SAINTS starlet Gareth Bale's mum has revealed how Theo Walcott used to pinch her son's aftershave before meeting his now celebrity girlfriend Mel Slade.

The 16-year-old Bale is on the verge of becoming the youngest player to appear for the senior Welsh international side this weekend.

If he features against the Basques on Sunday, he will break Lewin Nyatanga's record.

Nyatanga played against Paraguay recently aged 17 years and 181 days.

Amazingly, Bale will be just 16 years and 304 days old on Sunday.

And Bale's mother, Debbie, can't believe it. Speaking to her local newspaper in Cardiff, Debbie outlined the 'normal' life her son leads.

And Debbie ensures her son doesn't get too big for his boots by ensuring he still does the washing up at home.

"He still fights with his sister Vicky about who gets to do the washing and who does the drying!" said Debbie.

"He usually ends up the worst off and has to dry. Like most kids, he doesn't like drying!

"He's still just my little boy to me.

"His friends come around and they play Fifa 2006 and have a pizza or sit in the garden.

"It's like it was when he was eight and they would all come around and play football in the garden."

Bale become the second youngest player in Saints history, after Walcott, last month.

Last week he was labelled a 'Rolls Royce' of a full-back by Wales Under-21 manager Brian Flynn.

"We're so proud of him," said Debbie. "He's loved his time in Southampton. He and Theo are good mates.

"They were always borrowing each other's DVDs and were planning to buy a plasma TV and eventually get a flat together before Theo was moved to Arsenal.

"Theo used to pinch his aftershave before meeting his girlfriend."

Debbie continued: "People think he is on megabucks but he's actually on £90 a week, you can't quite afford a Ferrari on that!

"And he gets a £10 bonus for every match he wins, and £5 for a draw.

"He's very level-headed. He has had talks with a pensions adviser and is saving his money. The most extravagant thing he's bought is a laptop.

"He is very generous. He is always leaving £20 for Vicky and paid the deposit for her holiday.

"He gave me money for a coat and bought his dad a phone for Christmas.

"He will want nice cars and a house eventually but it's the football that's important and he wouldn't do anything to jeopardise that."