school, we were nicking anything we could get our hands on."
"We were constantly skiving off and getting into trouble. Liam was one of the hardest lads in the year."
Dad-of-one Mark, who still lives on the rough Burnage council estate that Liam and Noel left behind, says he's lost touch with his old pal.
"He was one of my best mates. I last saw him 18 months ago at his mam's house but these days he's got no time for his friends.
"I used to go to Oasis concerts, but not now. Liam's sold out."
KEVIN BURKE
Sound engineer Kevin Burke couldn't believe it when he bumped into Liam four years ago at a recording studio. Kevin, 24, says the then unknown Oasis were rehearsing.
"To be honest, I didn't particularly like their music then and I still don't," he says. "I remember Liam being quite a hard kid at school - definitely Cock of the Year.
"But he was younger than me so I never paid him any attention. I went to a different secondary school so there wasn't any more contact until I saw him at the recording studio and we had a chat.
"Looking at Liam and all he's gone through, I think I'd rather be rich than famous."
ANDREW HOGAN
Andrew Hogan admits he's insanely jealous of Liam's fame and fortune - and wouldn't mind a slice of it himself.
To prove it, he greedily demanded four pretty models, a limousine, a Gucci watch, champagne, a tuxedo and pounds 200 before he'd have his picture taken by the Daily Mirror.
After much fuss and time-wasting on his behalf, he then refused to do the photograph.
Unemployed Hogan, 24, who still lives on the Burnage estate, then blasted his old pal Liam.
"What's Liam so good at?" he asked. "All he does is ponce about singing a few tunes, doing the V-sign to everyone and going on about Manchester City."
PATRICK DEVANE
Painter and decorator Paddy Devane says Liam loved to be the centre of attention from an early age. "He was always in the middle of fights," says Paddy, 24, from Burnage.
"I went to the pictures with him once and he ran on the stage and started touching the screen - everyone was going mad at him.
"He just used to lose his head every now and again. I know he loves women but underneath he's a softie.
"I knew Noel had brains but not Liam. I wouldn't know what to say if I saw him now - probably get an autograph for my sister. Oasis are all right but they should be careful not to spoil it all."
THOMAS RANAHAN
Thomas Ranahan, now languishing in his cell at HM Prison Haverigg, Cumbria, has to settle for hearing Oasis on the radio.
Not surprisingly, 24-year-old Thomas, inside for aggravated burglary, was unavailable for comment. But his mother, Mary, told the Mirror she has fond memories of Liam.
"He used to come round here for his tea. Thomas was a year older than Liam and he actually knew my other son Shaun better.
"Liam was a lovely lad, so polite and quiet ... never any trouble. He insisted on calling me Mrs Ranahan.
"When I read all this stuff in your paper, I can't believe it's the same little Liam."
DAMIEN O'TOOLE
Damien O'Toole was reluctant to reveal details of his friendship with Liam.
Art student Damien, 23, who now lives in Cheltenham, says: "If I were to talk about Liam, it would be betraying an old friend.
"I don't want to discuss those days - it was a long time ago and I consider it part of my private life."
But according to old school pals the two were as thick as thieves.
One mate said: "Liam and Damien were always larking around. Sometimes they'd get on your nerves because they'd never let up and it would be the same joke over and over."
And Damien's mum recalls: "Seeing the picture reminded me of how sweet they all were then."
MARK SARGINSON
Mark Sarginson has not only named his baby son after Liam but turned his home into a shrine to Oasis.
Jobless Mark, 24, who lives with wife Corinne and baby Liam, says: "I called my kid after him because he was such a good lad at school.
"He was quite shy but would always be there to back you up if there was any trouble.
"Oasis inspired me. My house is full of Oasis stuff, even my son's bedroom has posters and memorabilia everywhere."
Mark has started his own group with his three brothers. He says: "We haven't got a name yet. We play similar music to Oasis. I'd love to get Liam and Noel's opinion on it."
ROBERT FERRY
Many might disagree with him - but Robert reckons Liam has managed to keep his feet firmly on the ground despite his fame. Robert, 22, an engineering consultant in Manchester, says: "I was two years younger than Liam so we were never really part of the same crowd.
"But I really admire the fact that he still comes back home to see his mam and he goes to the local kebab house and drinks at the same pubs he did as a lad. It shows that he's down to earth and a real Burnage boy.
"I've been to see Oasis twice and I think they're very talented.
"But I would never go up to Liam and say `Hello' - he wouldn't remember me. It would be too embarrassing."
MICHAEL COLLINS
Liam was a spoilt brat who bullied other kids, says Michael Collins, a human resources adviser. "Our mams used to work together at the McVities factory," says Michael, 24. "But Liam and I were never that friendly.
"At the McVities Christmas party, he moaned about the present Santa gave him. He tried to wrestle away presents from the other kids and left a lot of them in tears."
Michael, who was captain of the football team, says Liam considered a career in soccer.
"We all had ambitions to be footballers but we all went on to other things. Oasis are very talented but Liam must be under a hell of a lot of pressure at such a young age."
ANTHONY WALSH
Anthony Walsh was with Liam when they both pierced their ears - with disastrous results.
"We used earrings we'd nicked from our mams," the 24-year-old lorry driver recalls. "We got two ice cubes, froze our ears and stabbed the earrings through. We had to wear plasters on our ears after that to cover them up."
Liam professes to idolise the late John Lennon, but that's not how Anthony remembers it. "Noel was the one in his bedroom listening to the Beatles and playing the guitar. Liam and I were into Ska."
On his last night out with Liam, they ended up at a drunken party. "We were 17 and getting up to all sorts. I did once try to say hello to Liam after an Oasis concert but I couldn't get near."
PATRICK BREEN
Patrick says he hardly had anything to do with Liam - because the future pop idol was an avid Manchester City supporter. "I wouldn't have been a friend of his because he and Paul Walsh were really into Man City," says Patrick, who works for a firm of chartered accountants in Manchester.
"I can't claim to be a good mate of Liam's - in fact, I barely remember him. But there was nothing remarkable about him. I would never have guessed that he would end up a singer."
Patrick says Liam was no different to most kids of his age.
"He did have a few scraps at school, but most kids do."
PAUL WALSH
Electrician Paul Walsh reveals Liam was taunted by other kids about his nickname - Wills.
"He hated it," says Paul, 24. "But the only time I ever saw Wills cry was when he started school and a kid hit him over the head with a mallet. After that he toughened up a bit.
"He was never actually the ringleader but was always involved in everything. He used to get really embarrassed when he was in the choir - he certainly wasn't a better singer than anyone else.
"I never got to know Noel, but Liam always said he hated him. To me, Liam will always be Wills - he's nothing special. I do hope he'll be all right with that Patsy, though."














