Bookies could be forced to pay out millions if other bets like the one placed by the father of ex-Coventry and West Bromwich Albion goal-keeper Chris Kirkland come to fruition, experts said yesterday.
William Hill said they have taken dozens of bets from parents who are looking to cash in on their children's fledgling talents.
And, like proud father Eddie Kirkland who said his son would one day play for England, many were given the kind of odds that could see an impressive return on a relatively small bet.
"We have bets on our books for youngsters to grow up to play football for England; to win medals at the 2012 London Olympics; to win Wimbledon; to win the Open Golf Championship; to become World Heavyweight Champions, champion jockeys, prime ministers, chart-toppers; even to win the X Factor (or) become best selling novelists or supermodels," said spokesman Graham Sharpe. "If only a few of them come off we'll be paying out over a million pounds."
Mr Kirkland, of Leicestershire, bet £98.10 12 years ago, with odds of 100/1, that his son would win a senior cap for England before he was 30. He now stands to receive a cheque for £9,908.10 after watching the 25-year-old take the field for England in Wednesday's friendly against Greece.
Mr Sharpe continued: "Hills have paid out when cricketer Gary Pratt made his debut for England during the Ashes series - that cost them £3,400."
