A Shrewsbury soccer fan will be keeping a close eye on Wayne Rooney’s fancy footwork during the World Cup – after designing the slogan for the England ace’s boots.
Richard McKenna’s logo ‘Roo Dares Wins’ was personally chosen by Rooney above thousands of other entries in a nationwide competition run by Nike.
The 34-year-old has now seen his winning slogan stitched onto the star’s £250-a-pair Total 90 Nike boots. Rooney will wear the boots before global audiences throughout the tournament in South Africa.
Lifelong Manchester United fan Richard, of Hereford Road, says he came up with the idea for the competition – called Inspired by You. Worn by Wayne – after watching an episode of TV show Ultimate Force, featuring Ross Kemp.
His design was put on a shortlist of 20, before the striker finally chose it as the most likely design to inspire him to glory in the tournament, which kicks off tomorrow.
Richard learned he had won in an email from Slice Media, who act on behalf of Nike, headed ‘Inspired by Richard. Worn by Wayne’. It asked him to attend a launch ceremony at the Nike Town London store on Oxford Street.
The father-of-two said: “When I got the email telling me I’d been shortlisted I didn’t really think much about it and was happy for it to get to that stage. So when I checked my hotmail account a day later and saw the email telling me I had won I just went ‘Wow!’ and I couldn’t believe it – I thought it was a hoax.”
Nike put on a coach to take Richard and nine of his friends to London last Wednesday, June 2, where he met his footballing hero as well as stars such as Ashley Cole, Rio and Anton Ferdinand and Soccer AM presenter Max Rushden.
It was on the same day that the squad flew off to South Africa, and Richard had the chance to pose with Rooney for photographs and also ask him a number of questions – where he said that Richard’s design would inspire him during the tournament.
“That is something I will never forget and will stay with me forever. I was so nervous meeting him it was untrue and I went completely white with all these cameras in your face but Wayne was such a humble, nice bloke and I did my best to stay composed,” said Richard.
“I told him I wanted to see the design three times when he scores a hat-trick in the final and the thought of seeing it on TV during the World Cup just makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand-up –it’s absolutely fantastic.”
Meanwhile, police have issued a strong plea to soccer fans: ‘Don’t allow alcohol to make it a World Cup of woe’.
Police in Shrewsbury are reminding fans that while having a good time, they should drink sensibly, behave reasonably and avoid trouble.
“Most of us want England to do well and are looking forward to a sporting spectacle,” said Chief Inspector Martin Whitelegg. “There should be some fantastic memories for everyone who loves football – but don’t let your abiding memory be based on being arrested or spending a night in the cells.”
He said extra police officers and community support officers would be on duty during evenings and when key matches were played, especially those involving England.
By David Seadon