‘Never forget’: Why Raheem Sterling will be wearing special boots dedicated to his sister against AC Milan

Raheem Sterling is a man who is never shy of telling the stories that have shaped his life.
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Chelsea star Raheem Sterling has had his new boots dedicated to his older sister who used to take him to training on a bus before he became a Premier League superstar.

Sterling who grew up in Brent - just a few streets away from Wembley Stadium - has a remarkable story of struggle and triumph, from abject poverty to stardom through the power of football.

 Raheem Sterling of Chelsea arrives at the stadium prior to the Premier League match (Photo by Harriet Lander/Getty Images) Raheem Sterling of Chelsea arrives at the stadium prior to the Premier League match (Photo by Harriet Lander/Getty Images)
Raheem Sterling of Chelsea arrives at the stadium prior to the Premier League match (Photo by Harriet Lander/Getty Images)
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The 27-year-old was born in Jamaica but his mum moved to the UK in search of a better life, where his elder sister called Lakima used to take him to training on the bus.

The Chelsea star says his mum used to clean toilets and his sister used to take him on a journey that required three buses to get him to practice.

In a moving tribute, Sterling got New Balance to design his latest boots paying tribute to his sister and the colour of London bus seats - as a show of gratitude for his humble beginnings.

The England star is one of the faces of the Three Lions going into the World Cup in Qatar.

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He’s never been afraid to tell his story that has seen him play for Liverpool, Manchester City and now Chelsea.

Sterling has scored three goals since moving to Chelsea in the summer and posted a message on his Twitter account, paying tribute to his sister and his journey.

He posted on Twitter: “Three buses to get to training. 18, 182 and 140. I’ll never forget those numbers.

“No matter what, my big sister Lakima with me every single day.

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“My latest boot is dedicated to her and all those moments we shared together, on the #RouteToSuccess.”

He will be wearing the boots for the first time when  Chelsea take on AC Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.