Stewart Downing has opened up on his initiation after joining Liverpool and claims team-mate Jordan Henderson, who followed him through the door that summer, refused to take part
Stewart Downing has revealed that Jordan Henderson incurred a fine after refusing to participate in an initiation song after joining Liverpool. The duo both arrived at Anfield in the summer of 2011, each securing £20million transfers from Aston Villa and Sunderland respectively.
Their debut season under Kenny Dalglish proved challenging, with both players struggling to make an impact. Downing notably failed to register a single goal or assist in 36 league appearances, while Henderson didn’t fare much better.
When Brendan Rodgers took over as manager, he was open to offloading Henderson, even approving a swap deal involving Fulham’s Clint Dempsey.
However, the midfielder would go on to turn his Liverpool career around, cementing himself as a club icon in the years that followed.
The England international was named Reds captain in 2015 and went on to play 492 matches for Liverpool, lifting every major trophy during his 12-year tenure at the club.
Conversely, Downing’s time at Anfield was cut short by Rodgers at the end of his second season, having contributed just seven goals and nine assists across 91 appearances.
Now 40, Downing has recalled his initiation after joining Liverpool, revealing he sang ‘Penny Arcade’ by Roy Orbison. However, he also revealed that a 21-year-old Henderson refused to partake, opting to leave rather than sing – and subsequently receiving a fine.
“I didn’t have to do many initiations actually, throughout my career,” Downing exclusively told Ladbrokes. “I didn’t do one at Villa, I don’t know why. Maybe it was because I’d signed late on, so I’d got away with it.
“I did one at Liverpool – we’d gone to a restaurant and had a meal. It was a couple of weeks in, so I’d already got to know the lads.
“We’d had a few beers, so I thought it was the best time to do it. When you know the lads, you’re a bit more relaxed about it, so I sang Penny Arcade – Charlie Adam was loving it, as a Rangers fan.
“I’ll always remember Jordan Henderson getting his wife to get up and leave the restaurant with him, because he didn’t want to sing. He just left us!
“He was that nervous – he hadn’t had a beer, so he was just adamant he wasn’t singing; he’d rather have paid a fine! I’ve heard stories of players not signing for clubs because they’ve been worried about initiations.
“Honestly, just sing for 30 seconds! What’s the worst that’s going to happen?!”
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