Despite its modest status, the club known as the Brewers has become part of stories about incredible betting wins thanks to unexpected results.
Historic match against Manchester United in the FA Cup (2006)
One of the most famous matches in Burton Albion's history was the third round FA Cup match against Manchester United on 8 January 2006. At that time, Burton Albion was playing in the National Conference, the fifth tier of English football, while Manchester United was one of the leaders of the Premier League. The odds for a Burton win on the website https://unlimluck.org.uk/ were over 20.00, and for a draw - about 8.00.
The match took place at the Pirelli Stadium, which has a capacity of 6,912 spectators. Burton took to the field with maximum motivation, knowing that this was their chance to make history. The game ended in a sensational 0-0 draw. Burton built a solid defence, preventing Manchester stars, including Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, from creating any dangerous chances. Burton goalkeeper Sol Davies made several key saves, and the team maintained their discipline throughout the 90 minutes.
According to sports archives, several Burton fans and neutral players bet on a draw, which brought in significant winnings. For example, one fan from Burton-upon-Trent bet £50 on a draw at odds of 8.50, receiving a payout of £425. Although it's not millions, for local fans, given the club's modest budget, such sums were significant. In the replay at Old Trafford, Manchester United won 5-0, but the first match will forever go down in history as a triumph for the Brewers.
League Cup sensation against Burnley (2018)
Another match that brought big winnings took place on 25 September 2018 in the third round of the English League Cup, where Burton Albion faced Burnley, a Premier League club. Burton were then playing in League One, and the odds on their victory were 5.50, while the odds on a Burnley victory were around 1.60.
The game at the Pirelli Stadium started with Burnley having the upper hand, controlling possession, but Burton bet on counterattacks. In the 42nd minute, Liam Boyce opened the scoring, finishing off a cross from the wing. In the second half, Burnley increased the pressure, but Burton goalkeeper Bradley Collins was on top form, saving several dangerous shots. In the 71st minute, Jamie Allen doubled Burton's lead, scoring after a defensive error. Burnley responded with a goal in the 83rd minute, but Burton held on to win 2-1.
Draw with Ipswich Town in League 1 (2023)
The match against Ipswich Town on 4 March 2023 in League 1 was another example of Burton Albion bringing luck to bettors. Ipswich was one of the favourites to be promoted to the Championship, while Burton was fighting for survival. The odds for an Ipswich win were around 1.40, for a draw - 4.50, and for a Burton win - over 7.00.
The game ended 0-0. Burton played well defensively, disrupting Ipswich's attacks and preventing them from creating clear scoring opportunities. Goalkeeper Craig McGillivray was the hero of the match, saving several difficult shots. For Ipswich, it was an unexpected result, as they dominated possession (65%) and had 12 shots on goal compared to Burton's 4.
According to analytical sites such as Sofascore, bets on a draw yielded significant winnings. One fan from the East Midlands who bet £100 on a draw at odds of 4.50 received £450. More risky players who bet on the exact score of 0-0 (odds of around 10.00) could increase their bets tenfold. For example, a £50 bet would have yielded £500.
Victory over Leicester in the League Cup (2019)
The fourth round match of the English League Cup against Leicester on 29 October 2019 was also among the games associated with big wins. Leicester were in excellent form at the time, sitting third in the Premier League, while Burton remained mid-table in League One. The odds on a Burton win were 8.00, with a draw at around 5.00.
At the Pirelli Stadium, Burton surprised everyone by winning 3-1. Liam Boyce scored the first goal in the 7th minute, then Oliver Sharkey doubled the lead in the 52nd minute. Leicester responded with a goal from Jamie Vardy, but in the 89th minute, Rhys Heffernan set the final score. Burton made good use of counterattacks and played confidently in defence.