West Ham fan miraculously avoids first-round exit to claim £5,000 prize and tickets to watch England at Euro 2024 after winning Paddy Power's penalty shootout

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A West Ham fan who won £5,000 and a trip to Germany to watch England's opening Euro 2024 fixture against Serbia said the 'surreal feeling' still hasn't sunk in.

Joseph Whitney, 18, was among the 2,000 hopefuls who turned up at Leyton Orient's Gaughan Group Stadium on Saturday afternoon to have a crack at the chance to win Paddy Power's unbelievable penalty shootout competition. 

The aspiring footballer explained how he just made the cut to enter the contest, having only turned 18 at the end of last month. But before he could even think about winning the jackpot, his first task was to navigate a bloated group of entrants. 

And had it not been for a massive slice of good fortune, his pursuit would have ended in the first round. 

'It got down to the last four and I was thinking in my head at this point "oh, I've got a real chance here."' Whitney said. 'Then we got down to the last two and I was in a sudden death. I ended up missing so it was advantage to the other player.

West Ham fan Joseph Whitney celebrates winning Paddy Power's penalty shootout with his dad Rob at Leyton Orient's Gaughan Group Stadium

The 18-year-old walked away with a prize of £5,000 and three tickets to watch England's Euro 2024 opener against Serbia on Sunday

Two hundred contestants lined the streets last Saturday to have a chance at winning the unbelievable prize

'He missed as well and then I scored the next penalty and managed to win the group. After that I said to myself in my head "I think this could be it, you know. I could make it in the final"'. 

A short interlude followed while the famous attendees - Danny Dyer, Ledley King, James Beattie and Mark Clattenburg - got ready to join the fray. Whitney candidly admitted the pause did nothing for his nerves. Or his bladder. 

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'I probably had about six wees in a minute,' he said. Composure restored, all that was left to do was win the thing. And after a series of perfect spot -kicks Whitney ensured he was one of five victors that afternoon. 

Though, you wouldn't have realised by the expression on his face. Laser focused on striking his attempts past the keeper, it hadn't even dawned on him that he'd won. 

'If you watch the live stream, I walk over and then that's when Paddy tells me that I've won,' Whitney continued. 'And you just see my face absolutely turn.

'I was just filled with shock and excitement that I won to be honest. The surreal feeling of winning that much money and a trip to the Euros just still hasn't hit me. 

'I think when I get on that plane to go that's when it will really hit but just speaking to my dad afterwards and getting presented the award. Walking through Leyton high street on the way back to the car with everyone coming up to me saying "you won, you won". It was just an amazing experience.'

There were plenty of famous faces at the event, including BBC Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills 

Former Premier League footballers James Beattie (left) and Ledley King (right) were added to the competition in its latter stages

Actor and diehard West Ham fan Danny Dyer also had a few cracks at the target on Saturday

Dad Rob not only went along with his son to the competition but also tried his luck from 12 yards, only to miss on his first attempt. 

Luckily for him, Joseph's older brother Oliver, and his best mate, his victory grants all four of them a trip to the Veltins-Arena to watch the Three Lions begin their Euro 2024 campaign. Mum will have to watch at home. 

'I think she would rather me take my friend,' he added, in a manner which suggested he still has some convincing to do. 

Among the England stars that Whitney will be taking a keen interest in next week will be Jordan Pickford, who, like him, is a left-footed penalty-taking goalkeeper. 

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'All of the [ex-pros] were flabbergasted about that.' He said. 'They were saying "taking penalties like that, I have no right as a keeper" and stuff like that. It was quite funny at the moment.'

On England's chances to bring it home this summer, he added; '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.'