The former Portsmouth academy youngster and son of title-winning Blues boss making waves

Blues boss Paul Cook was sat leaning on a tumble dryer in Fratton Park’s kit room moments after thrashing Cheltenham 6-1, as thousands of fans partied on the pitch at League Two title victory.

And stuck tightly to his dad seven years ago was son, Connor, listening to his old man hold court with a Peroni in hand with the assembled press.

It seems barely possible that same boy could last night be making his first start in senior football.

But not only did Cook turn out for his dad’s Chesterfield side, but the midfielder was on hand to score the winner for his team as they took on Lincoln in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.

The talent, who spent time training with Pompey’s academy when Cook Sr. was at Fratton Park, was on hand to slam the ball home 10 minutes after the restart at Sincil Bank.

Now 20, it was his final involvement as his dad promptly withdrew him for Armando Dobra in the 1-0 Spireites success.

Cook has followed his father’s footsteps and was taken on as an Ipswich scholar after also being involved at Wigan.

Now, though, he is starting to make a name in his own right, with his first full start reward for the progress he’s making at the SMH Group Stadium amid a number of young players being given playing time.

Chesterfield first-team coach Danny Webb believes it’s a night Cook will not forget in a hurry.

He told Chesterfield’s YouTube channel: ‘The gaffer said they’ve really deserved that game because they’ve worked so hard from pre-season until now and been really good kids around the place.

‘For them to play in a competitive fixture and help us massively to get the win, they probably won’t sleep.

‘Hopefully this will live long in their memories.

‘When you play proper games in stadiums and there’s something riding on it against senior pros and it’s against League One opposition who are fourth in the league, you can’t help but learn.

‘I pulled Connor at the end and said the one thing I was pleased with was he was going for headers with 6ft 4in centre-halves. That’s the kind of thing you need to do, IE going out of your comfort zone.

‘Then when the ball goes to Bailey (Hobson), it looks like he’s going to score and Connor’s in the right place at the right time. That’s not by luck, it’s by making the effort to get there.

‘It’s a night for the young lads - and rightly so.’