Former Manchester United star left ‘lost for words’ after huge lottery win

Cliff Bull joined Manchester United just 10 days before the Munich Air Disaster, but was forced to retire through injury, though he is now the beneficiary of a bumper lottery win

Former Manchester United star Cliff Bull has won £400,000 in a lottery.

The 82-year-old has been left ‘lost for words’ by the jackpot, which came in the Postcode Lottery. Bull was 15-years-old when he was brought to United by legendary boss Sir Matt Busby.

He joined the Red Devils in October 1957 as a promising winger. The deal saw Bull leave school before relocating to Manchester in January 1958.

His arrival came just 10 days before the tragic Munich Air Disaster devastated the club. The crash killed eight of the ‘Busby Babes’ and left Busby, who thankfully made a full recovery, at death’s door.

Bull was thankfully not on board the flight. He only spent two years at United before having a brief spell at Nottingham Forest as a string of serious knee injuries severely limited his playing time.

After 26 operations, which left him with two artifical knees, Bull took the decision to retire from football. He would go on to forge a career as a plumber and is now happily retired.

His retirement received a major boost 65 years after he joined United. The former winger was surprised at his front door with a massive cheque by a TV crew after winning in the People’s Postcode Lottery.

Bull received £400,000 from a total share of £3.2million after his Nottinghamshire postcode hit the big time. And the family man is now planning on taking his loved ones on a mega holiday.

He said: “I’m absolutely staggered, I’m still lost for words. It opens up so many possibilities. I’m overwhelmed to be quite honest. It’s beyond what I could ever have dreamt.

“I can pay for a holiday for all of the family. That would be my dream for all of us to go away, which at the last count was 22. This would make me very happy.”

Bull also paid tribute to late wife Jeanette, adding: “The overwhelming disappointment is she’s not here to see it, but she’s a big part of this.”

Reflecting on his time at United, Bull said: “I was 15 when I signed for Manchester United, and I signed the papers in Matt Busby’s office. My mum always used to say that ‘one of the greatest kicks I’ve had in my life was being able to kiss Matt Busby’.”

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