Owen, who grew up in the village, enjoys a close family association with the club having played as a junior along with his dad, brothers, son and nephew.

The 33-year-old, who announced his retirement from the game in March, was back at the Gladstone on Tuesday afternoon to launch a new shinpad insurance initiative and reflected on his time at the club with great satisfaction.

“It’s been passed down the family in many ways,” said Owen. “It’s our local club and where it started for me.

“I joined here when I was 11. It was great, we won the league and had some great memories here so it’s great to be back.

“It’s local to me so we drive past quite a lot but to come back into to the changing rooms where we once changed and see the place again is great.”

Owen admitted he always set out to work his way to stardom from the Gladstone playing fields to arenas like Wembley Stadium, which he managed in an illustrious career at some of the world’s biggest clubs.

“I always believed I was going to be a footballer, it’s the only thing I wanted to do,” he declared. “As a youngster, when you are playing at eleven or 12, it’s fun and you’re making your parents proud. It was no pressure, just going out with your mates and having a kick-about.

“If you look back at my career and think from these playing fields learning the trade to where I have been it’s what every boy dreams of. I have been very fortunate to do it but it was always the plan.”

Not the only famous footballing figure to emerge from Hawarden Rangers, Owen joins the likes of Ian Rush, Barry Horne and the late Gary Speed in also spending time at the club as a junior.

“It’s obviously a great catchment area,” said Owen of the club’s amuni. “Hawarden Rangers is regarded as one of the best football clubs around and there has been a lot of success over the years.

“There is a great community spirit, coaches and players put their time and effort into it and, as they say, success breeds success.”

And asked whether he feels he has put Hawarden on the map, Owen replied: “I would like to think so. I can’t imagine many other local teams that have got a roll call of four international players with probably over 200 caps between them.”

While back at the club, Chester-born Owen spent time with some of the club's Senior and Mini players and held a Q&A session.

PICTURES: See the photo album from the day here.

Michael was speaking at the launch of Shinpad Insurance, a new online football injury insurance specialist for grassroots players. For more information visit www.shinpadinsurance.com.