Easter Road fingered to host Subbuteo stars

EASTER ROAD is to play host to one of the year's biggest football tournaments with teams from all over the world descending on the Hibs ground next weekend.

Three of the world's top five teams will be taking part in what has been described as the UK's "biggest and most prestigious" Subbuteo Table Soccer event of the year.

The Scottish Sports Table Football Association are hosting the competition which will take place over Saturday and Sunday (January 24-25) with 16 teams from Denmark, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Italy and Spain joining sides from Scotland, England and Wales.

Included among them will be the world's No.1-ranked team, TFC Mattersburg, from Austria, and the losing finalists of the "Subbuteo Champions League," Real Murcia FC of Spain.

Today, Mike Burns, president of the SSTFA, said: "The fact the tournament is taking place within a football stadium has proved to be a big attraction. We'll have between 25 and 30 tables on the go both days with some available for spectators, who can enjoy free entry, to try the game for themselves."

Play each day will begin at 9.00am with initial group stages giving way to knock-out competition with each game consisting of 15 minutes each way followed by sudden death extra-time and then penalties if necessary.

Burns said: "Games are fiercely contested and, given the quality of the teams taking part, it is going to be a terrific competition."