I broke Wayne Rooney’s club record but was driving a taxi three years later

Wayne Rooney could not have imagined that at age 21, Everton would have already got one other participant breaking his information.

The Toffees could have thought lightning struck twice when John-Paul Kissock first emerged via the youth ranks.

In 2006, simply after Rooney had accomplished his second season at Manchester United, his boyhood membership appeared to have one other starlet on the identical trajectory as the previous England captain.

A then 16-year-old Kissock was thrust into the highlight after breaking Rooney’s document to turn into the youngest participant to seem in Everton’s reserve group.

The 2 Scousers each grew up in Everton-mad households earlier than becoming a member of the Toffees at a younger age.

Kissock made such speedy progress that he appeared for the England Below-16s group at simply 14 and was with the Below-18s two years later.

“I’m fairly a shy individual, so I didn’t just like the limelight,” he informed PlanetFootball in 2021 on the media consideration he was receiving.

“It was all a bit overwhelming for me on the time, whereas others I used to be near who had been making a reputation for themselves, reminiscent of Jose Baxter, embraced it.”

Kissock appeared to be on the cusp of a senior breakthrough when he discovered himself across the first-team squad beneath David Moyes.

The midfielder loved a handful of appearances in pre-season friendlies forward of the 2008/09 marketing campaign.

At age 18, Kissock was an unused substitute within the opening 4 video games of the marketing campaign however was by no means handed his aggressive senior debut.

Many years later, the now 35-year-old believes his fashion of play put him out of favour with Moyes’ defensive ways at Goodison Park.

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David Moyes’ fashion of play at Everton

“Moyes is what I name an important supervisor, defensively,” he added. “He likes a little bit of solidity, which was not good for me due to the sort of participant I used to be.

“Moyes’ precedence was defence first, however I’d attempt to get it off the again 4 and make runs to attempt to create one thing, and play my recreation, as Neil and Gary let me do.

“He didn’t like that. I discovered his method a bit harder, and I feel he grew to become pissed off with me.”

Everton reached the FA Cup last on the finish of the 2008/09 season, however suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Chelsea.

Kissock, who had been on the bench within the opening rounds, knew the writing was on the wall after he was not noted of the Wembley squad.

He has since admitted he needed to stop soccer utterly after Moyes broke the information that he didn’t have a future at Goodison Park.

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“I used to be devastated to depart Everton,” Kissock informed the Liverpool Echo. “I’ve supported all of them my life and can all the time love the membership.

“I wasn’t Moyes’ kind of participant. He doesn’t have many flamboyant gamers in his facet.

“However you’ll be able to’t argue with what he has achieved at Everton and I want him all the very best. I used to be on the bench quite a bit and there have been occasions I believed I would get on.

“Nevertheless, it by no means occurred and I used to be gutted to depart. Moyes took me into his workplace to ship the information and it was a horrible day, one of many worst experiences of my life.

“When he informed me it was horrible. There have been uncontrollable tears. I broke down within the dressing room though I used to be decided to not.

“I had been on the membership for 12 years and it was onerous to inform the household, particularly my dad. He’s a mad blue and it was a shock.

“Everybody thought I deserved an opportunity. Essentially the most galling factor is to not have performed a single recreation, that’s what I needed to attain.

“I did not wish to play soccer after that. I simply needed to stop.”

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Kissock’s post-Everton profession

After leaving Everton, Kissock loved a four-month stint within the Scottish League for Hamilton Academical.

However he was launched in the beginning of December 2009 and commenced working for a taxi rent agency.

He resurfaced at Newton of the West Cheshire League after being inspired by household and buddies to offer soccer one other crack.

Kissock additionally turned out for an additional native facet, Formby, earlier than turning out for Nationwide League golf equipment together with Southport, Luton City, Ebbsfleet United and Whitehawk.

In January 2019, the participant affectionally referred to as the ‘Non League Messi’ by Hatters followers made the final transfer of his profession.

He rejoined Whitehawk as a player-assistant supervisor, however after the pandemic, discovered work as an alternative together with his brother’s property enterprise.

Kissock, who stays an Everton fan, added to PlanetFootball: “I’ve by no means been a bitter individual, and I had some nice experiences.

“It by no means occurred for me at Everton, however I don’t have a nasty phrase to say about anybody there.”