Jamie Laveridge, a 37-year-old Manchester United supporter from Worcestershire, is undoubtedly having a week to remember. First on the calendar was the seismic news that Manchester City had been found guilty of financial wrongdoing, and then as if by fate, he won a lavish mansion worth £3.5 million along with £250,000 in cash.
The lucky winner couldn’t resist a cheeky football joke, likening the trio of events to Manchester United's legendary treble-winning campaign back in 1999, when Sir Alex Ferguson’s side clinched the Premier League, the FA Cup, and the Champions League.
Jamie revealed:
I thought City’s guilty verdict was going to be the best news of the week. But then I won a house for £3.5 million and £250,000 in cash! What a result!
City's been found guilty, I’ve got a mansion and cash — it’s the best treble since 1999! I’ve been a football fan all my life, but I never thought I’d end up living in a house fit for a footballer!
As a recipient of the Omaze draw, Jamie bagged a five-bedroom Victorian mansion in London, complete with a separate studio for relaxation and health activities, and even includes a treehouse and a zipline on the grounds.
However, there’s a humorous twist to the story: Jamie’s youngest son is a Manchester City fan.
He had a laugh, saying:
For my youngest son, who’s a die-hard City fan, it’s been a tough week. But I think a multi-million-pound mansion with its own zipline might lift his spirits a little!
Yet, amid the celebration, there’s a touch of sadness. Just before the news of the win broke, Jamie lost his grandmother.
The father reflected:
We lost our grandmother a day before we learned we’d won. At that moment, all our thoughts were with her. The next day, we found out we’d won a house worth millions. It feels like she helped us from above.
When the family heard the news, they were so overwhelmed they didn't even know how to celebrate.
Jamie recalled:
We just ordered pizza. The boys scarfed theirs down immediately, but we were so stunned we couldn’t even touch our food.
We barely slept all weekend. I woke up at three in the morning and asked my wife, 'Did that really happen?'
Jamie and his wife, Katie, have been together for 14 years, and they’ll be celebrating their sixth wedding anniversary at the end of October.
Katie joked:
At the end of the month is our anniversary. I was definitely expecting a gift, but not this!
Having spent their entire lives in Worcestershire, Katie has worked for 18 years in the family café, while Jamie has dedicated himself to the fitness industry since he was 16, spending a long time as a personal trainer.
Most of their free time and finances go towards their sons’ football activities. Leo plays for Birmingham City, while Harry represents Cheltenham Town.
For Jamie, this win means far more than just a luxurious property.
The devoted United supporter admitted:
I’ve always wanted to give Katie and the boys a better life. Now I have the chance to do it in a way I never imagined. All those daily worries have disappeared. This win has changed the future for our children.
As Manchester City continues to appeal the verdict regarding their financial issues, one fan of their fiercest rival is already celebrating his own treble — with a mansion, cash, and a family football joke to top it all off.
