Wayne Rooney's decision to walk away from Everton has left fans feeling let down and bitter. As the player's future away from Goodison is being thrashed out today MARY MURTAGH and JENNY WATSON discover just how deep that resentment runs.
It seems yesterday's 0-0 draw against Manchester United - the club Rooney is tipped to join - did nothing to ease the pain.
Staunch Blues fans watching the game at the Prince Albert pub, under the shadow of Goodison, yesterday said they have been resigned to this day for months but still feel Rooney has let them down.
Warren Swale, who lives on Gwladys Street and has held a season ticket for more than 25 years, said: "If Rooney had been really after playing at the best club in the country, he would have gone to Arsenal.
" But he chose Man United with all the history of hatred between them and us.
"When we were playing them on Monday, the Man U fans were shouting 'We hate Scousers' - so how are we meant to feel about him being there having his medicals while our men were on the pitch?"
The 40-year-old decorator added: "The fans didn't care about the scandals, only how he performed on the pitch.
"He traded on being a born and bred Blue, but only while it suited him. Now he is after the big money at a club where he can carry on living the nice life in Formby. "We won't miss him." Season ticket holder Dave Francis, 43, said: "We feel like we nurtured him only to be betrayed at the earliest opportunity."
Full-time mother Liz Brennan, who lives on Neston Street, said: "How many mothers have paid £10 to put Rooney on their kids' shirts?
"There were thousands of them walking to the match last week in the new kit, all with Rooney.
"He has been sly waiting until the very last minute and didn't think of the fans' feelings even though it is us who paid his wages.
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