Friday 16th May 2003
By Laura Hearn.
When WAYNE ROONEY started the 2002/03 football season as EVERTON‘S newest young hopeful, little did he know that within just a few months of the league campaign underway he would become a household name around the UK, and said to be the future of English football.
The 17-year-old has made such an impact that he has progressed through the Academy ranks and become a football hero in just twelve months.
The striker who was born in Croxteth, Liverpool, made his debut on the opening day of the 2002/03 match against TOTTENHAM at Goodison, he then became Everton‘s youngest ever goal scorer when he struck gold against WREXHAM in the Worthington Cup.
Rooneymania began to take the country by storm and the tabloids renamed him "Roonaldo" after the Brazilian and REAL MADRID genius RONALDO. However EVERTON manager DAVID MOYES has been keen to protect WAYNE from the spotlight to ensure that he does not reach burn-out too quickly.
His face first captured major media attention when he was brought on as a substitute against ARSENAL and scored the spectacular goal that left England keeper DAVID SEAMAN stunned. The famous goal won EVERTON the match in the 90th minute.
Other highlights from his first season in the first team include goals on his home turf to BLACKBURN and NEWCASTLE, and a fantastic winner against ASTON VILLA.
His career has not just been restricted to EVERTON, he became England‘s youngest ever player when he came on as a substitute at half-time against Australia in February 2003.
If that wasn‘t enough to boast about, WAYNE can also add to his short history Winner of the ‘BBC‘s Young Sports Personality of the Year Award 2002.‘
Despite the club‘s efforts to keep the player out of the media attention, there is little doubt that they will find it increasingly difficult to keep ROONEY their best kept secret for long.
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David Jensen Photography:
https://www.davidjensen.co.uk/
