Eddie Kirkland

The dream of playing for England, of pulling on the famous white shirt, of scoring the winner in the World Cup Final, will remain exactly that for most of us – a dream. With Official England Supporter, William Hill, this summer, however, you can show your support by backing your child or relation.

William Hill are investing £1 million in the future of the England football teams by allowing punters to back their young cubs to grow into lions or lionesses. Entitled ‘Back your Pride and Joy,’ customers will get a free £5 bet certificate at odds of 1000/1 if their ‘pride and joy’ plays for the England men’s or women’s senior team. William Hill will be offering maximum of £1 million worth of stakes in what is bound to be a very popular promotion so punters need to get in there quick to back their ‘pride and joy’.

To qualify, customers simply need to go in shop or online and have a bet on any football market then visit www.williamhill.com/playforengland to customise their own £5 free bet certificate.

William Hill have form when it comes to this kind of bet as England International goalkeeper, Chris Kirkland, will attest. When he was eleven years old, Kirkland’s father backed his son at 100/1 to win a senior England cap. After a few injury scares, Chris eventually won an England cap in 2006 against Greece and netted his proud father a cool £10,000.

Eddie Kirkland, who owes a massive debt of gratitude to his long suffering wife Marie, 53, who encouraged Chris and him every step of the way, said: ‘When I placed my bet 20 years ago, I only wish they had given me a 1000-1 – this is a fantastic opportunity for families with talented offspring’

‘It was never about the money for me once Chris had made the grade – though if I’d had more I’d have put more on back when he was a youngster as I could see his ability shining through. ‘But it’s not about the parents – it’s all about the children. They have got to want to do it themselves. ‘They have to want to play and enjoy playing – my advice to any youngster is the same that I gave to Chris just make sure you enjoy it.”

Chris(31) is now a father himself and is hoping his William Hill ‘Back Your Pride and Joy’ certificate will pay dividends in the coming years ‘At a 1000-1 it’s a great opportunity for a family to get a small fortune for free – I have my certificate for my 5-year-old daughter, Lucy, to play for the England senior women’s football side.’

“Chris Kirkland’s father had no doubt that his son would go on to represent his country and we are offering our punters the same opportunity to back their young cubs to become lions or lionesses,” said William Hill’s spokesman Joe Crilly. “Your child could be the next Wayne Rooney or Kelly Smith and you can now back them to do their nation proud.”<