Nobody knows better than Tom Miller that football can be a cruel game – he only needed Stevenage to score on Saturday to scoop a £16,000 accumulator bet.

The Comet:

Spurs fan Tom included Stevenage and Carlisle to score in his bet because girlfriend Samantha Sutcliffe lives in the town and he’s always loved manager Teddy Sheringham.

But the 28-year-old’s dream of a giant payout was dashed, with Stevenage even missing a spot kick that could have sealed the big win.

Tom said: “I felt sick. I can’t stop thinking about it. It was so close but so far away.”

Tom made the £5 bet at odds of 3,220/1 on the spur of the moment, but when 11 of the results went his way he began thinking how he would spend the money.

He said: “If I did win I would have cleared up some debts and taken my girlfriend on a holiday of a lifetime – and proposed.”

But Stevenage’s clash with Carlisle United at Broadhall Way couldn’t produce a goal.

Tom needed both sides to score for his accumulator to pay out, and he was given fresh hope when a player who amazingly shares his name netted for the away side with only eight minutes left on the clock.

He hoped against hope that Boro could level and make him a winner, but it was not to be.

Construction company director Tom said: “When Tom Miller scored I thought it was a sign that Stevenage were going to score because we’ve got the same name. It seemed like it was my day and those final few minutes were so tense.”

Tom, an avid Tottenham fan who plays football regularly, says that he hasn’t been put off betting by the experience and is hoping that things get better for Sheringham’s Stevenage strugglers, who currently sit 20th in Sky Bet League Two.

He said: “My girlfriend lives in Stevenage so I’m always checking their results and I hope things start to pick up for them.”

Despite the result Tom is still a massive fan of the former England and Manchester United striker.

Jokingly he added: “I think Teddy should call me up and apologise.”