Shrewsbury fan could net £50,000 with £10 bet on League One leaders to go season undefeated
Shrews supporter Christopher Evans, 39, will land the huge sum if Paul Hurst’s men go the whole term without losing
Sponsored by
SHREWSBURY are top of League One against all the odds.
Paul Hurst’s undefeated side have made a mockery of their pre-season bookies’ billing of favourites for the drop — with nine wins and three draws in 12 league matches.
That formidable form means it is still technically possible Shrews could yet emulate Arsenal’s 2003-04 Invincibles, who went the whole season unbeaten.
If by some miracle they pull it off, Town would win promotion and be quids-in — as would one of their fans.
Christopher Evans, 39, will land £50,000 if Hurst’s men go the whole term without losing after having a tenner on it with bookies Paddy Power at 5,000-1 last month.
The Premier League, of course, has already had its 5,000-1 winners.
And London-based Evans, who also has £170 at 25-1 on Shrews to win the league, said: “I’ve got a dream we could have a Leicester season.
“I went to Walsall on Saturday and noticed every minute of the game I was much more involved because of these blooming bets. They were giving me a heart attack!
“At the end, it was 1-1 and they had a couple of chances and I could feel my heart beating faster than normal.
"We’re miles off going the season unbeaten, though we are past a quarter of the way through it, which is not bad, is it? But surely not?!
Most read in football
“The next three fixtures look comfortable-ish. But it’s Peterborough away on October 28, which I’m going to.
“That’s a blooming scary game. That could be where it all goes wrong. But it’ll probably go wrong next at Plymouth, who are bottom.”
Hurst takes his men to Home Park tomorrow in the company of just Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho as the only unbeaten managers in the top four divisions.
Evans knows an invincible campaign is a “ridiculous dream” but also plans to make trips to upcoming home games with Bristol Rovers and Fleetwood as the hope of promotion to the Championship grips Shropshire.
He added: “While this bet is still on, I’m going to go to a few more. Even if the unbeaten run goes, I still feel we can win the league. I’ll be disappointed if we’re not up there.
“There’s a strong core to the team. We’ve got Manchester United’s keeper on loan in Dean Henderson.
“Jon Nolan runs the midfield like Mesut Ozil, Abu Ogogo next to him who knocks everybody about, then up front we have Stefan Payne who’s going to score 15.”
Evans, who owns two cafes in North London, had a Shropshire mural — including the old Gay Meadow stadium — painted on the wall of his Finsbury Park flat.
And portraits of Hurst and favourite player Nolan could well be added to the scene if Shrews become the first Football League side since Preston 129 YEARS ago to go unbeaten for a season.
Just 34 games to go!