Sponsored by
Leeds Subbuteo star flies flag for England
HE's reached the parts Rooney and Co could not reach.
While England's football team sits out this summer's European Championship, Yorkshireman Martin Hodds will be heading for Austria with everything to play for.
Martin, 37, has been selected to represent England at the Subbuteo Table Football World Cup.
The financial adviser, from Robin Hood, Leeds, has been chosen for the five-man national squad for the event which coincides with soccer's Euro Championship.
It maybe only be a miniature version of the Beautiful Game, but competition in the table-top tournament is cut-throat.
Martin, who will compete against players from around the globe, said: "It's a great honour to represent England, whatever the sport.
"We may play a smaller version of football, but the skill and concentration needed to compete at the highest level is nevertheless very demanding."
Martin, currently ranked Yorkshire's number one player, impressed the selectors with his strong showing at recent tournaments up and down the country.
On Saturday, he was part of the victorious England squad which won a home international tournament in Cardiff, beating Scotland in the final.
The World Cup tournament is in Austria on June 14 and 15 and includes an individual as well as team competition.
Martin, who plays with Wakefield-based Yorkshire Phoenix Subbuteo Club, added: "It's going to be the toughest challenge I've ever faced but I think we have a reasonable chance of winning the team event.
"I am not as confident of my chances of winning the individual tournament as there are some amazing players.
"At the moment I am just getting in as much practice as I can."
The England team is sponsored by Nationwide Building Society.
Chris Hull, head of sponsorship at Nationwide, said: "It's great to see at least one England team reach a major football tournament this summer.
"We look forward to the England team being successful and bringing back a trophy."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
