CHESTER FC'S triumph in the Nationwide Conference could cost a local bookies dear if Arsenal clinch the Premiership this weekend.
Arsenal have been coupled with Chester winning the Conference in dozens of bets in the Chester area - and one man who placed a £5,000 stake back in November could be picking up £75,000.
Chester's win means they will be promoted and Arsenal, nine points ahead with four games to go, look certain to top the Premiership.
One confident Chester fan walked into Corbetts in Watergate Street last November and placed the bet - and staff are waiting to see him return to the shop with a huge smile on his face.
Raymond Corbett, managing director of the Corbett betting empire which now has a chain of 60 shops, confirmed £150,000 in winning bets were due to be paid out including the £75,000 win.
Raymond, an ardent Chester fan himself, is delighted with his team's performance despite the fact that their success will cost his firm big money.
'They deserve their success,' he declared.
'I think Chester will give many a third division team next season a difficult time.'
He was also full of praise for Chester manager Mark
Wright who he said 'has produced a prolific goal-scoring side who with one game to play have scored 84 goals with only 32 against.' The Corbett family betting empire operates 60 betting offences from York in the North down to Aberystwyth in Mid Wales.
The company was founded back in 1947 as credit book makers by Sydney Corbett - Raymond's grandfather - and his eldest son William - Raymond's late father.
They started out with capital of £1,000 and now their company employs a total of 250 people.
Celebrate Chester City's success with The Chronicle's full colour supplement, free with next Friday's edition.
