On Tuesday September 8th of this year, footballer Wayne Rooney wrote himself into the English football history books. He scored his 5oth international goal against Switzerland, thus becoming England’s all-time record goalscorer.  This was the basis of this BBC1 behind-the-scenes’ documentary about Rooney that aired last night.  Somewhat ironically but also very appropriately, it was fronted by ex-England footballer Gary Lineker. Lineker being an ex-England footballing great who some years previously had just narrowly missed out on breaking this scoring record held by Sir Bobby Charlton. Overall, I thought this programme was a good worthwhile watch. Good, but not exceptional is my verdict!

I will start off with the good stuff first then. For all his haters out there, I thought it was great see what Rooney was really like away from the football pitch.  Away from this emotionally charged setting, Rooney at home just appeared like any other normal bloke who loved spending time with his wife and kids. It was great to a more humanized version Rooney. Him playing football with his young boys in their back garden was a really endearing sight to see. I also liked hearing from Colleen(his wife) about the dynamics of their relationship.  Countless rubbish has also been written about her in the past so hearing her talk and discuss things with Linekar was another positive in my view.  I bet Rooney was overjoyed though that she did not know where some his love poems to her were.

I thought the stuff about him playing football as a young schoolboy was quite interesting. For instance, I had no idea that he first went to Liverpool FC for a trial. Him turning up there all kitted out in his beloved Everton strip and being told off was an amusing anecdote to share.  Speaking as a person who has spent a lot of time in Merseyside, I enjoyed all the stuff about scousers and about the City of Liverpool.  The interview clips from his parents were insightful too.  He may now be a millionaire but ultimately at his core he is still this working-class kid from Croxteth.  The only bit that surprised me here was upon hearing that his Mum is still a Dinner Lady at a Secondary School.  You could say this shows a great work ethic on her part, or alternatively you could ask why on earth is she doing this when her eldest son is now a multi-millionaire?

A criticism of mine about the programme is that Lineker could have been a touch more probing in his questions to Rooney.  Although, I guess Lineker was never suddenly going to go all Jeremy Paxman on him.  A few controversies concerning Rooney were covered and that surprised me in some respects, however Lineker could have tried delving a little bit deeper. For example, it was covered that in 2010 Rooney handed in a transfer request to leave Manchester United.  There was footage from Gary Neville giving his account of the story. Rooney’s agent Paul Stretford also gave a few words on what happened.  There was nevertheless nothing from Rooney.

In fairness to the documentary, one controversial story was covered which I thought might be omitted or quickly glossed over.  I was sat there thinking, ‘I wonder if they will mention about him turning to the camera after an England game once and moaning about England fans’.  It was and it was interesting to get Frank Lampard’s and Steven Gerrard’s views upon it.  The episode showed Rooney cared in my book and there is no shame in that.

Barring my last point, I found the stuff about the World Cups and the England Football Team a bit on the boring side.  I used to love supporting England whenever they played. Now, I just find watching them bland and uninspiring.  I can could never care more about England than I do about the club I support. There just is not the same emotional attachment there for me.  Maybe this is because I am a northerner and think the England team ethos is a bit ‘too London centric’ these days(the Nation Stadium being there).  It has also been ages since we did really well in a big tournament so half of me has stopped caring how we do, so as to avoid the subsequent disappointment that regularly comes our way as a nation when we get knocked out early on. It is undoubtedly a brilliant achievement by Rooney to have become England’s all-time leading goalscorer and indeed was worthy of such a documentary being made.  I just find it hard to get excited about anything concerning the England men’s football team these days.

Like I said at the top, this was a good watch without it ever being amazing.  It dragged a little in places, there was the glaring omission of Sir Alex Ferguson not paying a tribute to Rooney, and the England stuff bored me a bit in places. It was insightful though at times and any big sports fan like me should have gladly lapped it up.  It was good to see a more humanized version of Rooney……it was good to get a different perspective on this seemingly SHY, SUPER STRIKING SCOUSER! 3/5.