Life changing

Lotto winner creates football paradise in his back garden

Footie fanatic and National Lottery winner Matthew Evans, who followed the Welsh football team around Europe last summer, has transformed a stretch of land at his luxury lad’s pad in the Vale of Glamorgan into a Wales-themed pitch and fanzone.

Postman Matt, who is also a season ticket holder for Cardiff City FC, decided that to kick off the new football season in style, he would install a full-sized football goal and a dug out in his spacious garden; something that he has always dreamed of doing.

He has also installed a floral-inspired four metre Welsh dragon mosaic in tribute to Chris Coleman and his team. He is hoping that this latest homage will bring the Welsh team luck in their World Cup qualifying campaign.

Working through the bucket list

Since scooping a £2,604,015 Lotto jackpot in July 2015, sports-mad Matt has been able to work his way through his sports bucket list by jetting off on dream trips to the Rio Olympics, Monaco Grand Prix and Wimbledon.

Matt’s new full size 8-man dugout sits in pride of place for kick-abouts with his dad Chris, also from Barry, and Matt’s school mates, who like him, have all always been Cardiff City FC season ticket holders and congregate at Matt’s before most Bluebirds home games.

Dreams come true

Matt, 37, became a member of The National Lottery’s millionaire club two years ago and has been enjoying every moment since his win.

He says, “My win has allowed me to make my dreams come true – Welsh football and Cardiff City FC are my passions, so to be able to travel everywhere to watch them and without having to take time off work, has been unreal.

“I’m also a massive fan of American football and American sport in general but instead of watching it on telly like I used to, I regularly fly to the States for live games like the Washington Redskins; Baltimore Orioles baseball and Washington Capitals ice hockey.

“I love my new dugout and my friends and family always want to head here before and after a game. I think Wales are going to qualify for Russia and Dad and I will be over there like a shot!”

The National Lottery has been changing the lives of winners and supporting good causes across the UK since 1994. In that time, there have been more than 7,000 new millionaires created and by playing The National Lottery you raise over £4 million for Good Causes every dayΔ.

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