The biggest wins in betting on Bolton football matches

Bolton Wanderers, an English football club with a rich history, has repeatedly been the hero of incredible stories involving big betting wins. Despite the fact that in recent years the club has mainly played in the lower divisions, its matches have repeatedly brought luck to brave fans who dared to bet on unexpected outcomes.

Victory over Manchester United in the 2001/02 season: a sensation at the Reebok Stadium

One of the most sensational events in Bolton's history was their victory over Manchester United on 20 October 2001 in the English Premier League. Bolton, who had returned to the elite of English football after a long hiatus, were considered clear underdogs in this match. The odds for a Trotters victory, even on the website https://chickenroad.uk.com/, were as high as 8.00–10.00, which made betting on them extremely risky. Manchester United, led by Sir Alex Ferguson, was in excellent form, and few believed in the success of the modest club.

The match took place at Bolton's home stadium, the Reebok. Kevin Nolan opened the scoring in the 4th minute, taking advantage of a mistake by the United defence. Bolton played aggressively, not allowing their opponents to develop their game. In the 35th minute, Michael Ricketts doubled the lead, scoring after a precise pass from Ricardo Gardner. Manchester United responded with only one goal — Juan Sebastian Veron converted a penalty in the second half, but it did not save the visitors from a 2-1 defeat.

One fan, whose story later made it into the British media, bet £50 on Bolton to win at odds of 9.00. His winnings amounted to £450, a sum that was quite impressive for an ordinary worker in 2001.

Comeback against Leicester in the 2003/04 FA Cup

Another match that went down in betting history was Bolton's game against Leicester in the third round of the FA Cup on 17 January 2004. Leicester, then playing in the Premier League, were considered favourites despite being the away team. The odds for a Bolton win ranged from 4.50 to 5.00, as Sam Allardyce's team was not having the best season.

The game started badly for Bolton: in the 15th minute, Les Ferdinand put Leicester ahead. It seemed that the favourites would confidently see the match through to victory, but Bolton showed character. In the 60th minute, Yuri Djorkaeff equalised, and in the 78th minute, Kevin Davies scored the winning goal, completing the comeback. The final score of 2-1 came as a real shock to the bookmakers.

It is reported that one of the local fans bet £100 on Bolton to win at odds of 4.80. His winnings amounted to £480, which was a pleasant bonus to the excitement of his favourite team's victory.

Unexpected draw with Chelsea in the 2004/05 season

Bolton's Premier League match against Chelsea on 20 April 2005 was another event that brought luck to betting enthusiasts. Chelsea, led by José Mourinho, dominated the championship, and the odds for a draw in this match reached 5.50–6.00, while the odds for a Bolton victory were over 10.00.

The game at the Reebok Stadium was tense. Chelsea opened the scoring in the 20th minute thanks to a goal from Frank Lampard, but Bolton did not give up. In the 76th minute, Stelios Giannakopoulos equalised after a corner kick, finishing the attack with a precise shot. The final 1–1 draw was a sensation, given Chelsea's strength that season.

One fan, according to local newspapers, bet £200 on a draw at odds of 5.80. His winnings amounted to £1,160, enough to pay for a family holiday.

Victory over Arsenal in the 2010/11 season

The match against Arsenal on 24 April 2011 in the Premier League was another triumph for Bolton, which brought luck to bettors. Arsène Wenger's Arsenal were fighting for the championship, and the odds on a Bolton win were 7.00–8.00. The Trotters were at the bottom of the table, making them clear underdogs.

The game at the Reebok Stadium began with a quick goal from Daniel Sturridge in the 22nd minute, which put Bolton ahead. Arsenal responded with a goal from Robin van Persie before the break, but in the second half, Bolton snatched the victory. In the 90th minute, Tamer Cohen scored the decisive goal from a corner kick, making the score 2-1.

According to British media reports, one fan bet £150 on Bolton to win at odds of 7.50. His winnings amounted to £1,125.