ENGLAND’S football team may have flopped at the European Championships but table football talent Coen Townsend has done his country proud.

The 11-year-old Subbuteo star reached the quarter finals of the World Cup in Manchester last week and also captained his country to bronze in the team event.

The tournament at Manchester City’s Etihad Arena is the pinnacle of the table football world.

More than 300 players took part in the event across six categories – Under 12s, Under 15s, Under 19s, Ladies, Veterans and Open.

Coen was competing against 24 other under 12 Subbuteo players from across the world, eventually losing to Italian Andrea Zangla. England were also knocked out of the Euros by the Italians who went on to lose to Spain in the final.

The Kirkburton Middle School youngster is now ranked number five in the world in his age category.

Dad Philip said his son had been featured by BBC Breakfast at the event along with the local TV news.

He said: “We were hoping for quarter or semi-finals so we’re really pleased.

“Overall he was very competitive because the competition was very strong.

“He played quite well on the day and gave a good account of himself.

“He also did a very good job of captaining the England team, getting them onto the podium.”

Philip said his boy had had a sterling season, winning six ranking tournaments in the process.

He is now set to follow up his strong showing at the World Cup with trips to tournaments in Belgium and Wales.

“We’re hopeful after another successful season and he will move up,” said Philip.

“The kid that won the U12s actually just turned 13.

“With lots of training and as you get older it gets easier as you get a better understanding of the game and your intelligence improves.

“Experience makes a big difference so I’m sure next season he will be beating them.”

INVENTED in England in 1947 under the name Subbuteo, Table Football is much like the original game.

The game Subbuteo Sport Table Football has almost five million players worldwide.

Players play two 15 minute halves and must use their index finger to flick their 2cm tall players around the pitch.

Players of table football say it is a sport and not just a toy as it requires skill, technique, self-control, concentration, and tactics.

It was not until 1992 that the creation of a body independent of all business powers was formed and was governed by representatives elected by the nations.

Clubs, leagues, federations, regional competitions, national and international, have emerged over the past two decades.