Brechin man Michael Elliott has scooped over £3 million in the football pools, making him the biggest-ever individual winner in its 87-year-history.
A prison warder at Noranside, until the startling news came through and he handed in his notice, he is still reeling from his record-breaking win.
It is the first time that a single winner has had a record payout in excess of £3 million.
Mr Elliott (56) wrote himself into the history books by spending just £2 and received in return a cheque for £3,001,511 from The Football Pools.
Mr Elliott had won on the pools three times before but this time it was a bit more than his previous biggest win, which was £32.
“I cannot believe it,” said. “To say this is a life-changing experience would be the understatement of the year.”
He says his dreams are not “massive” and has a couple of new cars, a motorbike and paying off the mortgage in his plans.
“We are still in a state of shock and it’s going to take a little time before everything finally sinks in,” he added.
Originally from Canterbury, Mr Elliott has spent over 20 years serving in the forces, including spells in Northern Ireland and the Gulf, before moving to Scotland. He worked at Noranside for 13 years.
Mr Elliott’s partner is 34-year-old Kirstina Fairweather, who works for the Scottish Prison Service. She also plans to give up work.
The huge windfall has meant that two weddings will be featuring in the couple’s calendar. The lucky couple will be flying out to the Bahamas next month to see Mr Elliott’s son, Greg, tie the knot with Holly Sandie, before marrying themselves.
A keen golfer and fisherman, Mr Elliott plans to spend some of his winnings on clubs and a bigger boat to go fishing in the Scottish lochs.
Mr Elliott chose 10 selections on the Classic Pools, spanning the Scottish, English and Spanish Leagues-and eight came up as 2-2 draws. His record payout was sealed in Clitheroe’s 2-2 draw with Fylde in the Evo Stik Premier League on September 21. His massive win has been kept under wraps until the weekend.
Mr Elliott has Fylde striker Matt Walwyn to thank for netting two late goals in the final 10 minutes of the match played out at Shawbridge and the two men will meet today at Clitheroe FC. Mr Elliott was travelling down to Lancashire yesterday.
Jon Sheehy, director of The Football Pools (formed by the merger of Littlewoods and Vernons), said, “This is truly an historic moment in the history of The Football Pools in Britain.”
Earlier this year, there was a then-record £3 million payout but that was shared by 14 people.