What is the first thing you think of when you hear Wayne Rooney's name?
I'd be willing to bet it wasn't "Poet".
An interview given today by former England youth coach Dick Bate has revealed how the Manchester United and England captain once asked for the attention of the England U-17 dressing room to recite a poem that he had written about his love of football and playing for England.
Rooney was playing for England at the U-17 European Championships in 2002, and having impressed Bate on the training pitch, the young striker approached the coach and asked if he could say a few words, as Bate describes:
I think it took most of the group aback. Here was a young boy just expressing his love for England in the best format and most succinct manner he could. I have never seen anyone stand up and do that before. I will never forget it.
While Bate wouldn't reveal the contents of the poem due to dressing-room code, he did reveal that it was called "When Saturday Comes".
Maybe Rooney's next book will be a collection of secret poems? We won't hold our breath.
via Independent.co.uk
