A PROUD father and a canny coach are so sure of a young sportsman's success - they have put a bet on it.

So convinced are Nigel Beaumont and Danny Evans that 16-year-old James Beaumont could play for England, they have gambled £120 with William Hill.

He is excellent at both football and cricket, so part of the wager is that he will play for his country in both sports.

In a joint bet, Mr Beaumont and Mr Evans, who captains Middlesbrough Cricket Club's first XI, have placed £100 at 250-1 on James playing football for England, and £20 on him playing international cricket as well. If both come to fruition, they stand to gain £100,000.

Mr Beaumont, of Dunottar Avenue, Eaglescliffe, near Stockton, said: "I have never put a bet on in my life but from what the experts say on James' ability, he has a very good chance of making it in at least one of the sports.

"Within the next ten days, we are hoping he will have got a contract with a Premiership football club."

As well as being listed among the country's top ten young footballers, which has led to a flood of offers from premiership sides, James is also considered a talented cricketer.

Mr Evans said: "He played for England in the under-15 Cricket World Cup last year and a couple of county cricket clubs are after him."

James, a pupil at Ian Ramsey School, is unfazed by either his glittering future or the bet. He said: "It's just one of those things - I've always played cricket and I've always played football."

The bet follows a similar flutter by friends of John McCabe, of Blyth, Northumberland.

Last year they put £10 on baby Jack McCabe growing up to play football for England and presented the William Hill betting slip to his proud father. With odds of 5,000-1, Mr McCabe will win £50,000 if Jack lives up to expectations.

Alan Shearer's son, Will, attracts shorter odds of 250-1 to follow in his father's footsteps.