In footballling circles, there is little room for family favouritism - something Charlie Stimson is about to discover having signed for Gillingham's youth team with the intent purpose of impressing the first team manager, his father, Mark.

It is not the first time an offspring has wanted to impress his father beyond good school grades and eating his greens.

Perhaps the most famous father-son partnership was Brian and Nigel Clough at Nottingham Forest - the no-nonsense manager markedly referred to his son as 'The No.9' denying the young striker any family identification or favouritism.

However, the Clough partnership was a successful one - garnering two League Cups and a FA Cup final appearance in 1991 - that is until in 1993 when Forest were relegated and the partnership was broken.

Elsewhere, Sir Alex Ferguson was good enough to pull his son Darren, now manager of Peterborough United, through the Manchester United youth ranks to make 27 first team appearances between 1990 and 1994.

Gavin Strachan started his career at Leeds United in 1996 under his father Gordon and when the Scottish manager moved to Coventry in 1996, Gavin followed.

He was loaned out to Dundee before being welcomed back to make 15 unsuccessful midfield appearances as a Sky Blue in six years - when Gordon left in 2001, Gavin was not far behind and he now plays for Notts County.

Kevin Bond has played for his father John at three clubs starting as a youth recruit at Bournemouth in 1972 before following him to Norwich City.

Their longest-lasting partnership came at Manchester City where Kevin made 110 appearances between 1981 and 1984 - although John was sacked in February 1983.