Believing in your children — or grandchildren — can really pay off.
Peter Edwards placed a seemingly impossible bet with a bookmaker 15 years ago that his 18-month-old grandson would play for Wales’ national soccer team one day. That day came for Harry Wilson on Tuesday when he entered as a substitute against Belgium — winning his 62-year-old grandfather £125,000 or more than $201,000, from a bet of only £50 ($80.73).
Edwards, who was given odds of 2,500/1 when he placed the bet with a bookmaker in Wrexham, Wales, is now set for an early retirement from his work as an electric contractor. All thanks to one “daft bet,” inspired by an energetic toddler.
“When he was about 18 months old he used to chase a ball around on the carpet before he could walk,” Edwards said, according to BBC. “I retired immediately. I told my manager yesterday that if Harry plays I wouldn’t be coming back. … I’ve retired one year early. I have come home now and will not be going back. Not bad for a daft bet.”
Wilson, 16, made his debut in the 87th minute during Wales’ 1-1 draw, becoming the nation’s youngest ever player, breaking the record previously held by the world’s highest-paid player, Gareth Bale, by 108 days.
Even after all the years of waiting, Edwards said he was worried Wilson wouldn’t make an appearance so late in the game.
“I was shattered because I had to wait for 85, 86 minutes before he came on and I was panicking because they’d already substituted twice, so I thought he wasn’t going to make it,” he said. “But when he came on I had another glass of wine. [I was] a proud granddad first for sure.”
The payoff could have been even bigger. When Wilson enrolled in the Liverpool FC academy, his skills had improved so much that Edwards wanted to place a second bet. At that point, the bookmaker — William Hill — knew it could be in trouble.
“They turned me down and said I already had a substantial bet with them,” said Edwards, whose grandson was once speculated to switch international allegiance to England. “But they threw in England as a gesture of goodwill.”