'I won the lottery and now I'm playing for England'

Image source, PA Media

Neil Jones will travel to Malta in November to lead an England team at the European Pool Championships

A man who bought a pool table after winning £2.4m on the lottery is now cueing up to represent England at the European Pool Championships.

Neil Jones, 59, from Stoke-on-Trent, and his partner Julie Kirkham, won the money just before Christmas 2010.

After getting the table, Mr Jones took advantage of the free time he had after the lottery win to sharpen his skills and rise through the ranks.

He said representing his country in Malta would be his "proudest moment".

The couple had agreed to start a "new life" following their win on on 1 January 2011, and for Mr Jones that included pool after he and friends went to a local hall as part of celebrations.

"I picked a cue up, had a knock, and then I came back home and measured up our dining room so I could buy a decent pool table," he said.

Image source, PA Media

Neil Jones said he had spent thousands of hours practising at home

Mr Jones, who spent "thousands of hours" in training, said: "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 also took advantage of lockdown in 2020, while others were barred from pubs and pool halls, he was able to keep practising.

He was chosen to represent England in a Home Nations tournament earlier this year and will now fly to the European Championships next month to captain the England B1 team.

Image source, PA Media

Neil Jones and his partner won just over £2.4m in December 2010

Speaking about the life-changing lottery win, Mr Jones said: "If it wasn't for my National Lottery win, I wouldn't be telling this story.

"I didn't have that much money left in the world when I won, and now I'm captaining my country.

"I can't wait to fly out to Malta, put on that England shirt and lead the team out."