Former Manchester United midfielder Ryan Tunnicliffe has revealed his debut for the Old Trafford club netted his dad £10,000.
Not only did Tunnicliffe make his family proud by wearing the famous red shirt, but he also helped his dad win a bet. Tunnicliffe, who was just a teenager at the time, played two senior matches for United against Newcastle and Chelsea in the League Cup before leaving the club in 2014.
It all started when Tunnicliffe's father placed a bet on his son representing United when he was only nine years old. The odds were set at 100-1, which seemed like a long shot considering the young age of the aspiring footballer.
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However, a decade later, he fulfilled his father's dream by making his debut against Newcastle in September 2012. He played 13 minutes in that match and went on to get an additional 39 minutes of playing time in the quarter-final against Chelsea.
Reflecting on his dad's bet, Tunnicliffe said (via the Manchester Evening News): "He must have had a spare £100 lying around somehow. I think, at the time, it was a bit of banter because the odds of a nine-year-old doing that…
"I think he got 100-1, which is terrible odds if you ask me, it should be millions to one because it's something only a select few people get to do. Not great odds from the bookies!"
The former England youth international added: "It was just a bit of banter and then, obviously, you get older and you get closer and you start to think, 'Hang on a minute, this could actually happen'.
"All the driving around he did for me, all the sacrifices he made, and my mum, that ten grand was a nice pay-off for him when it came through."
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Eleven years on and now aged 30, Tunnicliffe has embarked on a new chapter in his football career, joining Australian A-League club Adelaide United. He previously had spells with the likes of Fulham, Luton and Blackburn in England.
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