Son of former England footballer who played for Three Lions in a World Cup is in hunt for semi-final spot representing Team GB in Athletics

The son of a former England football star has taken to the Olympic stage representing Team GB in the men's 1500m event this morning.

George Mills is the son of Danny Mills, who started at right-back for the Three Lions at the 2002 World Cup, but has taken a different path in the sporting world by forging a career as a middle-distance runner. 

And the 25-year-old is looking to achieve what his old man fell agonisingly short of - by reaching a semi-final.

Mills came tenth in his 1500m heat with a time of 3min 35.99sec, just a fraction of a second short of first place Ermias Girma from Ethiopa who ran it in 3min 35.21sec.

The first six in each heat qualify for the semi-finals automatically while all others advance to a Repechage Round, apart from those who did not start, did not finish, or were disqualified.

The all-important races will take place tomorrow at 6.15pm and Mills will have to come in the top three of his heat of 14 to get into the next round.

His personal best of 3min 30.95sec is the fourth quickest in his heat, giving the Brit hope of a dramatic run to the semis. Only Australian Oliver Hoare has a better time this season than Mills, who is ranked sixth in the world. 

Father Danny has backed George in his running career and was in the stands at the Stadio Olimpico for the athlete's silver medal in the 5,000 metres at the European Championships.

'Watching athletics is the worst thing on the planet,' said the 47-year-old. 'In football, if you make a mistake, you can come back. You've got a team to bail you out. 

'In athletics, there are no mistakes. You work ten years for moments like this and then you get 13 minutes to perform.

'It's like having a 13-minute penalty shootout. It's just sudden death from the beginning - you're waiting for somebody to miss because there are so many things that can go wrong.'

Fortunately, George did not put a foot wrong in Rome, claiming the first major medal of his career in a time of 13min 21.38sec, behind only Jakob Ingebrigtsen, the world champion.

After the race, the 25-year-old insisted the silver was the least he expected and that he was disappointed not to actually beat Norwegian superstar Ingebrigtsen and take the gold.

But Danny said: 'I think when it settles down and he looks back at it, to only lose to Jakob and to pick up a silver medal in your first major championships is a phenomenal achievement.

'You have to enjoy moments like this because you never know when the next one's coming round. I had one season of Champions League, one World Cup, one major final, and it's gone.

'You've got to enjoy it while it lasts and still prepare and be ready for what's coming next.'

But George, who has been based in St Moritz, Switzerland, this summer having spent winter at Dullstroom, South Africa, said he would not even have a glass of shandy in celebration. 

'George made a big leap two years ago to leave home and go to a completely different country, but he's done magnificently,' said Danny.

'He is one of the most dedicated athletes I know. I have spent my whole life in sport and with George there's no stone unturned. There's nothing he will not do to make sure that he's ready.

'I wasn't a big drinker, but it was football culture. We got away with stuff from time to time. But George will not do anything at all that is not good for his running. He will not put anything in his body that isn't good for him.'

George will be hoping his father gets the chance to watch him in Paris from the stands. 

'I've been at nearly every big race he's been a part of,' added Danny. 'I went to Samoa for the Commonwealth Youth Games. We all went to Tbilisi for the European Youth Championships. I was in Turkey for the European Indoors.

'He was devastated to miss out on the World Championships last year, but it spurred him on. It made him more determined to go, "I'm not letting that happen again".'