A fortunate couple who struck gold with a £115m lottery win have ventured into the realm of football by investing in a club with aspirations to make it to the Women’s Super League. Patrick and Frances Connolly, hailing from Hartlepool, have secured a 25% share in Championship outfit Durham Women FC following a recent change in ownership. Winners of the EuroMillions jackpot in 2019, the couple have a deep-rooted connection to the club and are eager to foster the growth of female athletes for the future.
Taking over the reins from Durham University, directors Lee Sanders and Dawn Hepple have assumed control of the club with a fresh board in place. Sanders lauded the financial injection from the Connollys as a game-changer, noting that it would pave the way for the club to embark on ambitious plans such as constructing a dedicated stadium and aiming for promotion to the Women’s Super League. The move marks a significant milestone for Durham Women FC, which stands as an independent entity in women’s football without any ties to a men’s team.
Having relocated from Moira, County Down, to Hartlepool over three decades ago, Mr. and Mrs. Connolly have been longstanding supporters of the women’s game, having sponsored Durham Women for several years. Expressing their enthusiasm for the future prospects of the club, the couple emphasized their commitment to ensuring a sustainable future for the organization while also nurturing the next generation of female athletes. Meanwhile, Sanders, the club’s founder and former first-team manager, shared the excitement among the players about the recent developments, with a tinge of humor as some of them wished they were a bit younger in light of the changes. Durham Women FC currently occupies the fourth spot in the Women’s Championship, with only one team set to clinch promotion to the top flight at the end of the season
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