Wayne Rooney says his drink-drive punishment of community service in a garden centre is “refreshing” and “relaxing”.
Rooney was ordered to complete 100 hours’ unpaid work in September after admitting being nearly three times over the legal limit when stopped by police.
Former England and Manchester United captain said he was made to feel welcome and was “really enjoying it”.
The Everton striker was banned from driving for two years in September.
Rooney, who earns £150,000 a week, told Talksport: “I knew straight away I had made a stupid mistake and I have to move on.”
Rooney, who said he was about halfway through the community service, added: “I’ve really enjoyed doing it.”
He said he had been working with adults with learning difficulties in a garden centre and had been “helping them with different things they’re making over Christmas”.
He added: “Honestly, I’m really enjoying it, working with these people, and I think it’s a place now where I’ll certainly keep in touch with when obviously my hours are over.”
‘Refreshing place’
The striker said the staff there were “doing a fantastic job” and made him “feel really welcome”.
Asked if he got any “stick”, Rooney said: “No, not at all.
“We actually don’t even talk about football in there. It’s a refreshing place to go and it’s relaxing.”
The 32-year-old pleaded guilty at Stockport Magistrates’ Court to drink-driving following an incident in the early hours of 1 September.
Rooney had reportedly left a cocktail bar in Wilmslow, Cheshire, in a taxi with lettings agent Laura Simpson, 29, and later went on to take the wheel of her vehicle.
Police stopped Rooney in Altrincham Road at 02:10 BST – with Ms Simpson in the front passenger seat – after they noticed a rear light was not working.
After failing a roadside breath test the footballer was taken to a local police station where he produced a reading of 104 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit in England and Wales is 35 microgrammes.
