Читать книгу Wayne Rooney: My 10 Greatest Moments in the Premier League - Wayne Rooney, Wayne Rooney - Страница 5

Twenty-four hours before the 2002/03 season started, the manager, David Moyes, told me I was starting the game against Spurs at Goodison. I couldn’t believe it. My debut was actually going to happen. He called me into his office and sat me down.

‘Wayne, you’re starting tomorrow,’ he said. ‘But I don’t want you telling anyone apart from your parents. I don’t want Spurs knowing before kick-off.’

When I got into the dressing room the next day and met up with the lads, I was excited, too. I felt ready. I’d believed in myself for so long and I knew I was good enough. I knew I should have been starting that game and when I saw my shirt hanging on the wall, it really hit home.

Rooney.

18.

Gazza’s old shirt number.

As I started to prepare myself, the boss came over for a chat. ‘Go out there and enjoy it, Wayne,’ he said. ‘Just relax and express yourself in the game.’

When I ran out onto the pitch for my Premier League debut, the home fans gave me a massive cheer. I was a local lad and they wanted me to do well. I didn’t want to let them down.

Everything felt so exciting.

As the game kicked off, I could hear the fans singing my name. I got my first touch and everyone cheered.

After 75 minutes, I knew I’d played alright, but the manager brought me off — I think he thought I was going to wear myself out. I was upset, I wanted to stay on, but the fans gave me a standing ovation. They wanted me to know that I’d done my bit to get us a 0–0 draw. I knew that I’d had the buzz of playing Premier League football for the first time and I wanted more.