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eFlicker’s Players to Watch - How did the choices for 2005 fare?
Being selected as one of eFlicker's "Five to watch for 2005" proved to be too daunting a prospect for some - 4 of the 5 highlighted players disappeared from the table football scene at some point during the year!
The only choice to stay the full course was Sam Curtis. The youngster from Peterborough had another successful 12 months, in which he enhanced his reputation as one of the world's better junior players, by moving to the top of the FISTF's under-15 rankings at the age of just 11. Not only did Sam complete the Grand Slam of all five UK & Ireland Grand Prix titles for 2004/05, as well as capturing the English National Championships, but he also took his first overseas honours by winning the Amsterdam International Open in April. He was also again selected to represent England at the World Cup, in August. He has however faced competition from Matt Lishman for his position as English junior number one at the start of the current season.
Of the other main picks…
- Trevor Cummings enjoyed success at the North Down Open in March and the satellite event in Leeds in June, during which he thrashed Jeremy Bradley 4-0 and also beat David Russell 3-2. He won the Yorkshire Phoenix Super League as well, reached the last 16 of both events in the tough South Queensferry double-header and was eliminated from the Belfast Grand Prix only on a golden goal against Phil Redman. However since his Yorkshire satellite triumph, Trevor's only two individual competitions have been the World Cup, where he fell to three disappointing defeats, and the Northern Ireland National Championships, which he won thanks to a string of comfortable victories, including a 3-0 success over defending champion Kenny Beggs in the semis.
- Federico Ronzani's only tournament was the London Grand Prix, during which he beat Jeremy Bradley twice. The London-based Italian had been on course to win the Putney League, but then had to resign from the competition when personal circumstances took him outside of the country, and away from the game, for a lengthy period.
- Barry Ryder had been set to play for the English veterans side at the World Cup, but withdrew for medical reasons, and has not since played at a domestic tournament. Prior to then, tournament turnouts were restricted to Wolverhampton (last 16), Milton Keynes (vets semis), the Leeds satellite (where he held David Russell to a draw in the group stage), and a veterans’ semi-final appearance at the Peterborough satellite, losing on golden goal to eventual winner Mike Newton.
- Matt Lampitt has had a generally up and down year. At the London Grand Prix, he held top Greek player Kostas Kechris to a 4-4 draw, then a week later was eliminated in the first round of the Wolverhampton National Open. And after being eliminated at the last 32 at both tournaments in the South Queensferry double-header, he outplayed Shorab in their English Masters encounter and was very unlucky to lose 2-0. Matt was the only player amongst England's younger contingent for the World Cup to advance past the first round at Tournai and in October recorded a remarkable 4-1 win over Laurent Goor at the Knighton Grand Prix.
Players to Watch 2006
1 - Matt Lishmann (Yorkshire Phoenix)
With youthful enthusiasm abound, Matt has emerged as a serious contender for Sam Curtis' English junior crown. He won the under-15 titles at both Knighton and Dumfries, each time getting the better of Sam, and was runner-up in the under-19 events in Dumfries and Witton. Success has also come in the Yorkshire Phoenix league, where he secured a place in the top division, and has since picked up noticeable results against the likes of Paul Lawrenson (won 1-0) and Mike Parnaby (drew 2-2). Was selected as captain of the England under-15 side at the 2005 World Cup.
2 - David Russell (English Premier League)
Back to the form of old, which saw him to a string of titles in the early 90s, David has forced his way into the elite of the English game again. After winning the UK & Ireland Championships in July, he topped that in December when he beat both Bob Varney and Chris Thomas on the way to taking the Witton Albion Open. With an attack-minded game, the London-based player can look forward to further individual honours in 2006, and maybe full international honours at the World Cup in Germany.
3 - Ally Stephen
Ally only returned to the game in November, but has already impressed on his outings at the Putney club. With good control and a nod to the old-style game by his use of spin flicks, he was unlucky to face both David Russell and Alan Collins at his tournament return in Witton, but he did comfortably beat Algy Taylor 3-0 in the group stage. Ally had established himself as one of England's best emerging young players in the late 90s.
4 - Susan Wright (Solway Seagulls)
Unlucky to be eliminated on goal difference against respected opposition in Rob O'Hare, Algy Taylor and Richard Pepper at November's Westmorland Open. However, having got the better of rival Louise Lawrenson at the South Queensferry International Open last April, Susan has a chance to formally establish herself as Britain's best female player at the UK Ladies' Championships in May. Possesses a hard to break down defence.
5 - Jeff Jordan (London TFC)
One-time ETF rules player who is now fully immersed in the FISTF game, and with some noticeable success. Jeff won the veterans' title at the Knighton GP and finished runner-up in both Milton Keynes and Dumfries, and his vast experience puts him in good stead for forthcoming tournaments on the international circuit.
6 - Edward and Thomas Whitehead (Greenwood Dale Lions)
The pick of the emerging Greenwood Dale club, the identical twins from Nottinghamshire both reached the final at their first tournament, the Leeds satellite in June, where Thomas beat Edward on shots. Edward was also runner-up at the Peterborough satellite two months later, whilst Thomas reached the semis, both losing to Matt Lishman. Already England under-15 internationals - having represented their country at the World Cup team event in August - there had been suggestions that the pair had stopped playing, but they have confirmed that they will continue competing at tournaments this season.
Also keep an eye out for... ex Milton Keynes duo Steve Hawkins and Chris Checkley, now back on the tournament circuit, and Adrian Curtis, whose regular exposure to tournaments and repeated league play is paying off, as he collected a string of noticeable results last year.
Paolo Barone, one of several Italian players at the Putney club, could produce some impressive results at any tournaments he enters, now that he has found the right bases to suit his game.
The Merseyside league re-formed in 2004, but apart from Len Parsons, none of their returning players have yet played at an open event. However at the Manchester Grand Prix, Mark Lewis, Brian Daley and Peter Liversedge, as well as Parsons - all noticeable players from the 80s and early 90s - are scheduled to compete in what hopefully will not just be an one-off appearance.
Internationally, Italian Efrem Infra is making a name for himself amongst Italy's many great players. A former world youth champion, he reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Belgium last summer having thrashed Chris Short 5-0 and eliminated Massimiliano Nastasi en route.
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