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British Foosball Association
The Bush
Player Profiles
Please click on a link below or scroll down for profiles on the top players at the Bush.
MIKE AMSDEN, Bristol
| Mike is a much travelled enthusiast of the game and you'll find him at most (if not, all) tournaments across the UK and many overseas. This phenomenal attendance record has resulted in Mike playing with a huge number of partners, and he is known as "The Slag" for this reason! Over the last year Mike has developed into one of the UK's most accomplished all round players. Starting out as goalie, he has a very strong push shot and can put a lock down on the opponent’s 3-bar at any given stage. On the 5-bar, Mike has pretty much everything. If his brush series is not working, he can switch to a stick pass series, likewise to a chip, making it very difficult to deprive his 3 bar of possession! In attack, Mike shoots a snake and is lightning fast both ways. Mike also has a spectacular array of filth to backup his "proper" shots which he uses to great effect. Recent performances in tournaments justified Mike being selected as a playing member of the UK 2006 world cup team. European Tornado Ranking : Pro
UK Garlando Ranking : Pro |
His uncanny knack of blocking any shot at such high percentage combined with some excellent pull/push-kicks from the 2 bar makes Dave one of the most reliable goalies in the UK. Although not an exceptional attacker, Dave is such a good fighter he also consistently places well in singles tournament, as well as in doubles. Like Mike, "The bastard son of Boris and Bulley" is well known for consistently producing scrappy goals! Up front, Dave shoots a snake that has developed into a constant threat on defences, and coupled with his stick series and left hooks on the 5 bar, he can compete with most players in the UK. European Tornado Ranking : Semi-Pro
UK Garlando Ranking : Pro | DAVE BAREHAM, Bristol
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CHRIS BULLEY, Bristol
| Chris Bulley is a tournament soccer veteran who plays very competitively but is still able to see the funny side of most things when playing the game! A very sturdy goalie who shoots excellent bank shots to keep the opponents guessing at all times. Makes attackers work for their goals by always giving them the toughest shot to hit. Up front, Chris plays a far wall brush series, a tricky pull shot, and various 'trick' shots! European Tornado Ranking : Semi-Pro
UK Garlando Ranking : Semi-Pro |
Rob is another tournament soccer veteran, but only rediscovered foos in 2006 after a 20-year absence when he stumbled across the profiles of fellow Bristol TS vets on this website! It has not taken him long to redevelop his game and has already placed well in the tournaments he has been to, giving the top players in the UK something else to worry about! Rob is mainly a forward, but is more than capable of playing goalie as well. From the back his pull- and push-shots hit various holes at great accuracy. Up front, Rob shoots a smooth, methodical pull-shot and mixes it up with his lightening push-kick. European Tornado Ranking : Rookie
UK Garlando Ranking : Amateur | ROB DAVEY, Bristol
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NIGEL DAVIES, Bristol
| Nige only recently began playing when Rob made his comeback in early 2006, but has already become a more-than-competent goalie and placed well in rookie events at his first tournament - the 2006 UK Masters. Such is his early enthusiasm for foos, Nige made the trip to the Tornado Worlds in 2006 and has undoubtedly improved his game, steadily developing his 5-bar and snake-shot, to add to his deadly pushes and tic-tacs from the goalie position. European Tornado Ranking : Rookie
UK Garlando Ranking : Novice |
Mike has taken a break from foos for health reasons, but has always been a committed and vocal supporter of the UK scene. He successfully partnered Martyn on a number of occasions in the late 90’s and early 00’s - his thoughtful passing and shooting complementing Martyn’s solid play. Mike is particularly supportive to newcomers and always willing to offer advice - the successes of the younger Bush players can, without doubt, be attributed to this. On the table, he is an excellent blocker and effectively combines pull- and push-shots with deceptive passing to support his partner. In attack, Mike’s brush series, pull-shot and snake make him a difficult opponent. European Tornado Ranking : Semi-Pro
UK Garlando Ranking : Semi-Pro | MIKE FOWLER, Bristol
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JOE HAMILTON, Bristol
| Joe made his first appearance at the Bush in Spring 2005 and was instantly identified as a "n00b with potential". Although he showed an obvious talent for foos, no-one could have imagined how quickly this happy Chav would progress. Within a year of his first tournament, Joe had beaten many of the top UK Tornado players in singles competitions, and notably took 4th in OS at the Shell Cambridge Eurosoccer Open in early 2006 and was a deserving late addition to the UK squad for the World Cup in Hamburg the following May. He is most often seen in the forward position and has developed an excellent stick series on the 5-bar and a thoughtful snake on the 3. The main reason, however, that Joe tends to stay away from the goalie rod, is that he hits the ball like a fairy. European Tornado Ranking : Semi-Pro
UK Garlando Ranking : Pro |
Martyn is one of the Bush daddies who has helped to create the great foos scene at the venue. He performed the role of Coach of the UK world cup foosball team in Hamburg in May 2006. Martyn, another veteran tournament soccer player and former UK Champion, is mainly a forward player and has a very tricky set of chip passes combined with a ever reliable brush series. On the 3-bar, his main shot for a number of years has been the pull-kick, and his range of dinks is well-known in the UK scene. He has also more recently developed a good push shot and can be seen experimenting with a snake now and again. European Tornado Ranking : Pro
UK Garlando Ranking : Semi-Pro | MARTYN HARRIS, Bristol
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DAVE OATES, Bristol
| Both 2-bars on the Bush table have recently been replaced - their former state can mainly be blamed on Dave’s monster banks and tic-tacs from the goalie position! Another TS vet, Dave has been one of the hardest-working members of the BFA committee in 2006 and performed the role of delegate at the World Cup in Hamburg in May 2006. On the table, Dave is usually found at the back playing one of the aforementioned shots with incredible power, along with sneaky passes to support his partner. When he does move into attack, he plays a methodical stick series on the 5, and a pull-kick from the 3 hit with similar force! European Tornado Ranking : Semi-Pro
UK Garlando Ranking : Semi-Pro |
Perennial student Alex can now be regarded as one of the top 3 players in the UK on any table after a number of years in Manchester playing regularly at the Rainbow and then at the Hard Rock with more of the UK’s best. Also well-known for his scoring ability from the 2-rod, Alex plays a stick-series on the 5 and can play either a pull-shot or snake with great success on the 3. Although a humble victor, he is far from gracious in defeat and can often be seen kicking the table and throwing a general infantile tantrum following a loss. European Tornado Ranking : Pro
UK Garlando Ranking : Pro-Master | ALEX SHOVELTON, Bristol
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JOHN SHOVELTON, Bristol
| Like his twin, "Shovo" made and instant impact on the UK foosball scene. Most notable is his success in the Oxford University league, where his arrival in 2003 saw St Catz become the dominant team in Oxford, winning every league title and team cup competition, and John taking all 3 Oxford singles titles during his 3 years at Uni. His form in national competition is equally impressive, having won Open Singles titles on both Garlando and Tornado (although the value of his Tornado title is questionably negligable) and a few Garlando OD titles with the help of his brother. John can also claim to be only UK player other than Rob to have taken home a trophy from the Garlando World Championships with his 2nd place in the Rookie Singles competition in 2005. It has been said that John has no Tornado game. This is true. John took a break from tournament foos during the 05-06 academic year to do what his brother has failed to do - concentrate on his degree. Since his return he has picked up where he left off by taking the Semi Pro Singles title at the UK Masters in 2006, and has put in some nearly respectable doubles performances. John is another Bush player known for the filthy side to his game, having beaten UK no.2 Jujhar Sohi on a number of occasions Juj has been known to quipp "I'll beat you as soon as you get good"! Very much a forward as a doubles player (he can't block for any money), John combines a deep and consistent brush pass on the 5 with every shot that shouldn't work on the 3. During his rare follies to the back, John has been known to beat teams with his defensive shooting alone. European Tornado Ranking : Semi-Pro
UK Garlando Ranking : Pro-Master |
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