Somewhere on your computer there may be a folder full of dead football strategies.

Strategy FINAL.xlsx

Strategy FINAL 2.xlsx

Strategy ACTUALLY FINAL.xlsx

Strategy NEW.xlsx

Strategy NEW NEW.xlsx

And my personal favourite:

Strategy USE THIS ONE.xlsx

Each one had such promise.

Then football happened.

A few bad results.

Maybe a terrible weekend.

And into the strategy graveyard it went.

Then you moved onto the next one.

But here’s the slightly uncomfortable question:

Did you actually prove the strategy was bad?

Or did you just get annoyed with it?

Those aren't the same thing.

A strategy can lose for a while and still be viable.

And something can win five trades in a row while being absolute nonsense.

Which is why backtesting is useful.

You’re giving yourself more evidence before deciding:

Keep it.

Change it.

Or bury it beside Strategy FINAL 2.

If you've got a football idea you're considering this season, test it here: