Downham Town coach nets £90k on The Wheel and entertains women’s team

A football coach who netted £90,000 from her TV quiz show will donate some of the cash to her women’s team to make them feel like “football stars”.

Livvi Hodges, from Downham Market, Norfolk, appeared on BBC game show The Wheel on Saturday and described the whole experience as “surreal”.

“I just wanted to cry,” she said after realizing she had won. “It doesn’t feel real.”

this exhibitHosted by comedian Michael McIntyre, three contestants answer quiz questions with the help of seven celebrities who sit around a large wheel.

Ms Hodges, founder of Downham Town’s under-13 girls football team, may be used to tense moments in matches.

Although she had help from a range of celebrities this time around, they were all “friendly and positive”, including singer Robbie Williams, who chatted with her after her performance on The Wheel.

“He’s really sweet and interested in the women’s soccer team, which is really nice,” she said.

She credited her parents as “chefs” who helped her find the winning answer after she remembered them talking about herbs and spices.

When asked which of the four herbs had the distinctive licorice flavor, she chose tarragon as the correct answer.

The pause before the reveal was “very, very nerve-wracking,” she said.

Ruby, 11, watched her coach on the show.

“She is very inspiring and a role model for me,” she said.

Teammate Isabella, also 11, said of Ms. Hodges: “It’s great that she makes time for us and provides things for us.”

Meanwhile, 11-year-old Nancy described her coach’s performance as “amazing”.

“I think she’s a very kind person, and as a team I’m very grateful to have that little extra help,” she said.

Ms Hodges has 14 years’ experience as a plumber and is a lecturer in plumbing, gas and renewable energy at West Anglia College in Norfolk and Cambridgeshire.

She said the cash will allow her to provide financial support to the team over the next few seasons.

“Women’s football is so big right now,” she said.

“I’m delighted to be able to give something back to football, women’s football and grassroots football.”

The quiz winner, who will continue her day job, said she planned to buy football gear and equipment for the players and host them a Christmas party.