Connor masters rivals for six- hit success
Goal record’s not the focus for Rooney
CONNOR Crozier won every event he took part in to lead City of Sunderland Masters’ success story in the North East Counties Open Masters event.
In the 18- 24 years category, Crozier claimed six victories on a great day at South Shields’ Haven Point pool against good opposition from across the country.
He completed the 50m and 100m double in freestyle and backstroke, while also triumphing in the 50m butterfly and 50m breaststroke. WAYNE Rooney is convinced he will become England’s greatest ever goal scorer, but would quickly ditch the accolade if it meant he finally won some silverware with the national side.
Rooney looks set to join an elite group of players next month by winning his 100th cap.
Rooney also has another landmark in his sights – that of England’s top scorer – an honour currently held by Sir Bobby Charlton.
Rooney has an opportunity to bridge the eight- goal gap that separates him from his hero tonight when he leads England out against San Marino in the Euro 2016 qualifier at Wembley.
But the biggest concern Rooney has at the moment is not bettering Charlton’s 49- goal England haul, it is the lack of success he has enjoyed with the national side.
Ever since he made his debut in 2003 Rooney has won absolutely nothing and he is desperate for that to change.
“It would be great if I could do it ( become top scorer),” the England captain said
“I’d never have thought that when I came into this England team that I would be best goal scorer.
“It would be massive for me and make my family proud. I want to do it. But for a footballer, you’re in this game for your team- mates and there’s nothing better than getting a trophy.”
With San Marino and Estonia next up for England, Rooney should be able to reach the 44- goal mark held by the man who is third in the list, Jimmy Greaves.
Although Rooney admits moving level with the former Tottenham great is possible, he will not let it weigh heavy on his mind as he leads England out tonight.
“I’m confident in myself and believe I will ( do it), but the game ( tonight) is more important than me scoring four or five goals,” he added.
Even though the opposition is weak, Rooney will not find it hard to motivate himself for the visit of San Marino.
“To get yourself up for a game at Wembley is quite easy,” he said.
“We can win comfortably. We have to go out and do that.”
San Marino are expected to park the bus and use every trick in the book to curb England’s attacks.
Theo Walcott lasted just 10 minutes before he had to come off the last time England played San Marino two years ago.
Goalkeeper Aldo Junior Simoncini took the Arsenal winger out with a dangerous high tackle in the 5- 0 win at Wembley.
Rooney sees no point in holding back. He said: “For me, personally, you can’t go into a game thinking you’ve got to avoid tackles.
“That’s how you get injured. We have to play the way we normally would and hopefully we avoid any bad challenge and injuries.”
In the same category, clubmate Calum Conway won the 100m butterfly, adding secondplace finishes in the 50m and 100m freestyle.
Neil Shutt won the 100m individual medley in the 3539 section, was second in the 100m breaststroke and 100m freestyle, and also claimed third place in the 50m freestyle.
Chris Toop, in the same category, was runner- up in the 200m medley and third in the 100m medley.
In the over 60 category, Graeme Shutt won the 50m backstroke and placed fourth in the 50m breaststroke, while Norman Stephenson was second in the 100m butterfly, 200m medley and 200m breaststroke, and ended third in the 50m breaststroke. He also had two fourth- place finishes in the 100m medley and 50m butterfly.
Meanwhile, Sunderland’s Ronan Dooley and Geoff Armstrong have competed in recent open water events, the Buttermere Lake 10k, the Coniston Lake 5.25 mile race and the Kielder one mile event. Armstrong gained an excellent third place against 200 other competitors at Kielder.