Wayne Rooney reveals his testimonial made £1.2million but hopes to quadruple that amount to aid four causes

The Manchester United and England captain's foundation wants to support the NSPCC, Claire House Children‘s Hospice, Alder Hey Children‘s Charity and the Manchester United Foundation

Wayne Rooney and his wife, Colleen, are committed fundraisers (Getty)

In the week when the family of Nobby Stiles revealed that Wayne Rooney is the only Manchester United player of the modern generation to have expressed concern for the state of the England World Cup winner's health, the 31-year-old has raised £1.2million for charity, through his testimonial.

The Stiles family have told The Independent that the now 74-year-old was in good enough health when Rooney wrote to him - his card extended wishes and an appreciation of his contribution to the game - to appreciate the gesture. Ahead of a Football Writers’ Association dinner in Rooney’s honour on Sunday, the details of his testimonial fund-raising have also now been revealed.

It is the aim of the Wayne Rooney Foundation to raise £5m for disadvantaged children, through four chosen charities. The 31-year-old’s awareness of child disability was accentuated by his wife Coleen’s loss of her sister, Rosie McLoughlin, four years ago after a long battle with the brain disorder Rett sydrome.

The charities the foundation are helping are the NSPCC - of which Rooney is the inaugural Ambassador for Childhood - plus three North West causes - Claire House Children‘s Hospice, Alder Hey Children‘s Charity and the Manchester United Foundation. The sum comprises all profits, after operating costs, from the sell-out match played at Old Trafford in August between Everton United.

NSPCC Chief Executive Peter Wanless, said: “Wayne Rooney’s donation and support will enable children and young people in schools across the UK to understand abuse, what abuse is and know the NSPCC’s Childline service is there for them.”

“I’d like to thank all the fans who came to the testimonial and made it such a special night,” Rooney said. “They’ve raised a huge amount of money for children who are disadvantaged and it will make a real difference to their lives.” The testimonial, which was shown live on BT Sport, was the first match to be streamed live on Facebook, and also marked the home debut of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.