Former Everton striker Wayne Rooney has paid tribute to Bob Pendleton - the scout that took him to Goodison Park - after it was announced that he had passed away at the age of 81.
Pendleton passed away peacefully in Fazakerley Hospital, just months after the passing of his wife Margaret.
Sadly, he had been living with dementia and was a participant with Everton in the Community’s Pass on the Memories programme.
A major part of Everton’s youth scouting department for more than 30 years, Pendleton was responsible for bringing a plethora of youngsters to the club that would represent the Blues at first-team level, including Rooney.
As a die-hard Evertonian, Pendleton started attending matches all the way back in 1948 and remained a familiar face around Goodison Park until his retirement.
His passing has been met with a great deal of sadness from within the Everton family, with former striker Rooney leading the tributes.
On Sunday afternoon, the former England captain, currently in caretaker charge at Championship club Derby County, took to Twitter to pay tribute to Pendelton.
He wrote: "Sad to hear the news that Bob Pendleton the Everton scout that brought me to the club has passed away in Fazakerley Hospital at the age of 81," Rooney wrote on Twitter, "Rest in peace Bob. Prayers and condolences to all Bob’s family and friends."
An Academy pitch at Everton’s Finch Farm training ground is already named in his honour.
The Bob Pendleton Training Pitch was opened back in 2016 when Leighton Baines and Ross Barkley unveiled a plaque reading: "In recognition of over 30 years’ service in recruiting the finest players to play for Everton Football Club."
Working closely with the late Sid Benson, Pendelton helped identify Tony Hibbert and nurture the talents of Baines, Barkley and Leon Osman, who between them played more than 1,300 games for the first-team at Goodison Park.
