…Researched and contributed by Gift BADEWO.
Drinking Session with Wayne Rooney Ends with Former Man United Staff Member Being Wheelchaired off the Flight
Former Manchester United sports therapist, Rod Thornley, who was with Rooney and the England squad during their Euro 2004 campaign, recounted a drinking contest with Rooney on the plane after the Three Lions clinched qualification from the group stages following a tempestuous stalemate with Turkey.
The session ended with Thornley being wheeled off the flight after drinking himself into a paralytic state.
Drinking Contest on the Plane
Thornley celebrated the moment by entering a drinking contest with Rooney on the plane.
However, while Thornley drank himself into a stupor, Rooney was throwing his shots to the side, unbeknown to the health guru.
The booze-fest culminated in Thornley throwing up all over the plane, while a sober Rooney looked on.
Gary Neville to the Rescue
In the aftermath of the drinking fiasco, Rooney was nowhere to be seen, and it was left to Gary Neville to pick up the pieces.
Neville took Thornley on a wheelchair through Manchester airport when they arrived back in England.
Neville then ensured the United employee got home in one piece by wheeling him out the back exit to avoid the media’s glare, and drove him home, where he stayed until he recovered.
Thornley said, “Gary Neville walks me through the airport in Manchester, puts me in his taxi, in a wheelchair. He literally put me in his car and took me back to my apartment, put me in bed. W*****ed I was!”
Rooney Drops the ‘Sir’ Title from Alex Ferguson’s Name
Rooney and Thornley had another incident while on England duty ahead of the retired striker’s move to Manchester United.
Thornley warned Rooney not to drop the ‘sir’ title from Alex Ferguson’s name when calling the then-United boss, but Rooney did it anyway.
Thornley knew that the fiery Scotsman wouldn’t like it.