BRIAN Bowles marked himself as a possible future football star when he finished runner-up in the Bobby Charlton Soccer Schools International Skills final in Manchester.

The 13-year-old, from Farmers Close, Witney, won a place on the CIS Roadshow in Oxford in February through a competition in the Oxford Mail.

In the final, Brian, who plays for Swindon Town Under 14s, tested his skills against 50 boys and girls from as far afield as India, Egypt and Australia.

The pupil at Wood Green School, Witney, did not let the pressure affect his performance, and scored 940 points, just missing out on the top score by ten points.

Football-mad Brian said: "It was an excellent day, I didn't expect to do so well.

"But I scored top marks in the first three tests so I knew I was in with a chance of winning.

"I didn't do quite as well in the last test and that was probably why I didn't win, but I was really pleased with how it went."