Life-changing win capped by dramatic 4-4 Manchester United draw
A WELSH great-grandfather is celebrating a life-changing £291,000 win after landing an eight-fold score draw jackpot with The Pools.
Peter, 77, from Pontypridd, secured the huge payout after correctly selecting eight score draws, including Manchester United’s dramatic 4-4 Premier League clash with Bournemouth in December. The win came just weeks before Christmas, making it a festive period he says he will never forget.
A regular Pools player for more than 40 years, Peter had already picked seven correct results from a thrilling weekend of European football. That left him relying on the Monday night fixture at Old Trafford to complete his Classic Pools coupon. An eight-goal thriller, capped by an 84th-minute equaliser from Eli Junior Kroupi, sealed the win and delivered the jackpot.
The payout is the biggest Classic Pools win since September 2024, when a player scooped £318,292.
Peter said he only realised he had won after receiving a phone call the following morning.
“I had selected the eight fixtures, but I wasn’t watching the Manchester United game,” he said. “It wasn’t until I received the phone call the next morning that I realised I’d won. I was shocked, happy, crying – all those emotions at once.”
Despite relying on a Manchester United result, Peter admitted his footballing loyalties lie elsewhere.
“I’m actually a Liverpool fan, so it’s fair to say we had a good 2025 – lifting the Premier League trophy and then winning on The Pools the week before Christmas,” he said. “There was certainly plenty of celebrating across the festive period.”
“This would be special at any time of year, but especially around Christmas and New Year, it was amazing. It couldn’t be better.”
“security and happiness for my family”
Peter, who was diagnosed with the rare spinal condition syringomyelia around 20 years ago, said the win will make a huge difference to his family’s future.
“The Pools has always been a hobby for me and I look forward to playing every weekend,” he said. “Because of my condition, I spend most of my time at home and haven’t been able to travel for a long time.”
He now hopes to take his family on a long-awaited holiday.
“We haven’t been on holiday for a number of years, but I’m hoping we can maybe now book a trip to Spain with all the family,” he said.
While he has enjoyed small wins in the past, Peter said nothing compares to this latest success.
“It’s an amazing amount of money for my wife Janet, the children, the grandchildren and the great-grandchildren too,” he said. “We live in a house, but we can now hope to move into a bungalow, all on one floor, which will help me a lot.
“This money means happiness and security for my family and will allow us to plan for the future.”
James Arnold, CEO of The Pools, congratulated Peter on his remarkable win.
“We’re all about celebrating all wins at The Pools, both big and small, but it’s fair to say one of our customers in Wales pulled off quite the coup with this Classic Pools selection,” he said.
“Landing eight correct score draws, ending in Manchester United’s memorable 4-4 draw with Bournemouth, has given Peter a life-changing sum. We’re delighted to see the positive impact the winnings can have for Peter, his wife Janet and all the family.
“Peter has played with The Pools for more than 40 years, so to see his success one week before Christmas, in the same year his beloved Liverpool won the Premier League – you really couldn’t write the script.”
Peter’s winning coupon
Saturday, December 13
Telstar v NEC – 2-2
Waregem v RAAL La Louviere – 2-2
Sunday, December 14
AC Milan v Sassuolo – 2-2
Bayern Munich v Mainz – 2-2
Freiburg v Borussia Dortmund – 1-1
NAC Breda v Utrecht – 1-1
Genk v Westerlo – 1-1
Monday, December 15
Manchester United v Bournemouth – 4-4
