Fancy your chances of beating a former world snooker champion… in a penalty shoot-out on a county football pitch?

That’s the invitation to Shropshire Star readers, who are being offered the chance to take on Shaun Murphy in front of thousands of fans at AFC Telford United’s stadium, writes Carl Jones.

Murphy, the 2005 world champion, will be in town on December 6 to help promote the Maplin UK Championships, which is returning to Telford’s International Centre this year.

And although he’s more used to potting balls than kicking them into the back of the net, he’s agreed to go head-to-head with our competition winner in a penalty shoot-out during the half time interval at AFC Telford’s home match with Southport at the New Bucks Head on December 6.

Ivan Hirschowitz, a spokesman for World Snooker, said: “The winner will meet Shaun Murphy on the day, watch the football game and take him on in a penalty shoot-out at half time. It should be a memorable day.”

• It’s the second big chance for Shropshire Star readers to meet a top snooker star. Australian Neil Robertson, will be taking on 10 competition winners during a promotional appearance at Telford Shopping Centre on November 22.

Tickets for the UK Snooker Championships are now on sale. For details, call 01952 561700, or log on to www.ticuk.com

HOW TO ENTER

To be in with a chance of winning our penalty shootout prize, simply tell us in no more than 100 words why you deserve to be chosen. Write your name, address and phone number on a postcard and send it to Shaun Murphy snooker offer, Features Desk, Shropshire Star, Ketley, Telford, TF1 5HU, or e-mail your details to starfeatures@shropshirestar.co.uk Entries must reach us by November 14. Employees of Shropshire Newspapers, associate companies and their immediate families are not eligible to enter. The editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.