City fan plans poignant punt on anniversary of son’s passing
Simon Harwood is planning a poignant punt at Betfred on Wednesday, backing his beloved Manchester City to beat Brugge 6-0 as the Blues bid to preserve their Champions League hopes.
The day of the game marks a year since his son Joshua, also a big City fan, sadly passed away from pneumonia.
And as Joshua was born on the 6th day of the month, their favourite bet to place on the way to games was their team to win 6-0.
Simon, 56, who played in the same highly-successful youth team as City heroes of yesteryear including Paul Lake, David White and Ian Brightwell, will be betting £30 at 28/1 that City beat the Belgians by that very scoreline.
That would see Simon pick up £840 and add to a significant list of sensational wins at Betfred.
He recently backed a 6-0 win for City at Ipswich, pocketing £400 from £20, but his biggest win was in the 2019 FA Cup final against Watford - a result that saw him walk away with £1,980 from a £30 stake at 66/1.
Simon also picked up £600 when the Blues outclassed Salford in the FA Cup third round earlier this month, betting £15 at 40/1, and picked the pocket of Betfred boss and lifelong United fan Fred Done to the tune of £1,500 when he wagered £15 on City beating Burton Albion 9-0 at 100/1 in the 2019 Carabao Cup semi-final.
Ex-centre-forward Simon, who plans to help fund a foundation in tribute to Joshua to assist families with funeral costs, also played at Stockport County, Rochdale, Atherton and Leigh - and in Portugal where he worked as a timeshare salesman.
He also set up a soccer school in Brazil - the home country of his accountant wife Antonia.
The father-of-two lives near the Betfred shop in Spring Gardens, Buxton, where punters often listen in as he places his bet on City to win and obviously not concede!
He described Joshua - a window cleaner with a round in Astley who was a talented player in his own right having once been scouted by United - as his "best friend."
"Even I can't see us overtaking Liverpool to win the Premier League and I never, ever back against City," he said with a smile, adding: "We'll come second and win the Champions League again!"
As well as picking Fred's pocket, Simon loves performing his party trick at his local pub... betting regulars a fiver or more that he can do more than 10 kick ups while lying down.
"I can do a hundred," he chuckled.
Betfred boss Fred said:
"What Simon says seems to come true - unfortunately for me!
"Good luck on Wednesday when hopefully you can mark the anniversary of Joshua's so tragic passing in such a unique way."
