Longshot Bet

In 1997 Steve Caldicott of Birmingham placed a bet with William Hill Bookmakers that his son Jack, who was 3½ months old, would score a goal for England in the World Cup final in 2018. If he scores, Steve will win $1.67 million.

Jack is now 19. Any sign that he's a budding soccer star? He's still got two years to go. But, of course, England will also have to make it to the World Cup final.

Southern Illinoisan - Jan 16, 1997

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Posted By: Alex - Fri Jan 15, 2016
Category: 1990s | Gambling, Casinos, Lotteries and Other Games of Chance

Comments

I hope that kid was not raised with this bet being the be all end all of his existence.

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 01/15/16 at 10:37 AM

A couple of questions spring to mind; Is the bookie still around and, if so, has he got the $1.6?

Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 01/15/16 at 11:20 AM

Not like a little incentive to get the kid motivated. Does he get a 50/50 split?

Posted by RobK on 01/15/16 at 11:26 AM

That is the very definition of optimism. But it will only cost daddy a few quid so it's no big loss.

Posted by KDP on 01/15/16 at 03:44 PM

Much better odds than winning the Powerball jackpot.

Posted by GFinKS on 01/18/16 at 12:17 PM

For Jack Caldicott to stand a chance of scoring in the World Cup in 2018, he'd have to be a top-level professional player by now. Who here has heard of him before? Not I, and I live in Europe. He may be playing footer, he may even be a professional, but he's certainly not a national team-level professional. So... no.

Posted by Richard Bos on 01/18/16 at 04:22 PM

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