Pipped at the post

SO close . . . Richard scooped £5,000 but it could have been so much more

Penalty miss costs Richard £45,000!

A SOCCER fan from Shaw has netted £5,000 after finishing runner-up in a fantasy football competition played by more than 200,000 sports fans across the country.

Richard Toms (33) came within a whisker of scooping the £50,000 top prize in the Daily Telegraph competition after his team, Bunglersliga Champs, surged up the national table.

Richard, a former Oldham Evening Chronicle journalist, now an editor for publishers HarperCollins, was league leader going into Saturday’s FA Cup final between Chelsea and Portsmouth — but his nearest challenger eventually pipped him to the life-changing top prize.

The former Hulme Grammar School pupil, who finished a creditable 57th in last season’s competition, said: “Obviously there’s some regret that I missed out on the title by such a small margin.

“But at the same I’m proud and delighted to have done so well.”

The outcome probably hinged on Portsmouth missing a penalty, explained Richard, as Premier League champions Chelsea ran out 1-0 winners to clinch the Double.

“I suppose football is full of ifs and buts,” added the Manchester United fan, who had to put his loyalties to one side as his dream team included a number of Chelsea stars.

He said: “It’s been difficult cheering on some of the Chelsea players when I really wanted United to win the title.”

Fantasy football allows fans to become managers, giving them an imaginary budget to buy a team of Premier League players who score points based on their performances.

“With all the nerves and tension of the last few weeks, I’ve now got a good idea of what life must be like for a real football manager!” said Richard.