Northern Ireland

Children's football club in Hartlepool to benefit from Northern Ireland lottery win

A children's football team in Hartlepool is to benefit from Frances and Patrick Connolly's Euromillions windfall. Picture by Mal McCann
A children's football team in Hartlepool is to benefit from Frances and Patrick Connolly's Euromillions windfall. Picture by Mal McCann A children's football team in Hartlepool is to benefit from Frances and Patrick Connolly's Euromillions windfall. Picture by Mal McCann

A children's football club in the north east of England is also among those who will benefit from Frances and Patrick Connolly's Euromillions windfall.

There has been excitement after Mrs Connolly revealed that one of the beneficiaries will be St Francis FC in Hartlepool, where she used to live.

Trevor Robinson, club secretary, said its members were "overwhelmed" by the news.

"Everybody's talking about it, aspirations and dreams at the club are possibly becoming a reality," he said.

The small club caters for about 250 children aged from six to 13 and is run entirely by volunteers.

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Mr Robinson told the BBC that Mrs Connolly was a fundraising officer at the club and "very motivated and enthusiastic about making the club bigger and better and providing for the kids and families.

"During Frances' time, when she was part of the club and running the club, I think we had something like 22 teams, so we're trying to get back to that stage," he said.

"I've been told she had plans herself of trying to get a clubhouse for the football club."