I may be getting Hornchurch confused with Billericay. My apologies. An Essex man and a brown paper envelope are easily joined.

It's a matter of public record that bookmakers, including BS, the sponsors of the league at the time, refused to take bets on Billericay, Hornchurch and Chelmsford. The stuff about essex people is just banter. 

Of course the Wings v Billlericay would have attracted a lot of punters.  If I recall, we were on our long run of wins and Billericay were down near the foot of the table. It does not take much figuring out.  As for more bets being placed than on Barcelona, perhaps the punters in the far east or wherever are actually savvy to the fact that the odds would have been better on our match, who knows? 

OMERTA elb wrote:

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Of course the Wings v Billlericay would have attracted a lot of punters.  If I recall, we were on our long run of wins and Billericay were down near the foot of the table. It does not take much figuring out.  As for more bets being placed than on Barcelona, perhaps the punters in the far east or wherever are actually savvy to the fact that the odds would have been better on our match, who knows? 

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 Exactly. I remember putting £20 on that game (us to win of course), and a few of my mates putting bets on as well when I told them the odds.

The betting odds in non-league are far better than the league, as bookies don't seem to take into consideration club budgets and that many teams have to travel up (or down) on the day of the game by coach.