Wrexham star Ollie Rathbone has come a long way from handing drinks to Wayne Rooney at Everton and playfully driving Duncan Ferguson's Range Rover.

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• Father was part of physio team
• Used to attend training sessions
• Mingled with Toffees stars

• Table of Contents

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Rathbone’s father, Mick, followed David Moyes from Preston to Goodison Park in 2002. He would, having enjoyed a professional playing career of his own, go on to become head of sports medicine for the Toffees.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  During that time, young Ollie was often invited down to the training ground. He was given a first taste of what it is like to be a footballer, with shoulders being rubbed with some iconic figures – including a man that would go on to become England captain and Manchester United’s all-time leading goalscorer.

• WHAT OLLIE RATHBONE SAID

  Rathbone told the podcast: "Grew up in a football household – absolutely football mad. My dad started football at 16, he’s 66 now, he’s still in the game and has been in it for 50 years. That was the only sport for me, in my house.

  "When he was at Everton, on some of the quiet days he’d take me in. I’d have a kickaround and meet the players. It was the best. I remember handing Wayne Rooney, who was on the verge of superstardom, a drink. They were glory days. I think it was a Lucozade."

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Rathbone added on the other shenanigans that he got up to, which included taking the wheel of Scottish striker Ferguson’s car: "I can only vaguely remember that. He’d be driving and I’d be sat on his lap. I’d be doing the steering and he’d be doing the pedals.

  "That was always good fun. He always used to give me 20 quid as well, which was a good part. I used to love going into Everton because I could play football all day and at the end there was 20 quid!"

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Category: News