CHRIS LINES was working in a supermarket the day Wayne Rooney famously scored his first Premier League goal — aged 16.
But tonight he takes on the England, Manchester United and Everton legend in the centre of midfield as his Northampton side host Derby in the FA Cup.
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Rooney fired a last-minute 25-yard winner against Arsenal in 2002 to announce himself on the top stage.
And it inspired Lines, now 34 and just a month younger than Roo, to become a professional player.
He said: “I had just been released by Bristol Rovers and was working at Tesco, driving there on my moped.
“So while Wazza was bending balls into the top corner in the Premier League, I was serving the public their fruit and veg.
“I was on the checkouts. It was my first real job earning money on the side while at college.”
Lines reckons Rooney thrived as a teen because of his physique, in an era where that mattered more than it does now.
He said: “It’s so rare for someone that age to make such an impact.
“His size and stature helped him a lot as 15 to 20 years ago it was all about if you were big enough, you were old enough.
‘WAYNE CAN PLAY ANYWHERE’
“Now, you see more 16, 17, 18-year-olds getting a chance.
“Take Luke Matheson at Rochdale for example. He made his debut at 15, scored at Old Trafford at 16 and plays regularly at 17.”
Rooney never looked back after that iconic goal and went on to become United and England’s record goalscorer.
Ahead of their fourth-round clash with the Championship outfit, Lines added: “As we’re the same age, what he was achieving was inspiring and made me want to make it.
“I got released by Rovers aged 15 and much of that was down to not being big enough and strong enough. But a lot of kids are still developing at 15, 16.
“Luckily for Rooney, he was a big lad and had the technique, too. Now, even in our league, we see people chucked in for their technical ability and it’s nice to see.”
Lines has met Roo before . . . at a local car dealership in Bristol nine years ago. But he was not star-struck then — and will not be tonight either.
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The Cobblers star revealed: “It was at an event in Bristol at an Audi showroom and he was a special guest.
“But I’ve never been one of those who will be after his autograph or a selfie.
“I’ll shake his hand before and after the match — but it’s just another game.”
Rooney has been deployed as a deep-lying midfielder since joining the Rams.
That is despite the fact he was the deadliest striker in English football for the best part of two decades.
But Lines, whose Cobblers are sixth in League Two, said: “Wayne can play anywhere he wants as he’s one of the best players this country has produced.
“It suits him sitting back in there and dictating things.”
Lines has FA Cup pedigree having made the quarter-finals with Bristol Rovers in 2008.
But he said: “I’ve not been too lucky drawing massive ties in the Cup, so it’s good I get to face Rooney.
“The biggest game I had was at Rovers in the League Cup when we lost 3-2 at Chelsea four years ago.
“You watch on TV and don’t really understand these guys are on a different level.
“Hopefully the pitch will not be the best when Derby come to us and we can surprise them.”
