Twenty years ago, make-up, supremacy and mid-point was a foreign language to most UK sports punters. Nowadays, they are commonly used terms through the widespread business of spread betting.

It was nearly two decades ago that Jonathan Sparke, former boss of City Index, launched sports spread betting to the nation. Sparke was the pioneer for sports spread betting in this country - he launched his new venture in 1986 and it was followed by Sporting Index six years later, in 1992, with IG Sport following in their footsteps in 1993.

In the last six years, City Index has ceased to offer sports spread markets, but three other firms - Spreadex, Cantor Sport and Sports Spreads - have joined the sports spread betting merry-go-round.