back in the day I used to do three away wins and I would pick the 3 widest odd teams each week. Stick a fiver on it and I would often forget about it. Over the years I won on average once a season and one of the wins was around 3k so i recon that covered about 15 years of bets. I also won a grand on a 200/1 bet a few seasons ago when Plymouth Argyle were rock bottom of league 2 and nearly made the playoffs, Cashed out a £10 bet at just over a grand at the time.
I think you are looking at betting all wrong, no one bets to make money at least I don't. I have a bet because when I am watching the football with the lads down the pub or even at home it makes the game a bit more interesting I am not looking for a profit, If it happens it happens. I don't go mental either a fiver here and there and I might have the odd scratch card or a few quid in the gambler in the pub. If I win I normally get myself something to show for the winnings rather than gamble it away again. Thing is I used to be really bad for fruit machines but at the time I was only responsible for myself so it was only me that was losing out, now I have a family and commitments I don't gamble to much because I have better things to spend it on.