Knowledge picked up while globe-trotting as part of his job as a travel agent helped Daniel Salmon-Gowers pull off an astonishing win at Betfred.
The father-of-three from Essex wagered £10 on a TEN-fold football accumulator involving teams from six countries – including a fourth division match in Argentina.
Successfully predicting the winner of, or both teams to score in, all ten matches won the 33-year-old an amazing £49,447.
Daniel, who runs the ‘Never A Wasted Journey’ online travel agency in Chelmsford, studied form for around five hours during a three-day period.
“It was off and on. I kept thinking about particular teams,” said the jubilant winner, who’s only been a Betfred customer since July.
“I travel around quite a bit and I love football. I noticed there were no English games that night, so went for teams in Malaysia, Israel, Argentina, Romania, Canada and Ecuador.”
The West Ham supporter added:
“This is by far my biggest, and most surprising, win yet. I’ve won up to £600 in the past, but this is different.
“Me and my family will be having a night out in London to celebrate and then we’re off to Lapland to see you-know-who at Christmas – plus I’ll be using some of the money to help with the business.”
Daniel picked the winner of and BTTS in the Malaysian Super League tie between Kelantan Unite and Kuching as well as Gimnasia y Esgirma de Mendoza and Nueva Chicago in the Argentine second division.
He opted for just BTTS in games between FC Ashdod and Beitar Jerusalem, HFX Wanderers and York United plus Union De Santa Fe and San Lorzeno in the Israeli, Canadian and Argentinian top-flight respectively.
For the straight win part of the bet, he picked the victor of the Israeli second-tier game between Hapoel Ironi Rishon LeZion FC and Hapoel, Sepsi OSK Sfantu Gheorghe and FC UTA Arad in the Romanian first division, Barracas Central and Arsenal Sarandi in Argentina’s elite competition and Ecuador’s premier clash between LDU Quito and Guayaquil City.
Finally, for arguably the most impressive selection of all, he found the winner of the Argentine FOURTH division tie between CA Atlas and J.J. Urquiza.
Betfred boss Fred Done said:
“In over 50 years as a bookie, I don’t think I’ve ever come across such an unusual bet.
“Dan, despite being a West Ham supporter, sure knows his football! He’s studied the form in great detail and beaten huge odds to win big.
“Well done to him – and as I’m often in Chelmsford at the racecourse, you can expect a visit when I next need a holiday!”
