AS a boy growing up in Croxteth, Wayne Rooney looked up to Everton's hulking striker Duncan Ferguson in every sense.
In the fullness of time, the admiration would be mutual as Ferguson and football fans worldwide watched the young star of the Everton Academy rise to dizzying international heights.
Now Rooney is back at Goodison wearing the Everton shirt after agreeing to play his hero's testimonial game against Villarreal on August 2 at Goodison.
"The showpiece occasion for one of Everton’s biggest heroes could yet see Big Dunc pulling on the shirt and making one final emotional appearance as a Toffee," says the club. Nevertheless, the arrival of Rooney to the squad is bound to be seen as the icing on the cake, with possibly two Everton legends on the pitch at the same time.
The England captain and Everton Academy graduate played 67 times and scored 15 goals for the Blues and the opportunity to honour both Ferguson and the occasion of his testimonial game proved irresistible.
Hero: Duncan Ferguson“As a young lad growing up in Croxteth, Duncan Ferguson was a hero of mine, as a young player at the club he was an inspiration and when I broke into the first team he helped and looked after me," Rooney revealed.
"I cannot think of a better way to thank Dunc for all he did for me than turning out in his fully deserved testimonial match.
"Had he not asked me to play I would have gone and supported him on the day as I am sure most other Evertonians will."
Ferguson said: "Everybody knows that we go way back. I knew him as a kid, he's a top man and I'm proud as his friend that he's fulfilled the potential we always knew was there.
"Wayne's a world-class player and I'm genuinely thrilled that he will play on the day, just as I'm so grateful to the club for putting on this game."
The playing of Villarreal has an added dimension, too, with Ferguson having what appeared to be a fair goal controversially disallowed by referee Pierluigi Collina when Everton trailed Villarreal 3-2 on aggregate in the dying moments of a Champions League qualifying game in 2004/05.
Everton's hopes of playing in the group stages were dashed in an instant and Ferguson retired as a player at the end of that season.
Tickets are now on sale for Duncan Ferguson’s Testimonial on Sunday, August 2 at Goodison Park against Villarreal, kick-off 3pm, £20 for adults and £10 for under-16s and over 65s. You can purchase tickets by visiting evertonfc.com/eticketing, calling 0151 556 1878 (option 1) or in person by visiting the Park End box office or the city centre ticket facilities in Everton Two, Liverpool One or TicketQuarter, located in Queen Square.
