17/07/2026
When Harry Wilson was 18 months old, his grandfather Peter Edwards was already convinced he was going to become a footballer.
Wilson would spend his weekends kicking a ball or a balloon around the living room.
And every time his grandfather came home from working away, he noticed him getting stronger.
“So he went into the William Hill shop in Wrexham and asked if he could put a bet on his grandson to play for Wales.”
The woman behind the counter could not authorise something like that herself.
“Sorry, that’s over my head, you’re going to have to ring the headquarters in London.”
It took a couple of months for the bet to be approved.
William Hill eventually offered him odds of 2,500/1.
Edwards put £50 on it.
By the time Wilson was 16, he was playing in Liverpool’s academy and had started representing Wales at youth level.
In October 2013, Chris Coleman called him into the senior squad for World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia and Belgium.
Wilson stayed on the bench for the first game.
Four days later, Wales were drawing 1-1 with Belgium in Brussels when Coleman called him over with three minutes remaining.
Wilson came on for Hal Robson-Kanu.
At 16 years and 207 days old, he became the youngest player ever to represent Wales.
He had also just won his grandfather £125,000.
His parents were waiting for him after the match.
“They’re delighted and Mum’s like, ‘I heard Grandad’s retiring in the morning!’”
Edwards had been watching the game from a caravan in Exeter, where he was working as an electrical contractor.
The following morning, he handed in his notice.
