Its almost Roy Of The Rovers territory imagining residents still being in fear of their windows as the Three Lions captain - destined to be the countrys youngest-ever centurion - exhibits a passion for the game which developed during his schooldays. Often, after making his debut for Everton as a 16-year-old, he would rush back to his Croxteth home, grab his BMX bike and cycle off for a kickabout with his pals. Now almost 13 years later, Rooney hasnt forgotten his roots and at every opportunity he dismisses his iconic status in the game and recaptures his starry-eyed embryonic years. It was his former manager, both at Everton and Manchester United, David Moyes, who labelled Rooney the last of the street footballers. Rooney concurred: Ive always believed myself to be from the streets in terms of football. Ive always played on the streets with friends and still do now and again when I get time. Yes I go and do that, he admitted. While that confession provoked some startled looks from his inquisitors following Englands 5-0 victory on Thursday night against San Marion, in which his penalty advanced his personal tally of goals to 42 - just seven behind all-time leading scorer Sir Bobby Charlton - Rooney simply wondered what the fuss was all about. That is where I learnt to play football. There was a lot of help along the way from the academy but the majority of my football was learnt on the streets, he added. Now and again I go back and see friends where I am from and we have a kick-around. Everywhere we go, we sit there, and there is a ball. Im obviously not running around but we stand there and have a kick-around. Nobody is really fussed (about Rooneys involvement). Im back there quite a lot. Its keepy-ups and messing around. At Everton everything happened so quickly for me Wayne Rooney Rooney was destined for greatness from the moment he pretended he was Everton hero Duncan Ferguson and England great Paul Gascoigne in the schoolyard. This evening against Estonia he will lead out England in his 99th appearance for his country. The century is set to follow at Wembley on November 15 against Slovenia. That milestone will be enriched in the knowledge that he will replace Bobby Moore as Englands youngest player to notch 100 caps. I used to love watching England. I remember the 1998 World Cup and the stand-out moment was Michael Owen and what he did, Rooney said. That is when I really started watching England closely. Then at Everton everything happened so quickly for me in terms of the progressing through the youth team and then the first team, then within six months into the England set-up. It is always a dream playing for England and thankfully Ive done it many times. Who was I in the playground? I was always an Everton player. I had a few. I loved Duncan Ferguson, then Paul Gascoigne joined the club. He wasnt at Everton for long but he was obviously a hero with England. #st
Posted on: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 08:40:56 +0000
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