Rooney ‘two goals short of Charlton’
WAYNE ROONEY has the chance to break Sir Bobby Charlton’s Manchester United all-time scoring this afternoon – but some may argue he is still two goals short.
The 31-year-old moved level with the World Cup winner on 249 goals by scoring the opener in last weekend’s FA Cup third-round win against Reading.
A goal today against Liverpool could see Rooney move clear in the record books, but there is a match that causes some consternation, given that Charlton netted a brace on his final appearance for the club.
The outgoing great scored twice at Hellas Verona in the Anglo-Italian Cup, but United historians do not count the match towards his official haul of 249 goals in 758 appearances.
Whether it is deemed competitive or not, the match in Italy was a memorable occasion for Charlton – and a young player called Pat Olney.
A two-footed outside forward, on that day in May, 1973, the 17-yearold youth player came off the bench for his United first-team debut.
What is more, he scored the goal that kicked off a 4-1 victory in Veneto.
“I came on for Willie Morgan,” Olney said, 43 years on from that memorable moment.
“It was my only first-team appearance – and not a bad game to play in and score in.
“To me, it still feels like it was last week – and I wish it was last week again.”
United boss Tommy Docherty had told Olney he would play a part in Italy days earlier in the league finale at Chelsea.
That is considered Charlton’s final competitive match, but he was just enthused by donning the United shirt against Verona.
“Bobby jumped for joy,” Olney said after coming off the bench at half-time and opening the scoring in the 53rd minute.
“He played the ball through to me, then it was between me and the goalkeeper. Thank God I got the better of that one.
“I scored the first goal coming on, then Pete Fletcher scored and Bobby got two.
“It was a dream come true to play with Bobby and United.”