Derry men to represent Northern Ireland in Subbuteo World Cup this weekend

Two Derry men are set to represent Northern Ireland at the Subbuteo World Cup this weekend, in what will be the first time the country has been represented at the tournament.

Ryan McCready and Gerard McLaughlin will travel to Rome, Italy, on Thursday to compete in the 50th edition of the competition, which will take place on Saturday and Sunday.

Around 1,000 players from 36 nations will take part in the World Cup, which is the fifth time it has been held in Italy, and the first time since 2015.

McCready and McLaughlin will compete in the Veterans' event, which is for players aged over 40. They will be joined by a third Northern Ireland player, Joe Scullion, who will compete in the Open event.

Subbuteo is a tabletop football game that was invented in Italy in the 1940s. It is played on a felt pitch with weighted metal players, and the aim of the game is to score goals by flicking the ball into the opponent's net.

The game is particularly popular in Europe, and there are an estimated 100,000 regular players worldwide.

McCready and McLaughlin are both members of the Londonderry Subbuteo Club, which is one of the most successful clubs in Northern Ireland.

McCready is a former Northern Ireland champion, and he has represented Northern Ireland at several international tournaments.

McLaughlin is a former Londonderry Subbuteo Club champion, and he has also represented Northern Ireland at international tournaments.
The Subbuteo World Cup is the most prestigious event in the Subbuteo calendar, and McCready and McLaughlin will be hoping to make history by becoming the first Northern Ireland players to win the trophy.