Stoke-on-Trent's National Lottery Millionaire to Captain England at European Pool Championships in Malta
When Neil Jones, a former tiler from Stoke-on-Trent, and his partner Julie Kirkham hit the jackpot by winning £2.4 million on the lottery just before Christmas in 2010, they had no idea that this would set Neil on the path to international sport. With £13 in his pocket before the big win one of his first purchases was a pool table, which allowed him to hone his skills throughout the pandemic lockdowns.
"Winning the lottery allowed me to put those hours in. If I didn't win, I wouldn't have been able to buy the table, I wouldn't have had the time - I'd still be on my hands and knees tiling." He explained, "When lockdown happened, I was in a local singles league, and obviously everyone was locked down, but I could still keep practicing, so my game never dropped."
Neil progressed through ranks, becoming a regular county player and gaining his England colours during a Home Nations tournament earlier this year. After a solid debut performance he has been selected to represent England at the European Pool Championships in Malta next month. In what he has described as his "proudest moment”, he has also been asked to captain the England B1 team at the competition.
Neil has not let his wealth define him, stating, "You can't just buy a place in the England team; you've got to put the hours in." His rise from tiler to international pool player for England stands as a testament to the remarkable journey he has undertaken, one made possible by that life-changing lottery win over a decade ago.
While Neil's life has certainly changed since becoming a National Lottery millionaire, he remains grounded and focused on his love for the game. He's motivated not by his wealth but by his talent and the drive to succeed in the sport he loves. His story is a reminder that sometimes life's unexpected twists can lead to the most extraordinary adventures, and we can't wait to see Neil Jones representing England on the international pool stage in Malta this November.
