One Direction give their fans a year to remember

One Direction's first UK tour kicks off in Wolverhampton tomorrow. Victoria Nash and Elizabeth Joyce look back on an amazing year for the boys

A little more than a year ago, they were just five normal teenagers. Among them was Black Country boy Liam Payne, who spent his time studying at Wolverhampton's St Peter's Collegiate School and enjoying football matches at The Hawthorns.

But what a difference a year makes. Those five normal lads are now One Direction, the biggest boyband in the country with an army of fans whose hysteria levels rival that of Beatlemania.

Click on the image on the right to see more of the boys.

The boys now boast celebrity girlfriends, number one singles and some of the most talked about hair in the country.

And this week 18-year-old Liam will be coming back to his home city of Wolverhampton for the group's first-ever gig at the Civic Hall – cheered on by his proud family and friends.

Liam's father Geoff revealed today that he is still not used to seeing his boy in the limelight.

"It feels very weird to pick up the newspaper or turn on the TV and see your son," he said. "It is amazing for the boys that they are doing so well and also for all of the families. It is just a fantastic feeling.

"We are immensely proud. I was in HMV the other day and saw Liam and the boys on all the posters, CD covers and calendars.

"I had this huge grin on my face thinking 'that's my son'.

"You have to pinch yourself because it doesn't feel real.

"It has been like watching a real-life documentary seeing Liam on various stages and developing over the years and then to see what has happened from X Factor has just been immense."

But the runaway success of the band also has its downside for the Payne family.

"We have only seen him about 30 days in the past year because he has been so busy," says Geoff.

"But that's just one of those things you have to face up to."

A 30-strong party of Liam's family and friends will be in the crowd for the homecoming gig.

"I think it is great for Liam and for his fans that the first show of the tour is in Wolverhampton and I am really getting hyped up for it," his proud dad added.

"The other boys' parents are coming to Wolverhampton as well and we will be going to their home gigs."

Liam's grandfather Ken, who lives in Cornwall, will be going along to watch the boys perform in Plymouth in January.

Geoff added: "He's 87-years-old and he's never been to a pop concert in his life but he's really looking forward to it."

The boys started out as fresh-faced solo singers on X Factor but were quickly transformed into a band by music mogul Simon Cowell after he spotted their potential.

As ever, savvy Simon was right and One Direction swiftly picked up the most fanatical fanbase in the world of pop.

Known as Directioners, the 1D supporters consume anything and everything to do with Liam, Harry, Louis, Niall and Zayn.

Their debut single What Makes You Beautiful shot to the number one spot on iTunes within 15 minutes of being released and achieved the biggest first week sales of 2011, selling 153,965 copies – not bad for an act that finished third overall in X Factor.

And when tickets for the Civic Hall gig went on sale, some supporters armed with sleeping bags queued for more than 20 hours, with security staff on duty throughout the night, serving coffee and issuing wristbands.

More than 4,000 fans also shivered for hours in 28F (-2C) temperatures to watch a 14-minute performance by the boys when they visited Wolverhampton during their X Factor stint, with some of them having to be treated by paramedics for the effects of the cold.

As well as the ever-growing legions of fans and super-selling singles and albums, the boys are looking more like pop stars each and every day.

They are now styled and preened to perfection, donning designer threads and sporting some of the most famous hairstyles in the country. Liam in particular has hit the headlines recently for his locks.

Gone is the super-straight style he sported in the early days and in its place a curly creation apparently based on Twilight star Taylor Lautner.

The boys have also developed their own uniform of a T-shirt-and-shirt combo and coloured jeans.

And their looks must be working as they have caught the eye of a number of celebrity admirers.

The most famous 1D relationship of the moment is that between 17-year-old Harry and 32-year-old television presenter Caroline Flack.

The age-gap relationship has angered some corners of the 1D fanbase so much that death threats have been issued to the Xtra Factor presenter.

Fellow band member Zayn also caused a stir when he started dating fellow X Factor contestant Rebecca Ferguson, who was six years his senior.

He is now rumoured to be seeing current X Factor champion Perrie Edwards, a quarter of Little Mix.

So they've got the looks, the talent and the support of family and friends.

If things progress as they have in the past 12 months, there really is only One Direction for these boys – up.