Banbury United, a modest club from Oxfordshire, plays in the Southern League Central Division - the seventh level of the English football pyramid. Founded in 1931 as a factory team of the Spencer corset factory, the club plays at the Spencer Stadium, which has a capacity of about 2,500 spectators.

Over the years in the league, Banbury has experienced ups and downs: from relegation in 2024 from the National League North to a return to the Southern League. It is here, among the underdogs, that sensations are born that bring big winnings in betting. Unexpected victories over favorites with high odds in Froggy Bet Casino up to 10.0 and higher allow players to turn modest bets into significant amounts.

Winning the FA Cup against Colchester United (1947)

One of the most legendary cases occurred during the 1947-1948 season. Banbury, then a newcomer to the top divisions of the Oxfordshire League, advanced to the first round of the FA Cup. Their opponent was Colechester United of the Southern League, a more experienced and established club. Before the match, the odds on Banbury's victory were as high as 8.5, as they were considered clear underdogs due to their poor form and lack of star players.

The game took place on November 30, 1947, at the Spencer Stadium, with a record attendance of 3,500 spectators. Banbury started strongly: in the first 20 minutes, midfielder Jack Smith broke through on the flank and passed to forward Bill Thompson, who scored from close range – 1:0. Colchester responded in the second half: their striker Harry Kerr equalized with a header after a corner in the 55th minute. The tension was rising, but in the 78th minute, Banbury's defender, Ronald Bishop, intercepted the ball in the center of the field and launched a counterattack. The pass found Thompson, who beat the goalkeeper and made the final score 2-1.

This victory was a sensation, as Banbury reached the second round of the FA Cup for the first time. Betting on the visitors at odds of 8.5 resulted in winnings of up to £8,500 for a £1,000 bet, which was a significant amount for post-war England.

Triumph over Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup (1961)

A new surge occurred in the 1961-1962 season. Bunbury, already established in the West Midlands League, made it through to the first round of the FA Cup once again. The opposition was Shrewsbury Town of the Northern Premier League, a club with ambition and a strong squad. The odds on Bunbury were around 7.0, with the visitors expecting an easy ride given the difference in class and the form of Shrewsbury, who were leading their group.

The match on 4 November 1961 at Spencer Stadium attracted a crowd of 4,000 fans. Banbury surprised with aggressive pressure: at 12 minutes, winger Ken Hill broke through on the right flank and fired to center forward Frank Wilson, who hammered the ball into the net - 1:0. Shrewsbury dominated possession, but the goalkeeper of Banbury, Jim Lewis, repelled three dangerous shots in the first half. In the second period, at 62 minutes, midfielder Gordon Black added a second goal: after a corner, he headed the ball into the corner of the goal. Shrewsbury responded only in the 85th minute with a penalty from captain Peter Rogers, but it was too late. Result: 2-1 in favor of Banbury.

This victory took the club to the second round, where they faced a stronger opponent. The winnings in the bets reached a peak: with a coefficient of 7.0 on a 500-pound bet, 3,500 pounds of profit.

Draw with Barrow in the FA Cup (2021)

In modern football, a prime example is the 2020-2021 season. Bunbury, who were in close contention in the Southern League Premier Division Central, advanced to the first round of the FA Cup against Barrow in the National League. Barrow, a fifth-tier newcomer, was the favorite with a 1.8 odds for victory, while Bunbury was priced at 4.5, and a draw was valued at 3.5. Given the home advantage, betting on a draw seemed risky but potentially rewarding.

The game on November 10, 2020, at Spencer Stadium, was a close-fought battle. Barrow opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, when their forward John Morrison scored from a flank pass. Banbury responded at the end of the first half, when captain Zach Hubberley-Angles equalized with a powerful shot from outside the penalty area. The second half was a positional duel, with Barrow controlling the ball 58% of the time, but Banbury's goalkeeper, Luke Hoar, made two crucial saves. In the 78th minute, striker Rory Hawley missed a chance with a shot that hit the post, but the draw held. Final: 1-1, replay.

The draw resulted in winnings of up to 1,750 pounds for a 500-pound bet. In the replay, Barrow won 4-0, but the first match was a betting hit, demonstrating how equal forces in lower leagues create equal chances.

The FA Cup sensation against Canvey Island (2020)

Another recent case is October 2020. Banbury faced Canvey Island from the Eastman League (Level 8) in the first round of the FA Cup. Canvey, despite being in a lower division, was motivated and had a winning streak; the odds for Banbury were 2.8, while the odds for the visitors were 2.5. The odds were equal, but the home match made betting on the hosts attractive.

The match on November 10, 2020, attracted 1,200 spectators. Canvey took the lead in the 18th minute when their winger, Franklin Domingo, scored after a defensive error, giving them a 1-0 lead. Bunbury responded by equalizing the score in the 35th minute when midfielder Jack Singer scored from a long-range shot, tying the game at 1-1. In the second half, striker Cody Crowley gave the hosts the lead in the 67th minute with a long-range shot, giving them a 2-1 advantage. Canvey pressed hard, but Bunbury's strong defense, including the saves made by goalkeeper Hoare, kept them in the game.

The 2-1 victory was unexpected, with odds of 2.8 and winnings of up to £1,400 for a £500 bet.

The playoff victory over Taunton Town (2017)

In the 2016-2017 season, Banbury competed for promotion to the Southern League Premier Division. In the playoff final, they faced Taunton Town, the divisional leader with the best attack. Odds: 3.2 on Banbury, taking into account the host factor and Taunton's form.

The final took place on May 13, 2017, at the Taunton Stadium, with a capacity of 1,200 spectators. Banbury started cautiously: in the 28th minute, their defender Rory Hawley opened the score after a standard — 0:1. Taunton equalized in the 52nd minute with a shot by Nathan Foss — 1:1. But in the 85th minute, forward Zach Huberley-Angles scored the winning goal after a solo run — 1:2. The defense held out in added time.

The victory took Banbury to the Premier Division. Winnings of 3.2 reached 1,600 pounds for a 500-pound bet.