TELEVISION quiz fanatic Syd Rawcliffe became a rich man on Saturday... by scooping £125,000 on 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire?'

But instead of pledging to spend all his cash on flashy motors or holidays, the big-hearted dad-of-two picked something closer to his heart... his son's football team, Oswaldtwistle Villa.

Freelance writer Syd, of Accrington, has vowed to sponsor the team's kit and says that any money he wins from future quizzes will be given to charity.

The 44-year-old struck lucky when he returned to the hot seat after finishing last week's programme with £8,000 to his name.

Fate played a big part in his win, because one of the questions was about 'kismet' - the Arabic word for destiny.

Back in the chair for his second night's filming, Mr Rawcliffe needed to call on one of his five phone a friends for the first question of the night - worth £16,000.

He had to choose which of four options was not a Lakeland poet. "I was pretty sure I knew the answer - Browning," he said.

With only an 'ask the audience' left his luck almost ran out on the next question, what was the first name of Starsky in the US television series Starsky and Hutch.

"I hadn't a clue but I asked the audience and 69 per cent said 'Dave' and I happy to play it."

With a guaranteed £32,000, the pressure was now off.

"It's the most amazing feeling when you get to £32,000 and I knew the £64,000 question - 'Kismet is derived from which language?'.

Syd chose Arabic to give him £64,000.

The next question was to be his last. Asked which organisation was formed as a result of the Bretton Woods conference of 1944, he correctly chose the World Bank.

"I said it's definitely not Greenpeace or Interpol. I was 75 per cent sure it was the World Bank but it might have been Oxfam. I was prepared to play it and leave with a pleasing £32,000. I played and got to £125,000."

His winning streak came to an end when he decided not to answer the £250,000 question asking which instrument jazz musician Lester Young played.

"I knew he was jazz but not enough to lose it. If I had played I would have got it right but I'm very happy.

Mr Rawcliffe says that his bumper win is now going to be put to good use.

He said: "I'm going to invest some and going to have some holidays. I'm taking most of my friends to Paris. I'm treating my son, who plays for Oswaldtwistle Villa, so I'm sponsoring their kit for the next year.

"I'm also buying one friend a car - just an old banger. I can throw a few thousand at people who have been right with me.

"I still go up to the Britannia to play for a gallon of beer and enjoy it just as much, and I intend to do some other game shows and try to raise money for Hyndburn Macmillan nurses."

Since Millionaire, Syd has also £750 on Brainteasers, which he plans to give to good causes - with half going to Hyndburn Macmillan nurses for whom he aims to raise £25k. He has also offered his services as a phone a friend for a fee that will go to Macmillans.