Wilson, 16, nets his grandfather €147,000 in Wales debut bet

The jubilant grandfather of football star Harry Wilson is set to bank €147,352 (£125,000) after betting the teenager would play for Wales — when the player was only 18 months old.

The 16-year-old Liverpool academy star made his international debut last night — scoring a big win for his grandfather the moment he came on as a substitute.

Peter Edwards, 62, walked into a William Hill betting shop in Wrexham in 2000 and bet £50 (€59) on Wilson one day playing for Wales, at odds of 2,500-1.

The teenager scored one for the record books himself during last night’s World Cup qualifier against Belgium, becoming the youngest player ever to represent Wales. But one life-changing moment instantly gave rise to another. The electrical contractor works away from home most of the year, spending one weekend a fortnight with wife Dorothy, 58.

“She is over the moon. I retired immediately. I told my manager yesterday that if Harry plays I wouldn’t be coming back,” he said.

“I’ve retired one year early. I have come home now and will not be going back. Not bad for a daft bet.”

He made the bet on a whim after seeing how Harry liked playing with a football as a toddler.

When Harry enrolled in the Liverpool academy his skills quickly developed and he returned to William Hill to place a second bet.

“Harry was about 12 then. But they turned me down and said I already had a substantial bet made. But they threw in England as a gesture of goodwill.”