Founded in 2016 by Spencer Owen, known as Spencer FC, this club started as an exhibition team for YouTube videos but quickly moved into competitive football. Currently, the men's team plays in the Eastman League Premier Division (7th tier), and the women's team plays in the Women's National League Division 3.
Hashtag United became famous for a series of 21 consecutive wins in the 2022–2023 season, which led to a promotion. Such achievements made the club's matches attractive for betting at https://666gambit.org.uk/, where unexpected outcomes brought big wins.
Match against Soham Town Rangers in the FA Cup, 2020
In September 2020, Hashtag United faced Soham Town Rangers in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup. It was the club's debut season in the Eastミアンリーグ North, following a merger with other teams and a transition from exhibition matches. Soham, who played in the Northern Premier League (8th tier), were considered favourites due to their experience and home field advantage. The odds for Hashtag to win were 3.50, and for them to advance were around 4.00, as the club was a newcomer with an unstable defence.
The match started tensely: Soham opened the scoring in the 25th minute with a strike from a midfielder after a mistake by Hashtag's goalkeeper. The visitors, led by young talents from the academy such as Joshua Osude, came back in the second half. In the 60th minute, Jesse Waller-Lassen equalised with a long-range shot that sent the fans into a frenzy. Regular time ended 1-1, and the match went to penalties. Hashtag converted all of their kicks, including the decisive one from Waller-Lassen, winning 4-2.
Bets on Hashtag to win brought returns of up to 400% of the stake. One documented case was a £1,000 bet on a penalty shootout win at odds of 5.00, which yielded a £5,000 profit. Fans who followed the club's YouTube channel, which had millions of views, actively placed bets, multiplying their winnings on live streams.
Winning streak in the Eastman League North, 2022–2023 season
The 2022–2023 season was a breakthrough for Hashtag United in the Eastman League North (8th tier). The team scored 96 points in 38 matches, winning the title and promotion. The key was a series of 21 consecutive league wins from October 2022 to March 2023, where bets on Hashtag as the underdog in individual games brought in large sums. The odds on their victories ranged from 2.50 to 4.00 against favourites such as Banstead Athletic or Hayes & Eding.
One of the most memorable matches was against Banstead Athletic in November 2022. Banstead was leading the table, while Hashtag was in the middle of the pack. In the 15th minute, Banstead took a 1-0 lead, but Hashtag turned the game around: goals from Liam Butler and Max Temlin in the 35th and 55th minutes made it 2-1. The final goal in the 80th minute from Rhian Howard sealed the 3-1 victory. The odds for Hashtag's victory were 3.20, which meant that a £2,000 bet would have yielded a £6,400 profit. This win was part of a chain where a series of victories increased the total payouts for bettors.
Another key match was against Hayes and Eding in January 2023, which ended 2-0. Hayes, with a strong attack, dominated the first half, but Hashtag goalkeeper Elliot Lawton saved several shots. Goals from Temlina and Sam Lockwood in the second half broke the opposition. The odds of 2.80 yielded winnings of around £5,600 on a £2,000 stake.
Women's League National Cup Final, 2024
The Hashtag United women's team, formed in 2020 after merging with AFC Basildon, rose to the third division and won the Women's League National Cup in March 2024. The final against Newcastle United (also third tier, but with a larger budget) at Kenilworth Road Stadium drew a record crowd of 3,719. Newcastle were favourites at 1.80 to win, with Hashtag at 3.75.
The match began with Newcastle pressing: in the 10th minute, they scored from a corner. Hashtag, led by captain Shana O'Connor, equalised in the 30th minute with a goal from Madison Gray after a counterattack. In the second half, Newcastle took the lead again in the 65th minute, but Hashtag equalised in the 78th minute with a precise strike from Emma Wall. The 2-1 victory was the team's third consecutive trophy.
The odds on their victory brought winnings of up to 275%. One bettor placed £3,000 on an exact score of 2-1 at odds of 8.00, winning £24,000. Other bets on over 2.5 goals (odds of 2.20) yielded £6,600 on a £3,000 stake.
