‘Football widow’ Sammantha scores a £1Million win
Sammantha Young bought a National Lottery ticket while her husband was glued to the screen watching a Euro 2020 match. Now the ‘football widow’ from Basingstoke is celebrating after becoming 1 of 20 players to win £1Million in the special EuroMillions UK Millionaire Maker draw on 2nd July, 2021.
Sammantha, 33, logged into the National Lottery app and treated herself to a couple of Lucky Dip tickets for that night’s EuroMillions draw, while husband Paul, 39, was engrossed in one of the group games.
She said, “Like the rest of the country, I’ve been so proud to support the England team and cheered them all the way to the final. On that Friday I bought a couple of Lucky Dip tickets for that night’s EuroMillions draw. Just before I went to bed, I logged back in and saw that there was no jackpot winner so I thought that was it. Little did I know I’d wake up a millionaire!”
The following morning, while she was enjoying her morning cup of tea, Sammantha checked her emails and saw a message from The National Lottery. Logging into her National Lottery account, she saw an array of noughts and was ecstatic to see what she thought was a £1,000 win.
She said, “I’m a little embarrassed to admit that although I’m a chartered accountant, working with numbers every day, it was Paul who looked at the message more closely and pointed out that what I thought was £1,000 was actually £1Million.
“Neither of us were willing to dare believe that the win was real. I logged in and out of my National Lottery account numerous times, and even when I called Camelot who confirmed the win, and then spoke with the winners’ advisor, I still couldn’t believe it. I mean, it’s a pretty big stretch to spend £2.50 and in return bank £1Million!”
Sammantha and Paul, who have been together for 12 years and have 2 children, are now working out how to enjoy their windfall. A few treats and some “amazing getaways” are definitely on the cards once it is safe to travel.
Sammantha’s dream holiday destination is the tropical island paradise of Bora Bora in French Polynesia. Meanwhile Paul has his eye on a new Range Rover Sport and a Liverpool season ticket. Their young son’s ideal treat is a little more modest: he’d like a fidget spinner.
15th July 2021
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