It’s an unavoidable fact that gambling has become intertwined with modern football. Bookies’ names are emblazoned on shirts, advertising hoardings, and even leagues, while no half-time ad break is complete without Ray Winstone commanding you to “have a bang on that” as the latest odds flash up.
For better or worse these aspects have become part of the sport. But betting can lead to more unusual outcomes, too. Case in point: it recently took me on a pilgrimage to Sweden, where I watched a team with which I have no real connection play their city rivals in one of Scandinavia’s biggest derbies.
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For myself and many others, betting is part of the Saturday ritual, whether that means chucking a fiver on an acca before watching Stelling and co. announce the goals as they come in, or trying to get 4G at Home Park during half-time so you check the scores over a pint and a pie.
I’ve been a fan of foreign football since Channel 4’s iconic Football Italia show. But, when it came to betting, I’d only ever put my money on English football and teams that I knew, trying to use my knowledge and a few hunches in order to win.
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