SOCCER: Lee Glover failed to score when he picked history over sport in a search to find Britain's Brainiest Footballer.

Viewers can watch Lee, 31, who plays in attack for the Silkmen, pitting his brains against 11 other professional players tonight (Wednesday) at 8pm in the ITV1 quiz show.

"But it's not the winning it's the taking part," he said with a wry smile.

Millions will see him puzzle over the Queen's Coronation in his specialist subject, but easily answer a question over the Spanish Civil War.

He was picked to take part in the show, hosted by Carol Vorderman, after all professional clubs were asked to put forward players.

Lee, who writes a regular column for the Macclesfield Express, said: "We had to sit a little test and I think I did well.

"I wouldn't say I'm a brainbox by any stretch of the imagination but I'm average.

"When I was told I was being offered a place I said I'd love to do it."

Lee's family travelled to London with him to see the show being filmed and his children, eight-year-old Fraser and Lily, 5, watched him from the Green Room - the TV studios waiting room.

"Everyone was nervous because we were going on prime time national television and we didn't want to make too much of a fool of ourselves," said Lee.

"I got some easy questions wrong. I had the choice of sport or history and the woman looking after my children said I would pick sport but Fraser said I would choose history."

Lee, who used to play for the Scottish under-21s, admitted the arts was his least favourite subject and during rehearsals the questions seemed harder than those in the actual show.

He would not give anything away about the winner but hinted that despite answering some questions right he himself was not Britain's brainiest footballer.

He enjoyed meeting other footballers, who included 1966 World Cup team member George Cohen and Malcolm McDonald, former Newcastle, Arsenal and England player. He also enjoyed meeting Carol Vorderman.

"She is a very nice lady and we all had a drink afterwards."

Lee said his family will all be watching. "But I'll be behind the curtains cringing," he said. "I thoroughly enjoyed it though."