THE Wiltshire bowls squad will keep it in the family this weekend, after naming a father and his two sons in their line up for a crunch cup clash.

The Snells will feature prominently for the county in their big Middleton Cup group match with Warwickshire on Saturday.

Dad Dave joins sons Steve, 30, and Michael, 20, for the meeting at the Stoke Bowls Club, Coventry.

But the Snell family's senior member could have been making the trip alone had injury not prevented his sons from forging a path in another sport.

The two brothers only made the transition to competitive bowls after their promising football careers were cruelly cut short.

Steve's playing days were ended by a cruciate ligament injury as a youngster and Michael was forced out of the game after shattering his, non-bowling, left arm.

Dave, 56, was a useful rugby player himself, and only took up bowls after hanging up his boots in 1980.

And after his sons were forced to give up their amateur soccer careers, Dave prompted them to follow in his footsteps, coaching the pair in their early days on the green.

The duo proved to be quick learners and soon became a competitive forced their way on to the county scene alongside their father.

Now the Snells all play regularly for Wootton Bassett and line up for Wiltshire this weekend albeit in separate rinks.

Dave will skip rink three, Steve is named at three on rink six to Steve Warren, while Michael will lead rink five which will be skipped by Wootton Bassett clubmate Neil Smith.

The trio have already graced the English National Championships at Worthing, with Dave and Steve appearing eight times each and Michael on two occasions.

"Both are very good bowlers" said father Dave.

"I feel very proud to be playing in the same side as them.

"They are very evenly matched," he added.

"I've never played Michael competitively before, but Steve beat both of us to get to Worthing last year and he certainly enjoyed that to say the very least.

"But all three of us are of a similar standard really.

"It's just great to have all of us in the same Wiltshire side at the same time especially for the Middleton Cup which is a county competition of the highest standard."

The family's prominence in the county side may be on borrowed time though.

With his troublesome left arm now reinforced, youngest brother Michael is toying with the idea of returning to the football field. But Dave advises his youngest son against reverting back to football, believing his son can go on to bigger and better things if he continues to improve in the bowls arena.

"Michael wants to start playing football again, but I don't think it will detract from his bowls," said Dave.

"He's playing at too high a standard now to just give it up. There's even the possibility that he could go on and play for England Under 25s, so he's got to stick with it and put the time in.

"He will be able to play football again when he wants to, but bowls should take priority."

FAMILY BUSINESS: Dave Snell, flanked by sons Steve, left, and Michael, who will all play Middleton Cup bowls for Wiltshire (-)