CONGRATULATIONS to Saints Season Ticket Holder Craig Lyon who scooped the prize of £300,000 on the National Lottery £3 Bingo Pink Scratchcard.
The 31-year-old, who also is Assistant Coach of the under 14s at Blackbrook, bought the winning Scratchcard with £5 he had won earlier in the day on the first Scratchcard he had bought for several months.
Craig explained: “For some reason I was feeling lucky on this particular day and I bought a Scratchcard when I went out to work in the morning. I spent £5 and won £5.
“Later in the day on my way home from work I called at the garage and still feeling lucky I thought I would spend my £5 winnings on a £2 and a £3 card. I didn’t scratch them straight away, I waited until I got home.”
Craig, who is married to Emma, 29, said he started to do various jobs around the house and left the Scratchcards on the side in the kitchen.
He added: “It was literally a couple of hours later that I decided to scratch the cards. I scratched the first one and nothing and then I came to the Bingo Pink. It is the first time I have bought a Bingo Pink and I started to scratch it really slowly. I normally rush but for some reason I had a feeling I was going to win so I was doing everything in slow motion.
“When I had finished scratching the card and realised I really had won I just could not believe it. I was in a state of shock. I checked, checked and checked again and then immediately called Camelot who confirmed I had actually won. At that point I just started shouting and screaming.”
Craig said he immediately jumped in the car and went to Emma’s place of work.
“I was so excited and I was shaking. When I arrived at Emma’s work she could not believe it – she wondered what on earth I was doing there. When I told her the news she thought I was joking and it took me about half an hour to convince her it really was true,” Craig added.
Craig and Emma, who have a three year old son, Alfie, are now planning a dream family holiday to Disneyland.
Craig said: “We were planning on taking Alfie to Pepper Pig World in Southampton as he has always wanted to go there as a substitute for Disneyland as we just thought this would never be possible. But now it is. Alfie is four in March so this will be the perfect birthday present for him.”
Craig and Emma, who have been married for nine years and were childhood sweethearts, are also planning to buy a new house.
Craig said: “We have been wanting to move for a while but have been saving up. This is something which wouldn’t have been possible for at least five years. Now, with our Scratchcard win, we can make this happen straight away. We will move to somewhere bigger with lots more space for Alife.”
Craig said he will also definitely be continuing to keep his season ticket for life at his beloved ground!
Craig also plays for Blackbrook Rugby Club and is an assistant coach for the under 14 team.
