Background
Rooney was born in Cowie, Stirling, and began his football career with Clydebank in his native Scotland before joining English Second Division club Sheffield United in 1958.
Rooney was born in Cowie, Stirling, and began his football career with Clydebank in his native Scotland before joining English Second Division club Sheffield United in 1958.
He played as a winger. He played occasionally in his first two seasons with the club, but not thereafter. In the 1962-1963 season, he was registered with three different clubs: Sheffield United transferred him to Doncaster Rovers for a £5,000 fee in October 1962, but exchanged him for Lincoln City"s Albert Broadbent soon afterwards.
Rooney made his Lincoln debut in January 1963, yet at the end of the season, Lincoln confirmed that he was one of four players available for transfer.
He made his last Lincoln appearance in December 1963 before moving into English non-league football with Gainsborough Trinity.