A MINEHEAD salon owner who is mad about Manchester United had a night to remember after being invited to the relaunch of Rio Ferdinand’s restaurant.

Dan James, from Something Else hair salon in Summerland Road, brushed shoulders with Premier League players past and present including Rio himself, former England striker Andy Cole, as well as Stoke’s Charlie Adam and Everton defender Ashley Williams.

Dan, who manages Taunton and District Saturday League side Alcombe Rovers, has been sending off team shirts to players in the hope they will sign them for the club’s 70th anniversary raffle at the end of the season.

He also has his own range of beard and grooming products, Mr SE, and included some of the range in the parcel.

“I was shocked when I got a call from Rio’s agent asking if they could use the products in goody bags for the re-opening of his Rosso restaurant in Manchester and I was invited,” he said.

The event was full of glitz and glamour and as well as footballers. Dan also got to meet singer Rebecca Ferguson and celebrity Katie Price.

“It was fantastic, Rio is an awesome guy, he stood out a mile and oozes style and quality, as a massive United fan it was an amazing experience.

“I also got to meet to Andy Cole who is just a legend but he was really down to earth. We had a quick chat and he was happy to pose for a photo.

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“It was great to see these guys in a relaxed atmosphere away from the game, having a drink and having a laugh.”

He also said it was a dream networking experience to help gain exposure for the Mr SE brand.

Dan started the range after noticing a gap in the market. “Beards are really in fashion right now and many of my customers were asking for products to use – the products out there were very expensive and I thought I would look into whether it was more efficient to have my own brand,” he said.

In 2012 Dan had done fundraising auctioning painted fibreglass gorillas to buy special bikes for four-year old twins, Jake and Theo Shopland, four, who suffer with cerebral palsy.

“I spoke with my designer friend Gary Floyd, who said we should use the gorilla for the Mr SE brand, it is something I had been associated with previously and is a cool, masculine image for the products,” he said.

Dan has already had a lot of success with the Alcombe Rovers shirt signing as well – already having shirts autographed by the likes of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary and Phil Neville.

“A lot of young people who come into the salon feel they have to leave to make something of themselves but it is possible to make a good life for yourself here,” he said.