A late goal on the final day of the regular League Two season proved pivotal for Forest Green Rovers, helping them clinch the League Two title late in the day.
The strike from Josh Marsh, to secure a 2-2 draw away at Mansfield Town, ensured Rob Edwards's side pipped Exeter to top spot on goal difference. And as well as the travelling Rovers' fans at the One Call Stadium and those following events back in Gloucestershire, one lucky football fan was also celebrating big time after Marsh struck.
A William Hill customer netted a jackpot of more than £300,000 thanks to Rovers clinching the sixth and final leg of an audacious accumulator put on last summer.
The punter placed a £20 six-fold accumulator back in August on Kilmarnock, Cove Rangers, Kelty Hearts, Fulham, Wigan Athletic and Forest Green to all win their respective leagues.
With the first five legs all in the bag ahead of the weekend, it proved to be a nervous wait for the customer - but it was certainly worth the wait when his winnings of £308,880 were confirmed just before 5pm. A William Hill spokesperson said of the incredible bet: "Many of our customers chance their arm with big-priced accumulators on who will win a selection of football leagues from around the world, but few of them come off.
"However, that wasn’t the case on Saturday as a remarkable ante-post six-fold landed with one punter correctly predicting that Kilmarnock, Cove, Kelty Hearts, Fulham, Wigan and Forest Green would all emerge victorious in their respective leagues. The punter staked just £20 on the bet back in August and after a late Forest Green equaliser, they are waking up over £300k richer!"
The big win is the latest in a series of plucky wins against the bookies this season. In March a fan correctly predicted the correct match outcomes across a whopping 18 games on one weekend. It meant they were able to turn £2 into a life-changing £505,984.88. To make things even sweeter, the winning accumulator was only sealed thanks to a staggering four goals inside stoppage time.
And in February there was the story of a granddad scooping a £2,600 win following a mere 3p stake on an accumulator. Janus Wagonback, 85, correctly predicted that ten games would finish in draws - at astonishing odds of 90,000-1. Staff at his local Betfred let him bet just 3p - less than the usual 5p minimum - because he is a regular.
Forest Green chief Edwards said winning the league felt "surreal" in what is his first season as a manager in the EFL.
He said: "We've had a lot of titanic battles this year and tough games right the way through. It still is a little bit surreal. I know we've been there for a long, long time but maybe I still didn't quite believe it was going to happen.
"But we've finished on top and it's incredible."
