An enthusiastic West Ham fan, who recently turned 18, recounted his incredible experience of winning a £5,000 prize and a trip to Germany to witness England’s opening Euro 2024 fixture against Serbia. Joseph Whitney, the lucky winner, described the feeling as ‘surreal’ and shared that the realization of his incredible win still hadn’t sunk in.

Joseph was one of 200 hopefuls who gathered at Leyton Orient’s Gaughan Group Stadium on Saturday for Paddy Power’s extraordinary penalty shootout competition. He explained that he barely made the cut, having just turned 18 at the end of last month. However, his journey to the jackpot wasn’t without its challenges, as he needed a stroke of luck to advance past the first round.

Joseph recounted the intense moments, sharing that as the competition narrowed down to the last four, he felt a surge of confidence. He found himself in a sudden death situation with another contestant, and after they both missed their initial attempts, Joseph scored the winning penalty, securing his spot in the final.

The 18-year-old winner, Joseph Whitney, proudly displays his £5,000 prize and tickets to England’s Euro 2024 opener against Serbia.

Two hundred eager contestants lined the streets, each hoping to be the lucky winner of the incredible prize.

Joseph shared his nervousness during the short break before the famous attendees, including Danny Dyer, Ledley King, James Beattie, and Mark Clattenburg, joined the competition. He humorously confessed to having “about six wees in a minute” due to the overwhelming anticipation.

However, Joseph maintained his composure and went on to deliver a series of flawless spot-kicks, ultimately securing his place as one of the five winners that afternoon. In fact, he was so focused on striking his attempts past the keeper that he didn’t even realize he had won until Paddy Power himself informed him.

Recalling the moment, Joseph said, “If you watch the live stream, I walk over and then that’s when Paddy tells me that I’ve won. And you just see my face absolutely turn. I was just filled with shock and excitement.”

The young winner also shared that the surreal feeling of winning such a substantial amount of money and the opportunity to attend the Euros hadn’t fully registered yet. He believed that the realization would truly sink in once he boarded the plane to Germany.

Joseph’s victory not only granted him an incredible prize but also allowed him to share the experience with his loved ones. His dad, Rob, who accompanied him to the competition, his older brother, Oliver, and his best mate will all be joining him on the trip to Veltins-Arena to cheer on the Three Lions in their Euro 2024 campaign. As for his mum, she will be eagerly watching the tournament from home.

The event attracted several famous faces, including the renowned BBC Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills.

Former Premier League stars James Beattie (left) and Ledley King (right) joined the competition, adding a touch of nostalgia to the event.

Actor and diehard West Ham fan, Danny Dyer, also participated in the penalty shootout, adding to the excitement of the event.

Joseph’s dad, Rob, also tried his luck at the competition but missed his first attempt. Joseph’s win allows him to share this memorable experience with his family and friends, making it even more special.

When asked about his travel companions, Joseph shared that he thought his mum would prefer him to take his friend instead. This lighthearted comment hints at the convincing he still has to do to ensure his desired travel companions.

Among the England stars that Joseph will be eagerly watching is Jordan Pickford, who, like him, is a left-footed penalty-taking goalkeeper. Joseph also mentioned that the ex-pros present at the competition were surprised by this unique skill set, commenting that he had “no right as a keeper” to be taking penalties so well.

England’s manager, Gareth Southgate, welcomes Prince William to St George’s Park as the team gears up for the highly anticipated tournament.

Joseph concluded by expressing his optimism for England’s chances in the upcoming tournament, stating, “I love to be optimistic. It’s bound to be coming soon, and hopefully, this is the tournament. I think we can make it all the way.”