FOOTBALLER Michael Owen scored a goal with a Chester charity but an own goal with his Flintshire fans when he ‘forgot’ his roots on national TV on Sunday.

The ex-England man might have excelled on the sports field during his school days in Hawarden, but it appears geography wasn’t his strongest subject.

The Stoke striker was left confused when he, Louise, his mum Janette and his sisters Karen and Lesley competed on ITV’s All Star Family Fortunes on Sunday night to win £30,000 for the Chester Childbirth Appeal.

When asked by host Vernon Kay where his family came from, he said ‘Ewloe, near Cheshire’ – seemingly forgetting the village is in Flintshire.

His wife Louise was also filmed at their luxury home Lower Soughton Hall, between Northop and Sychdyn, which she said was in Chester – despite the city being 10 miles away.

And Owen’s comments appear to have riled some locals.

The star – who previously played for Liverpool, Real Madrid and Manchester United – also represented Flintshire schoolboys.

Nigel Williams, who runs the Tea Station in Northop, said: “There was no mention of Flintshire, not even North Wales.

“I can see his house from where we live and I would certainly never say I live near Chester, it is 10 miles away.”

Marion Bateman, who lives in Sychdyn and sits on Northop Community Council, said: “He lives in a beautiful village and is very fortunate to live here and should be proud of where he is from.

“Not only is this the most beautiful village in Flintshire, we also have the lowest council tax precept – not that Michael Owen will be too worried about that!”

But others were less sensitive and took Owen’s side on social media. Lee Fennell tweeted: “To be fair, who’s heard of Northop? I tell people not from around here Chester too.”

On the programme, Janette mentioned Owen’s support of Chester FC and the star was spotted in the crowd at Monday’s cup match against Tranmere Rovers.