Right Said Fred: Talking Betting With Betfred Boss Fred Done

It proves beyond doubt  that nice guys can win after Marcus Rashford showed his absolute class to send us into the knockout stages of the World Cup.

The United striker, who was honoured for his campaign that led to a government U-turn over needy children’s free school meals during Covid, dedicated his two goals in England’s 3-0 win over Wales to friend Garfield Hayward who sadly passed away after a battle with cancer.

Rashford, who was fortunate to make Gareth Southgate’s squad after a huge dip in form at club level during the reigns of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick, is paying back England boss Gareth Southgate in spades.

From his point of view, he’s stuck by Rashford and recalled him into the fold when his club form dramatically improved this season – and gone on to give him a morale-boosting start in the last of the Group B matches that sealed our place in the Last 16.

It wasn’t just the bold selection of Rashford, but also bowing to public opinion and  introducing  City’s Phil Foden that paid off for Southgate.

What now for Raheem Sterling, who will be sweating big time on whether he’ll be involved against Senegal on Sunday?

I’ve never really been a big fan of his, and frankly I’d go with the same starting 11 at the weekend, with maybe Kalvin Phillips in place of Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson, for the City midfielder just looks more combative in winning the ball back.

I said before we started that we could quite easily go on and win the World Cup for the first time since 1966 – and Rashford, for one, agrees with me!

Betfred make England fourth favourites at 8/1 to win the Qatar World Cup – behind Brazil (5/2), France (11/2) and Spain (7/1).

Meanwhile, Wythenshawe-born Rashford is right up there in the battle to be top goalscorer at 12/1 with Betfred – behind Kylian Mbappe (9/4), Cody Gakpo and  Lionel Messi, both at 7/1.

Still on the World Cup and my heartiest congratulations to a new customer Ma Yuankui from Manchester’s Northern Quarter who took me to the cleaners big time winning £2,500 from a £50 bet at 50/1  that Germany would be beating Japan at halftime but eventually lose the game.

The Chinese born  40 year old father of two, who always picks the Asian teams thinks it is only a matter of time before  a team from this part of the world wrestle dominance of the competition from Europe and South America.

It’s great that I’m in a position to sponsor this weekend’s World Heavyweight Championship fight between Tyson Fury and Derek Chisora at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 

The Manchester-based WBC and Lineal heavyweight champion defends his titles against long-standing rival Chisora live on BT Box Office in the UK and Ireland.

A full house of in excess of 60,000 fans will be in attendance for Fury’s third defence of his WBC belt.

It is the heavyweight division that really captures the attention of both the public and punters alike and I am really looking forward to another great battle between Fury and Chisora at the fantastic  stadium.

Latest betting for the fight suggests that Tyson Fury is set to retain his title, with The Gypsy King on offer at 1/20 at Betfred  to be victorious against ‘Del Boy’, who is 11/1 to cause an upset. A draw between the two British heavyweights is on offer at 22/1.

ust proving love is in the air a Darby and Joan couple - Peter and Margaret Rode  - have always wanted to replace the £30 engagement ring she lost over 40 years ago.

 And now, after an incredible win at Betfred, this devoted couple in their 70s will be able to do so – and have plenty to spare for their best family Christmas ever.

Peter, a retired Navy dockyard worker from Plymouth, won £41,475 on a £5 accumulator with us.

He beat the odds on Betfred’s Goals Galore Extra coupon when he predicted the winner of – and that both teams would score in – six games in the FA Cup and National League at the weekend.

There was a last-minute goal for Exeter, who lost 4-1 at Oxford, and for Eastleigh who pulled one back late on at Altrincham.

Walsall, who Peter predicted would beat Carlisle, only did so with goals in the 88th and 93rd minute to eventually triumph 2-1.

Meanwhile, Hartlepool got the better of Hartlepool 3-1 and Portsmouth scraped past MK Dons winning 3-2 – while Maidstone United triumphed 3-2 over Maidenhead United.

It took Peter just three minutes to fill in the coupon on behalf of Margaret, who was busy making his favourite Cornish pasties in the kitchen.

Peter, a 76-year-old great grandfather, said: “I shouted to Margaret that she needed to fill in her coupon and she asked me to do it because her hands were full of pastry.

“Normally I’d spend half-an-hour or so studying form, but I just went for home wins and didn’t really think that much about it.

“With it being her coupon, we’ll of course be sharing this brilliant win straight down the middle.

“The only thing I’m definitely going to do with the money is get this engagement ring we lost over 40 years ago replaced.”

Margaret, a 72-year-old retired shopworker, added: “He bought me the ring in 1963 for £30 or something like that, but it got lost over 40 years ago. We have skimped and scraped over all this time, and never really thought it was important to get it replaced.

“He is an absolute treasure and means the world to me. We do everything together and I suppose we deserve a bit of luck.

“It’s easily the biggest win we’ve ever had at the Betfred shop on Transit Way, Plymouth where we’ve been going every week. Up until now the biggest win was £600 on the Irish Lottery.

“As well as the ring, which I’m sure will cost more than the £30 it did when he bought it, we’ll be getting a new kitchen and chairs before Christmas as well as some plants for the garden.

“We should have a brilliant time this Christmas… that’s for certain.”

It’s fantastic that this win means Margaret will be dazzled by a brand-new engagement ring at 72 years of age.

To win such a substantial amount from a small stake is a marvellous achievement for this couple who are truly in love after all these years.

By the way, I’m partial to a Cornish pasty myself, so if Margaret fancies sending me one of her delicious homemade ones by special delivery that’d be great!

And finally a globetrotting Betfred customer can fulfil his life time ambition after winning big.

The 79 year old from North Yorkshire won £50,000 after wagering just a fiver on the 49’s numbers game.

He beat the odds on his four fold when all four of the widower’s numbers 8,12,24 and 46 were drawn - giving him the chance to travel the world once again.

As a retired skilled driller in the off shore oil industry he’s already travelled extensively working on rigs in the North Sea, Australia, Africa and Indonesia.

But now with £50,000 winnings in the bank courtesy of Betfred he’s planning a trip to Japan - a country he’s always wanted to visit.

The jubilant winner said: "I have been all over the world when I was working but always fancied Japan. Now I can easily afford to fulfil that ambition. 

"But first I'm off to New Zealand for a much warmer Christmas. Over the years I have made a good few  Kiwi friends so will get to see them again.

"Life is too short and you need to do things before you kick the bucket! Now I will be able to. Why did I pick those lucky numbers. Honestly your guess is as good as mind. I just don't know but I've stuck with them...and I'm glad I have because this is my biggest ever win."

What a fantastic win for this online customer who has only been with us a year or so. For just a fiver he'll be flying out on two big holidays with plenty of cash to spare! Well played to this hard working fella who fully deserves his good fortune.