STEPHEN and Janet Worthington could soon become the first husband and wife team to represent England in the World Cup.

But they will not be taking the field alongside the likes of David Beckham or Wayne Rooney . . . they will be competing in the tabletop version of the game.

If they taste success in the Subbuteo English National Championship, the Little Lever couple will be on their way to Belgium to compete in the table football World Cup finals.

Stephen and Janet, who are two of the county's top table football players, recently resurrected the North West Table Soccer League, and good form has seen them through to the English championships, which take place in the National Football Museum in Preston on Saturday.

They will be taking part in the championships separately - but if both get through to the final, they will go on to represent England in the World Cup.

Stephen, aged 44, has been playing Subbuteo since he was five, amassing a huge collection of trophies, while 37-year-old wife Janet already counts the Welsh International Grand Prix trophy among her victories - despite only taking up the game 18 months ago.

Last weekend, Janet triumphed over Stephen in the final of the leagues Gold Cup. She said: "I beat him 1-0 in a shoot out after a 1-1 draw. He wasn't very pleased, but I was happy.

"If we win on Saturday, we will go through to the World Cup in Belgium in August and September, which will be great. There are about 20 people competing in Preston on Saturday so we do have a reasonable chance."