When Alan’s car broke down on a stressful afternoon earlier this year, the last thing he expected was a phone call from Worx that would completely turn his day around.
“Honestly, it took a long time for it to sink in and believe it was true. I’d won such an amazing prize. A big thank you to Worx for reaching out by phone to say that I’d won prior to receiving the email, otherwise I may not have believed it. When Joe from Worx rang me, our car had broken down and I was trying to fix it. But the news that I’d won this amazing competition turned the day around very rapidly!”
The prize? A legendary weekend trip with VIP matchday experience to see Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao competing at the iconic Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid , complete with flights, accommodation, meals, and €500 spending money.
How did he enter? By simply upgrading his mower his purchase enabled him to enter the competition.
“When I had time to let it sink in, I had to decide how to tell my friends who would be so jealous. The answer being there wasn’t an easy way to tell them, and I simply started many conversations with ‘well you see I bought anew Worx lawnmower…'”
A Full-Circle Footballing Moment
For Alan, stepping into the Bernabéu wasn’t just a VIP treat—it was a footballing full-circle. 24 years prior, Alan had been at Hampden Park to watch Zinedine Zidane score his famous Champions League wonder-goal for Real Madrid.
“Watching Real Madrid at the Bernabéu was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Alan says. “The view of the pitch was amazing, the hospitality flawless, and it was all capped off with a fabulous 6-goal game of football. We felt so lucky to see living legends play and score. I’m currently turning my house upside down looking for my old 2002 match programme!”
The atmosphere inside the stadium left a lasting impression. “It was a festival of sport and entertainment. The roar when Real scored was amazing. Even outside, watching the players’ bus arrive, the atmosphere was electric.”
Alan and his wife, Julie, were also treated to an emotional piece of footballing history, witnessing the stadium’s heartfelt farewell to club legends David Alaba and Dani Carvajal. “The warmth and love for the players and the appreciation for what they had done for the club was tangible. Again, this was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Octopus, Siestas, and Underground Engineering
Beyond the pitch, the VIP treatment continued with top-class lunches and plenty of city exploring.
“We were incredibly well looked after. Every restaurant served delicious food, but of particular note was the octopus at Teitu—the best I’ve ever had! Thank heavens for the Spanish siesta, because eating any more was simply not possible.”
As someone with an engineering background, Alan found himself equally fascinated by the stadium’s cutting-edge infrastructure during their VIP tour. “Seeing the pitch being stored underground was incredible. I had no idea this could even be done—Julie literally had to drag me away to see the rest of the tour!”
The couple used some of their spending money generously too: “We spent some money exploring Madrid and on refreshments and cocktails. We also bought Real Madrid gifts for our family and friends, in particular for our niece who is a huge football fan.”
Built to Last: Back to Reality in the Garden
Now back in the UK, Alan is already putting his contest-winning lawnmower to work.
“I’m using the mower every week. It’s so easy to use and the battery life is excellent—it easily cuts my lawn on a single charge. Combined with the mulching plug, there’s no need to pick up the grass.”
But the new mower isn’t the only Worx tool in Alan’s shed. In fact, he’s been a loyal user of the brand for over a decade.
“Project-wise, I am currently rebuilding my daughter’s old playhouse. For this, I am using my very first Worx tools—a circular hand saw and a multi-tool—which I bought well over 10 years ago and are still going strong.”
From tools built to last a decade, to memories that will last a lifetime, Alan’s lawnmower purchase proved to be the ultimate upgrade.
Upgrade your shed and explore the Worx range today here