England team dream

A Gainsborough pool player is aiming to make his dream a reality this weekend, by earning a call up for the national team.

Bobby Fenton currently sits top of the Gainsborough Singles League, plays for the R-Bar on a Sunday and in the Scunthorpe League on a Tuesday.

But it is the 31-year-old’s performances for Nottinghamshire that have qualified him for national trials at Great Yarmouth on Friday.

And he admits it would be his finest achievement at the table, if he won a place in the England squad. “It would be my dream come true,” he said.

“I don’t think it could get any better than that.”

Fenton finished as the number two ranked player in Notts, and the fourth best out of 1,500 pool players in the country in the national averages to earn a place at this week’s trials. Having played since the age of 13 he’s had plenty of time to hone his skills, but says he would like to spend even more time potting balls.

“I practice as much as I can, but having two children and one on the way I can’t be playing all the time.”

Fenton hopes that these trials bring him more joy than the England Youth trials he experienced as a 17-year-old.

He added: “I didn’t do any good in those, I went out straight away.”

“On Friday there’ll be six matches to play, and those winning five or six of their games will be guaranteed a place in the team.”

“Those winning four will go into a play-off to try and get a spot.”