A football betting nightmare
The golden rule of football betting.
Never bet more than you can afford to lose. Never. Ever. Rule number one in the bible of the sports player. But surely there are times when an outcome is so inevitable that you could bet a large sum of money and collect your guaranteed winnings in one day. Surely there must be exceptions to this golden rule? I would suggest that there are no exceptions. Consider the following story of an unlucky (or foolish) gambler from 2001. This is a true story and it always sticks with me whenever I have the urge to gamble impulsively.
The date is Saturday, September 29, 2001. The venue is White Hart Lane, North London, home of Tottenham Hotspur, or ‘Spurs’. Opponents are Manchester United, who make the trip to London without key players Roy Keane (suspended) and Ryan Giggs (rested after midweek Champions League clash). There’s a buzz in the air, a positive vibe among the home fans who feel they can get past an exhausted United. What followed was one of the most incredible days in Premier League history.
Tottenham Blow United Away Early – Cue the impulsive Gamble.
Spurs started the game at breakneck speed and before United had time to deal with the pressure, they found themselves two goals down, thanks to Dean Richards and Les Ferdinand. The Red Devils were clearly in shock and before they had time to regroup, midfielder Christian Ziege made it 3-0 to Spurs before halftime. One can only imagine the infamous ‘hairdryer’ routine dished out to United players by fiery boss Alex Ferguson during the interval. However, our story is about a Tottenham fan who was at the game with his teammates and his girlfriend. Emotions running high, he convinced his girlfriend that it would be a good investment to put his entire mortgage on a Tottenham win. Leading 3-0 at halftime, the odds would have been ridiculously low, maybe 1.03, but put in enough money and 3% suddenly becomes a nice source of income. What could go wrong? They had recently bought a house together and with the blessing of his girlfriend, he contacted his financial agent and the bet was placed. His house now depended on the outcome of the game.
The amazing comeback.
One can only imagine the nervous tension and excitement that accompanied our football punting hero as the second half began. He was probably planning what luxurious vacation they could take or what spree they could enjoy. How rudely his thoughts were interrupted when Andy Cole pulled a goal back 45 seconds into the second half. Less than a quarter of an hour later, French defender Laurent Blanc headed in a corner and, when Van Nistelrooy scored the equalizer with over a quarter of an hour to go, hearts were in the mouths of Spurs fans and the emotional kickers. Veron and Beckham made it 5-3 for the Red Devils at the end of what was a fascinating game and a monumental comeback. It’s hard not to sympathize with the losing gambler: he lost his house and, in all likelihood, his wife. However, the first football betting tip and the most essential football betting tip to learn is to never bet more than you can afford to lose, no matter how sure you are of the outcome. In soccer, as in sport, there are simply no guarantees.
Granted, this was an unusual scenario and a comeback of this magnitude is likely to only happen once every few years. The point is that it CAN happen and for this reason it is essential to place bets within your means. Our professional football tipster has a wealth of experience, tips, advice and ideas on the best methods for successful football betting. Visit http://www.soccertips365.com for more information and FREE weekly soccer tips, picks and predictions.