A retired Chelsea footballer has won £5.5 million on the Lotto.
Terry Bradbury, 74, used to earn £25 a week as a professional footballer in the 1960s, but he is celebrating becoming an overnight millionaire after he hit the jackpot in Saturday’s draw.
The ex-midfielder, from Buxton, Derbyshire, said: “The news really is still sinking in. We still can’t quite believe it.”
Bradbury and his wife Ann, 73, said they are looking forward to spending some of their new-found fortune on their grandchildren.
The couple said they are going to splash out on a villa in Spain – their favourite holiday spot.
Mrs Bradbury said: “The villa will be a place where our family can always go to for holidays. Looking after our sons and our nine grandchildren is something which is a priority for both of us.
“It is wonderful to think that none of our children will have a mortgage or any stress for the rest of their lives. This win provides our family with security and this is what pleases Terry and myself more than anything.”
Bradbury began his career with Chelsea in 1957 and made 29 appearances for the First Division club.
He moved to Southend United in 1962 for a reported £6,000 before going on to play for Leyton Orient.
Bradbury moved to Wrexham in 1967 before joining rivals Chester, and later worked as a player-coach at Weymouth.
The couple usually play the same numbers in the Lotto every week, but they scooped the jackpot after they changed to a Lucky Dip.
Bradbury said: “We just felt like a change so threw two Lucky Dip lines on – and we are so glad we did.
“We will definitely be continuing to play Lotto – and will probably stick with Lucky Dips too.”
The couple, who used to run a pub in Tideswell, Derbyshire, bought their ticket from WH Smith in Buxton.