Think I can give up the job hunt now... football fan’s delight at £9m win
A JOBLESS football fan who won £9.3million on the lottery celebrated with a cup of tea.
Paul Long put his luck down to his beloved non-league Leyton Orient’s 3-0 victory over Woking on Saturday, which he celebrated by buying a lucky dip ticket.
The father of three, 55, from Wickford, Essex, initially believed he had won just £9,000, until a friend pointed out that he had scooped the jackpot.
Even though he received an email from Camelot on Sunday morning saying he had won, when he logged into his account it said he had only £3.90 left.
After calling the customer helpline, he said he “must have been in denial”, as he still came away only believing he had won £9,000.
Mr Long said: “I rang my mate and told him and he said, ‘Text me over the ticket’.
“He then said, ‘Hi mate, I’m not being funny, you’ve won £9million’. I said, ‘Shut up’.”
After ringing the Lotto helpline to confirm he was the sole jackpot winner and asking “Is this a scam?”, Mr Long told his
what paul’s windfall could buy him
£8.6million Brazilian star Neymar’s £782,000-a-week pay for 11 weeks. £4million Leyton Orient’s team. £1.6million A helicopter to watch Orient from the air. £1.2million A Hawaiian mansion for Orient’s close season. £500,000 Hiring Stevie Wonder to serenade the team. £250,000 An infinity pool for the players to relax after a game. £177,207.50 A trip to space to get as far away as you can after a bad defeat. close family as his good fortune began to sink in.
He said: “I opened a bottle of beer and then thought, you know what, I need a cup of tea.”
Next day, Mr Long, who worked at the Ford plant in Dagenham for 14 years, put down a deposit on a new Ford EcoSport sports utility vehicle.
Having been unable to work for 11 months after injuring an Achilles tendon, his job hunt is now permanently on hold.
He said he plans to use the money to give his 27-year-old daughter and two sons, aged 24 and 21, a secure future.
But he said: “I’m not going to make them millionaires. I think they should learn the value of things. I want to give them a life where I know they are going to be all right – that’s what I take satisfaction from.
“This is going to be one hell of an exciting adventure.”
But he said he has no plans to invest in the east London club he has supported since he was 11.