Wayne Rooney is star guest at pub quiz

Jonathan Morris

BBC News, South West

4 July 2024

A pub quizmaster said he scored "the most surreal" evening when England football legend Wayne Rooney strolled into the bar.

Chun-Sun Chan was calling out the questions at Seco Lounge in Plymouth when Rooney, the newly-appointed head coach of Plymouth Argyle, arrived with a few friends.

Mr Chan said he was about to kick off a round of questions about the Euros, for which Rooney has been a TV pundit.

Rooney did not take part in the quiz on Monday but happily posed for a series of selfies for awestruck quizzers, including Mr Chan.

PA Media

Rooney took over as head coach at Plymouth Argyle in May

"He was very friendly," Mr Chan told BBC Radio Devon.

"It was very, very surreal and cool really but very, very amusing at the same time."

The quiz started at about 19:30 BST on Monday at the Royal William Yard cafe and bar, he said.

"I'm going about my usual business and sadly, the microphone wasn't working so I was parading up and down the bar and calling out questions.

"Then in walks Wayne Rooney with a group of chaps.

"I did a bit of a double take, went over, shook his shook his hand and said, 'Welcome to Plymouth and best of luck for the new season.'

"He said, 'thank you very much.'

"He sat down in the corner and was actually quite happy to listen in on the quiz.

"He didn't actually partake, which is just as well, because round seven was all about the Euros.

"And I did make that known to the rest of the pub that nobody's to bother Mr Rooney or try to to get answers off him."

'More than welcome'

Mr Chan said he "couldn't bring myself" to let the former Everton and Manchester United star know that he was a fan of rivals Liverpool.

"I've had loads of friends on social media ribbing me about it," he said.

It is not known whether Mr Rooney will be a regular at the venue, but Mr Chan said he was "more than welcome to join in the quiz at Seco anytime".