WITH the Albion all set for The Premier League after promotion, entrepreneur and Seagulls season ticket holder Rob Hill has created a new opportunity for footballing Brightonians to seize sporting glory.

Rob has issued a call-to-arms for local footballers to represent the city in a version of the beautiful game with a bouncy twist – Bubble Football.

He is urging local teams to sign up for the national qualifying tournament taking place at the end of June where the first ever England team for The Stag Company Bubble Football World Cup will be selected.

That team will represent England against the likes of Germany and Brazil at The Bubble Football World Cup in May 2018.

It’’s being run by The Stag Company which has offices in Queens Road, Brighton, and is best known for organising parties - big parties - for stag and hen dos.

The sport, which sees footballers don inflated zorb-style body suits, originated in 2011 on Norwegian television show Golden Goal.

In 2013 ex-professional footballer Dan Chillingworth saw its potential for the UK market and set-up Xtreme Events to bring Bubble Football to the nation.

Rob Hill, The Stag Company CEO, said: “As a city with great sporting heritage, it’s only right that Brighton is represented at the first ever Stag Company Bubble Football World Cup.

“Sportsmen from Brighton will take on teams from the rest of the UK at the qualifiers in London this June and could get the chance to represent England against the likes of Brazil, Scotland and Germany in May 2018.”

With 12 international teams already signed up, including Brazil, South Africa, Finland, Germany, Scotland and Republic of Ireland, organisers hope to attract even more international talent to take on the new England team come next year.

Neville Nania, head of business development from event partner Xtreme Events, the UK’s leading Bubble Football hosts, said: “Over 55,000 people are expected to play Bubble Football up and down the UK this year.”

The USA currently ranks as the biggest proponents of Bubble Football with the National Association of Bubble Soccer boasting 39 leagues, each with eight-12 teams competing.

The England qualification event is taking place on Sunday June 25 at Powerleague, Shoreditch.

Squads of up to eight players can sign up for the event for a registration fee of £200.

Further details can be found by logging onto www.thestagcompany.com/bubble-football-world-cup.

Or visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4PrtIxjDYk