Dumbarton FC's title win nets punter £12,000

May 15 2009 by Lorraine Waddell, Lennox Herald (main ed)

CELEBRATING Dumbarton fans have taken bookies to the cleaners thanks to the team’s late surge to win the league.

Top betting shop William Hill – which has three branches in Dumbarton and one in Alexandria – has lost £50,000 as Sons clinched the third division title on Saturday.

And the champagne was on the bookies as the team and supporters jubilantly paraded the streets with the league trophy.

William Hill spokesman, Graham Sharpe, said: “Dumbarton have cost us quite a lot of money – about £50,000.

“It’s one of the biggest gambles we’ve seen on a side to win the third division in Scotland.”

One lucky punter pocketed almost £12,000 after boldly staking £5000 on Sons to be crowned champions a month ago.

It was the largest bet ever struck on a Scottish Football League third division side. The bet was placed, with odds of 11-8, at a London William Hill branch on April 19 when Sons were sitting in second place one point behind Cowdenbeath.

Both sides had played out a 0-0 draw the previous day but the unknown punter felt confident enough to gamble the huge sum on Dumbarton finishing top.

There was also a large bet put on Sons in Alloa on March 14.

The £2500 bet was at odds of 3-1 and the winner will pocket a profit of £7500.

William Hill insist they will be a bit smarter next season to ensure they don’t have to pay out as much.

Graham continued: “We won’t be under-estimating Dumbarton’s chances of winning the second division next season. At the start of this season it looked a tight division.

“There was no obvious clear favourites but Dumbarton have done well.

“Congratulations to everyone who predicted that.”