We all dream about winning the national lottery (even if we don’t buy a ticket!). A ticket to your dreams for just £2 . What would we buy ? A big house, a new car, a yacht, villa on a tropical island? The lottery funds good causes too. So what’s not to like? The problem is the odds against winning the top prize are estimated at 1 in 45 million. Maybe a weekly game of bingo with that £2 is a better bet?

Three years ago Coleshill Town FC realised that in order to improve facilities at the Packmeadow ground (in Packington Lane, Coleshill), fund a first team squad capable of getting promoted to the Southern League and to help set up a new youth team infrastructure , new ways of raising money had to be found. A group of officials and club members set up a rolling weekly bingo game based on the national lottery. The game is currently being run by the Supporters Club, a non-profit making organisation dedicated to improving all aspects of the football club. By choosing a set of seven numbers from 1 to 49 (that was the original lottery sequence), participants could check their own bingo cards every Saturday night to see if they’ve won. Players pay a £2 weekly subscription to the club for each bingo line. £1 goes into the pool and £1 to the CTFC development fund. The first person who gets all seven of their numbers wins the jackpot. The last game paid out £901 to two lucky winners (Dewi Jones and Nigel Peet, pictured below) who shared £450.50 each.

A new game begins Saturday 23rd January. If you wish to play, stand a reasonable chance of winning a big prize and help support your local football club, then contact Alan Beckett ( 07791740976) or Colin Wheatley (07804253316) and we’ll get you signed up. Participants pay their £2 per week via monthly standing order to the Supporters Club bank account , and receive regular updates by e mail on how many numbers they need to scoop the prize.

The CTFC development fund has helped the Supporters Club raise money to fund a new stand at Packmeadow, repair the drive, improve match day hospitality accommodation ( all three are minimum requirements for entry into the Southern League) and start mini-soccer & new kids teams from Under 7’s to Under 10’s. Please help us to raise funds for the club by participating in our national lottery bingo game. You never know, it could be you scooping that big prize!