Time was almost everyone it seems used to have a weekly flutter on the Pools in the hope of winning a fortune.
In its heyday 10 million took part but today, with competition from betting shops, online gambling and the lottery, just 300,000 fill in their coupon each week.

The world's oldest football gaming business which began in 1923 with Littlewoods selling coupons outside Old Trafford, was bought out in 2000 by Sportech who then quickly swallowed up, Zetters and Vernons. Sportech are now selling on to another anonymous enterprise but interesting to note that the business last year turned over almost 34 million from which profit was more than 15 million.

Like most readers I thought I knew a bit about football but forecasting results is notoriously difficult and best left to housewives.

For an old timer like me, the story marks the demise of another household institution that I grew up with and, regretfully, the passing of time.

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-37346981