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Lottery millionaire builds a football ground in his garden to play with his mates
Wales Online ^ | 31 AUG 2017 | Tom Bedford

Posted on 08/31/2017 2:42:57 PM PDT by nickcarraway

A football-mad lottery millionaire has splashed out on his own pitch complete with a dugout on the touchline.

Former postman Matt Evans 37, turned his back garden into a mini soccer stadium so his mates can come for a kickabout.

The super-rich bachelor is blowing his fortune on his love for the beautiful game.

He said: “I’m living the dream by having my own pitch with lifesize goals and all the white markings.

“I invite my old workmates around for a game and we sit in the dugout to talk about football.

“My dad sometimes comes along for a game but we usually ask him to play in goal.”

Matt Evans in his back garden at his house in South Wales (Image: Athena Picture Agency Ltd) Matt was a £300-a-week postman three years ago using jumpers for goalposts in his local park.

But after a lottery lucky dip netted him £2,604,015 he’s living the life of a Premiership soccer star.

Matt flies around the world to cheer on his beloved Wales football team and his hero Gareth Bale .

And he supports Championship leaders Cardiff City home and away.

Matt, from Barry , said: “I know I’m very lucky to follow my dreams and I joke that my life is like living in a Carlsberg TV advert.

“But I’m still one of the lads who just loves sport.”

(Image: Athena Picture Agency Ltd) Despite his £600,000 luxury home and £100,000 BMW M6 Matt has failed to score with the girls.

He said: “I’m happier being single so I can pursue the real love of my life – football.

“I love having the lads around for a game on my pitch then we chat in the eight-seater dugout.”

If rain stops play Matt and his mates head inside to watch footie on his 88-inch TV in the games room which also has a snooker table and darts board.

Matt and his pals will be at Wales’ World Cup qualifier against Austria in Cardiff on Saturday before jetting off to watch them play in Moldova.

But he’s also an American football fan and regularly flies off with dad Chris, 63, to watch his favourite American Football team the Washington Redskins.

The dug out in the back garden (Image: Athena Picture Agency Ltd) Matt said: “I was a postman all my life getting up at 5am and walking eight miles a day in all weathers.

“I was bitten by dogs and I’ve got the scars to prove it – including one on my bum.

“I always said that if I won the lottery I’d spend the money on watching football and now I can play in my own back yard.”

A Camelot spokeswoman said: “Winning the lottery has changed Matt’s life but it hasn’t changed him.

“He’s a down-to-earth guy who is lucky to pursue his love of football wherever it takes him.”


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Outdoors; Sports
KEYWORDS: athletes; lottery; millionaires
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1 posted on 08/31/2017 2:42:57 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

Always thought a baseball field would be fun to have out back.


2 posted on 08/31/2017 2:46:42 PM PDT by Jolla
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To: Jolla

The super-rich bachelor is blowing his fortune

Spent half on wild women and wild times...wasted the rest.


3 posted on 08/31/2017 2:47:53 PM PDT by Jolla
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To: nickcarraway

"...soccer stadium..."


It is actually pretty darn modest and the guy is just having a little bit of low-cost fun.

4 posted on 08/31/2017 2:49:09 PM PDT by Blue Jays ( Rock hard ~ Ride free)
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To: Jolla

build it we will come


5 posted on 08/31/2017 2:50:15 PM PDT by morphing libertarian (Imprison, The Clintons, Holder, Obama, and Huma for starters)
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To: nickcarraway

“play in goal”, “touchline”, “pitch”... those Brits sure talk funny...


6 posted on 08/31/2017 2:50:45 PM PDT by grobdriver (Where is Wilson Blair when you need him?)
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To: grobdriver

Do you have a torch in your boot?


7 posted on 08/31/2017 2:53:54 PM PDT by Fresh Wind (Hillary: Go to jail. Go directly to jail. Do not pass GO. Do not collect 2 billion dollars.)
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To: nickcarraway
Ohmygosh, how many tens of pounds did he waste on that?


8 posted on 08/31/2017 3:04:36 PM PDT by Yo-Yo (Is the /sarc tag really necessary?)
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To: Fresh Wind; grobdriver

In the boot of my lorry?


9 posted on 08/31/2017 3:12:08 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: grobdriver

What’s a jumper goalpost.


10 posted on 08/31/2017 3:15:45 PM PDT by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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To: nickcarraway

“But after a lottery lucky dip netted him £2,604,015 he’s living the life of a Premiership soccer star.

Matt flies around the world to cheer on his beloved Wales football team and his hero Gareth Bale .

-snip

Despite his £600,000 luxury home and £100,000 BMW M6...”

Sounds like hes going to be broke within a few years.


11 posted on 08/31/2017 3:22:20 PM PDT by lowbridge
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To: lowbridge

Unsustainable outflow.


12 posted on 08/31/2017 3:25:12 PM PDT by TADSLOS (Reset Underway!)
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To: Yo-Yo

"...tens of pounds..."


Exactly. A handful of friends could create that "stadium" in an afternoon and quit early to have beers and hamburgers.
If anything, the guy seems pretty darn modest modest.


13 posted on 08/31/2017 3:33:44 PM PDT by Blue Jays ( Rock hard ~ Ride free)
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To: nickcarraway
In the boot of my lorry?

Does your lorry even have a boot?

14 posted on 08/31/2017 3:35:38 PM PDT by grobdriver (Where is Wilson Blair when you need him?)
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To: Jolla

$3.4 million is a long way from being super-rich. A $750k house and its expenses, a $150k car and trips to watch Redskins games in America is only sustainable for maybe a year.

$3.4 million isn’t much more than retirement money.


15 posted on 08/31/2017 3:37:53 PM PDT by jjotto ("Ya could look it up!")
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To: nickcarraway

He better hold onto his postman’s job.


16 posted on 08/31/2017 3:40:39 PM PDT by LibWhacker
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To: smokingfrog

I think he might have meant junipers.


17 posted on 08/31/2017 3:42:39 PM PDT by ShasheMac (www.needGod.com)
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To: Yo-Yo
Ohmygosh, how many tens of pounds did he waste on that?


Obviously not enough to the guy that does his grass. You think he could have at least put a new layer of turf down...:^)

18 posted on 08/31/2017 4:01:41 PM PDT by az_gila
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To: ShasheMac
I think he might have meant junipers.


No he did mean jumpers.

Standard UK stuff, a jumper is a sweater, so defining the goals with your top layers of clothing while you play is normal.

19 posted on 08/31/2017 4:04:42 PM PDT by az_gila
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To: TADSLOS

Yes, it is unsustainable, so sad, if he were to manage his winning he could enjoy a high standard of living for the rest of his life (including attending all his favorite teams playing).

In five years he will need to ask for his old job back.


20 posted on 08/31/2017 6:15:03 PM PDT by 2001convSVT (Going Galt as fast as I can.)
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