Chris Kirkland was 13 when his father, Eddie, walked into a betting shop and asked what odds he could get on his son playing for England.
It has become one of those enquiries bookmakers get from time to time, but back in 1994 it was unusual. It elicited a few questions, like whether the boy in question was registered with a professional club. The answer was no.
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The bookie came back with odds of 100/1, which prompted Eddie to put down a stake of £98.10 ($131 at today’s exchange rates). It was as much as he and various other family members could scramble together.
At the time, Kirkland knew nothing of this
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