The club from Stratford-upon-Avon plays in the Southern League Central Division, the seventh tier of English football. Matches here attract hundreds of spectators to Knights Lane Stadium, but for betting enthusiasts, they are full of surprises.
High odds on underdogs at Winthere Casino lead to big payouts when Paul Davies's team defies expectations.
Victory over Boston United in the 2021 FA Cup qualifiers
In October 2021, Stratford Town advanced to the first round of the FA Cup by defeating Boston United from the National League North (sixth tier). The first away match ended in a 1-1 draw, with Joe McGlynn scoring for the hosts and Jesse Lingard scoring for the visitors. The replay at Knights Lane on 26 October was a thriller. In front of 1,800 spectators, Stratford took the lead in the 12th minute thanks to a goal from Caleb Nnabarde, but Boston equalised in the 35th minute with a goal from Jordan Pickering. In the second half, the visitors' class showed: in the 62nd minute, Nnabaradi scored his second, and in the 78th, Joe Butterfield scored the third. The final score was 3-2 in favour of Stratford.
This match was a sensation: Boston was leading its league with a seven-game winning streak, while Stratford was in the middle of the Southern League table. The odds for a win by the visitors were 4.50, but considering the home advantage, they rose to 5.20 for a replay. Bets on a straight Stratford win with odds above 4.00 brought winnings of up to £20,000 per player — one fan from Warwickshire bet £500 and won £26,000.
Triumph in the playoffs against Larkhall Athletic in 2015
In May 2015, Stratford Town secured promotion to the Southern League Premier Division by winning the Division South and West play-offs. The semi-final against Taunton Town ended 1-0, but the final on 4 May at Larkhall Athletic was epic. The hosts, favourites with the best attack in the division (72 goals for the season), took the lead in the 8th minute when Adam Landry scored with a header from a corner. Stratford responded in the 22nd minute when Jamie Moss equalised with a long-range shot. The second half was tense, with Larkhall laying siege to the goal, but in the 68th minute, Louis Friedman put the visitors ahead with a long-range shot. In the 82nd minute, Mark Hutchinson made it 3-2, scoring into an empty net after a mistake by the goalkeeper.
Larkhall had a run of five home wins, while Stratford had lost three of their last four away games. The odds on the visitors were 6.50, reflecting the difference in form. A bet on the exact score of 2-3 at odds of 25.00 earned one Birmingham fan £12,500 on a £500 stake — he predicted goals against Larkhall.
Sensational away win over Bedford Town in February 2023
In February 2023, Stratford Town ended their losing streak with a 3-0 away win over Bedford Town in the Southern League Central Division. The match on 21 February was played in harsh weather conditions with rain. Bedford, the league leaders with 15 consecutive home wins, dominated the first half, but Stratford goalkeeper Ellaris made three saves. In the 48th minute, the breakthrough came: Aidan Benjamin opened the scoring with a shot into the corner after a pass from Nnabaradi. In the 65th minute, Joe Butterfield doubled the lead with a penalty that was the goal of the season. Richard Dean added the finishing touch in the 82nd minute, closing in on a cross.
Bedford had the advantage in possession (58%), but Stratford made perfect use of their chances. The odds on the visitors were as high as 7.00 due to their 20th place in the table and four consecutive defeats. A bet on Bedford not conceding a goal at odds of 12.00 brought a £18,000 win to one player from London who had invested £1,500.