Golden Glory in Bristol: Hammonds Strikes in Extra Time to Win Round 4

40 players, 1 champion, and a roast dinner to remember.

The ESA English Championships 2025 – Round 4 rolled into Bristol Manor Farm Football Club on Sunday 18th May, hosted superbly by the team at Bristol Subbuteo Club. With 40 players competing under FISTF rules in a tightly contested tournament, it was an action-packed day of drama, goals, and golden moments, both on and off the pitch.

The Tournament Unfolds

Players were drawn into 10 groups of four, with the top two from each group progressing to the Main Event knockout stages and the remaining players competing in the Plate competition. No gimmicks or glitz here, just pure table football talent… and one of the finest roast dinners an ESA event has ever seen.

As the competition heated up, standout performances emerged across the board. Sam Curtis lit up the group stage with 14 goals scored and just 2 conceded, while Mick Hammonds powered through the knockouts, netting 23 goals in seven matches, and ultimately clinching the Main Event title in a tense final against Kevin Cordell. The match ended 1-1 in regular time, with Hammonds sealing victory via Golden Goal in extra time.

Plate, Shield & Youth Triumphs

The Plate Final was another close contest, with Steve Wonnacott edging out Gage Badger by a single goal. In the Shield Final, Mark West overcame Roger Duckworth to claim his silverware.

Among the younger talent, Jamie Warren and Connor Gregory both reached the Last 16 of the Main Event, each pushing their opponents to extra time. Both were unlucky to lose via golden goals, but with Jamie edging ahead on tournament stats, he took home the Youth Award, with Connor as runner-up. A fantastic achievement for two rising stars.

New Faces and Fierce Competition

Round 4 saw several players make their season debut, including Welsh international Darren Barnes and Bristol’s own Taylor Randles. Meanwhile, Alan Twiddy, Alex Salter, and Tim Rogers all made their first-ever ESA English Championship appearance, each leaving a strong first impression. The circuit hopes to see them back for future events.

Special mention must go to Riley Duckworth, whose determination and spirit throughout the group stages earned him admiration. With a bit more composure in key moments, he will soon be the one to watch.

Thanks, and What’s Next

The ESA would like to extend sincere thanks to Steve Wonnacott and the Bristol Subbuteo Club for hosting a top-tier event, and to Kye Arnold for his expert handling of the tournament from behind the laptop.

Credit also goes to the players for the high levels of sportsmanship shown throughout the day, respectful, competitive, and a brilliant advert for the game.

Next up is Round 5, hosted by Kent Invicta on Sunday 15th June. With Kye and Terry stepping up to take the reins after a change of host, this promises to be another fantastic chapter in the 2025 ESA season. Full details to follow, so please support them and don’t miss it.

To see the full events results, then head to the results page via this link

To finish please take a look at the circuit table after 4 Rounds