SOCCER fan Gary Slinger has set his 18-month-old son an ambitious goal: to play for Blackburn Rovers before his 18th birthday.

And the proud dad has put his money where his mouth is by placing a £10 bet at 25,000-1 with his brother Lee, an Earby bookie. The unusual bet was placed at Lee's betting shop, Elite Racing, in Victoria Road, Earby.

Life-long Rovers fan Gary, 32, of Old Hall Drive, Huncoat, stands to win a quarter of a million pounds if he strikes lucky and son Callum follows in the footsteps of soccer supremo Alan Shearer.

"It started as a joke with Lee," explained Gary. "He said I didn't have a chance so I backed up my ambition for Callum by placing a tenner bet with him. Now he's the one who will be worrying!"

But doubters say Gary doesn't have a hope of winning the money. "I've been told that if Callum has inherited my footballing ability, he won't have a chance of playing for Burnley or Blackburn," he laughed.

Gary used to play for local teams in the Pendle Charity League before hanging up his studs.

And Callum has already shown an aptitude for the game. "He started running around when he was just ten months and is quite advanced," said Gary.

"He's persistent with a ball. He uses his feet rather than picking it up in his hands. So there's always a chance I'll win my bet."

The youngster has yet to set foot in Ewood Park but his dad, a regular at the ground, hopes to give Callum a taste of the stadium's atmosphere when he is old enough.

Gary's wife Andrea has had a good laugh at the wacky wager. "She's just a bit worried I'll push him into football when he might want to play rugby or become a painter and decorator," he said.

But Lee, another Rovers fan, is confident his money is safe. I don't think Callum has a good mentor," he said. "Gary's got two left legs. If Callum was three times as good he might sneak into Accrington Stanley reserves!"

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