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Chronicle Live
Chronicle Live
National
Kristy Dawson

Fan bet Newcastle would secure champions league football before the season began after dreaming about it

A fan bet Newcastle United would secure Champions League football BEFORE the season started after dreaming about it.

Paul Gallant said he decided to gamble after he had a dream about him celebrating a top four finish at St James' Park.

The 56-year-old said he put £10 on the Toon to finish in the top four last summer and was called "insane" and "bonkers" by others.

Read more: Eddie Howe to get competitive Champions League transfer pot as Yasir Al-Rumayyan left delighted

Prior to the takeover last season, the club was fighting relegation and managed to finish 11th place in the Premier League.

On Tuesday night, the magpies secured a top four finish and will now play in the Champions League with the biggest teams in Europe. The last time the club played in the competition was under former manager Sir Bobby Robson 20 years ago.

The bet which Paul Gallant put on in August last year (Chronicle Live)

Paul plans to hand over the winning bet, which has 7/1 odds and is worth £80, to the NUFC Fans Food Bank.

The former bus driver, from Newcastle, said: "I had a dream that we were going to finish top four.

"I woke up from a dream, I wrote it down and I went back to sleep. When I woke up I looked at the bit of paper and I said 'ok I'll find somebody to put the bet on for me. Betting has changed alot and I wasn't confident doing it.

"People called me insane and bonkers. They turned around and said 'It's never going to happen'.

"I believed it would happen. Most of the things that I dream about do come true - this is just another of them!"

Paul was born in the Benwell and has also lived in West Denton. He moved to Nottingham four years ago to care for his mother and tries to return to Newcastle for as many home games as possible.

He said a friend in the North East put the bet on for him in August last year. Rather than cash it in, he plans to hand over the slip to the food bank the next time he visits the stadium with his two nephews.

Paul, who also runs his own YouTube channel, said: "The people of the North East are struggling and I can help just a little bit.

"People have said to me on Twitter 'why wasn't the bet bigger?' You put down what you think you can at the end of the day.

"£80 is better than nothing. My nana always said 'if you are going to bet don't be silly'."

Paul is optimistic about Newcastle's future and has not ruled out putting on another bet for next season. He believes that within three years of being in the Champions League the club will secure back to back titles.

He added: "I have always been the optimist, I look on the bright side.

"When Amanda and Mehrdad took over they said they wanted to progress and we didn't hear that under Mike Ashley."

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