BOBBY BEAUMONT is keeping it in the family and father Nigel couldn't be prouder.

When 17-year-old defender Bobby came on as a late substitute in Wrexham's Scottish Challenge Cup win against Ayr United last September, he followed in his dad's footsteps by playing for the Reds' first team.

Two more starts in the competition followed for the teenager, lining up against Rangers Under 20s at Ibrox Stadium, with the second year scholar also called up to play for Welsh Schools Under 18s in his breakthrough season.

Bobby has been named captain of the side for the Roma Caput Mundi tournament that is currently taking place in Italy, and he scored the Wales goal in Monday's 2-1 defeat against Moldova.

"I am very proud," said Nigel, who made more than 100 league appearances for Wrexham from 1988 to 1992.

"He has been with Wrexham since he was 12 or 13 and come through the youth set-up.

"Wrexham have got a very good youth set-up, it is a shame they are losing players because of the predicament we are in.

"Bobby is proud to play for Wrexham and wear the badge. I keep telling him he is there on merit and because of his own ability, not because I played for Wrexham.

"I played for Wrexham but they got rid of me!"

Nigel says being handed the captaincy is another positive step in his son's development.

"I am really pleased for Bobby," said Nigel. "Being captain, you set an example to other players.

"Someone has got to trust you to give you the armband and the fact you are leading the team, players should look up to you."

Nigel, who also played for Bradford in the Football League before joining Wrexham, was also a centre-back and the 53-year-old is not short of words of advice as Bobby strives to make a career in the game.

"Ask any young player, they all want to play for the first team," said Nigel.

"He is at an age where he wants to play football but he just needs to keep learning, keep improving and keep listening to the youth team coach or the manager.

"I keep saying to Bobby that he has got to keep improving and get his own game in order first before you do anything else."

Bobby is not the only trainee to play for Wrexham's senior side this season with Max Cleworth, Jake Bickerstaff and Mathew Jones also playing in the Scottish Challenge Cup.

But with many of the club's youngsters in the final year of their scholarship, they face a nervous wait before discovering if they have been awarded a first professional contract at The Racecourse.

"A lot of the youth team players are in their second year so you don't know what is going to happen," added Nigel.

"It is a fine line between success and failure in football.

"You don't know which way it will go, or what is happening with the first team. It is catch 22."