Do you ever watch Soccer AM and think you could do better than the professional footballers you see taking part in the crossbar challenge every week?

Budding Manx footballers and spectators will be able to test their skills against the crossbar from this weekend, with the launch of the ‘Sure Crossbar Challenge 2009/2010’.

The contest is being launched at half time of the Charity Shield match between Douglas High School Old Boys (FA Cup winners) and St Georges (current league champions) at The Bowl in Douglas this Sunday, 9th August.

Kick off is at 6pm. Anyone who hits the Sure logo hanging from the goalpost after striking the ball from the halfway line will win a prize from the telecoms company, including a ?50 voucher to be spent on phone credit or off the cost of a new handset.

Premiership newcomers Wolverhampton Wanderers currently hold the Soccer AM Crossbar Challenge record; in March 2009 their squad struck the crossbar four times, beating the previous record of three held jointly by Northampton Town and Hereford United.

Julie Heselton, Sure’s Marketing Manager, commented, “This is now Sure’s third season sponsoring football in the Isle of Man, and the team thought it would be fun to introduce our own version of the Soccer AM Crossbar Challenge and see how players and spectators get on!

"It is a very difficult task, but I will be delighted if we get people hitting the large yellow ‘Sure’ target. I might even be tempted to try it myself!”

Pictured: Julie Heselton, Marketing Manager at Sure