Sometimes, even football royalty need a break—and for Wayne and Coleen Rooney, that meant trading stadium seats for bumper cars during their recent family trip to Northern Ireland.
After cheering on their teenage son Kai at a youth tournament, the couple was spotted enjoying a low-key, fun-filled day out at a local amusement park.
A Surprise Sighting at Curry’s Fun Park
Locals in Portrush were left doing double takes when the famous couple turned up at Curry’s Fun Park, a popular seaside spot in County Antrim.
Wayne, sporting a casual look with a black cap and sunglasses, was seen relaxing while letting his son Kit take the wheel on the dodgems. Meanwhile, Coleen was all smiles as she hopped into her own bumper car and joined the fun.
An Unexpected Encounter with a Former Radio Host
The moment was caught on video by Alan Simpson, a former BBC radio presenter who had actually played a part in getting the Rooneys to the park.
He later shared the clip online with the cheeky caption, “You just never know who you’ll bump into at Curry’s Fun Park Portrush.”
Simpson later explained that Coleen had reached out, expressing interest in visiting the park during a break from the tournament.
“They were just lovely,” he said. “Totally grounded.
Wayne, Coleen, and the kids had a blast and fit right in with everyone else.”
Ghost Trains, Roller Coasters, and Crystal Palace Banter
According to Curry’s Fun Park staff, the Rooneys spent a couple of hours exploring the attractions—from the Ghost Train to the Cyclone coaster and, of course, the classic bumper cars.
The outing didn’t go unnoticed, with fellow visitors describing it as surreal to literally “bump into Wayne and Coleen Rooney” on the rides.
The park’s owners, Jacqueline and Owen Curry, were thrilled to host the footballing family.
Jacqueline even exchanged style tips with Coleen, while Owen—a lifelong Crystal Palace fan—took the chance to remind Wayne of Palace’s recent 4-0 win over his beloved Manchester United.
Family First, Even During a Football-Filled Week
The getaway came during a short break from watching their son Kai, who was competing in the SuperCupNI tournament with Manchester United’s academy squad.
The 15-year-old is following in his father’s footsteps, having played in the same tournament Wayne once did back in 2000.
The Rooneys were seen earlier in the week in the stands at the Coleraine Showgrounds, cheering on Kai and his teammates.
Other familiar faces at the tournament included former players like Jamie Redknapp, Michael Carrick, and Northern Ireland’s Corey Evans.
Kai’s team made it all the way to the final but narrowly lost to Southampton with a 1-0 scoreline.
Wayne later praised his son and the squad online, calling it a “brilliant effort” and thanking the local community for their warm welcome.
Meanwhile, On the Other Side of Wayne’s Career…
While his family life seems to be full of joy and laughter, Wayne’s coaching career hasn’t been as rosy lately.
His stint as manager of Birmingham City ended abruptly after just 15 games, and the fallout from that chapter is now playing out in a new Amazon Prime documentary, Built in Birmingham: Brady and the Blues.
NFL legend and minority Blues owner Tom Brady is seen expressing doubts about Rooney’s work ethic in the series.
In one revealing scene, Brady is shown leaving a training session and telling his business manager that he’s “a little worried” about their head coach’s dedication.
His colleague doesn’t sugarcoat it either, replying, “Comes across as lackadaisical.”
A Tough Transition from Star Player to Manager
After calling time on his playing career, Rooney jumped straight into management—first at Derby County, where he earned praise for leading the club through difficult financial times.
He then took over at DC United in the MLS before returning to England for what seemed like a promising move to Birmingham City.
Backed by American investors Knighthead Capital, and with Brady on board, the club controversially sacked fan-favorite John Eustace to bring in Rooney.
At the time, Birmingham was pushing for a Championship playoff spot—but the change proved disastrous.
Rooney managed just two wins out of 15, and the team’s form nose-dived.
He was dismissed in January, just a few months after arriving.
Brady Regrets and Lessons Learned
In the documentary, Brady reflects on what went wrong, acknowledging that he ignored early advice not to make drastic changes too quickly.
“We made sweeping changes that put us in decline. That was our doing,” he admits.
While the series sheds light on Rooney’s challenges in management, his family day out in Portrush serves as a reminder that there’s more to life than football.
And judging by the laughter on the dodgems, the Rooneys know how to make the most of their downtime.