BOLTON snooker ace Craig Steadman is hoping his fine performance in finishing runner-up in the European Championships will be enough to earn him a wildcard entry on to the Professional Tour.

It was a third close miss in as many years for Steadman, who craves a crack at the big time, as the 24-year-old lost 7-6 in the final to fellow countryman David Grace after an epic battle in Lublin, Poland.

The winner gets an automatic place on the Pro Tour and his narrow defeat made it three years in a row that he has just missed out on qualifying for the big time. The Walkden man lost out by one frame last year and one ranking place in 2006.

In this year's European Championships he won all seven of his group matches and only dropped seven frames in the process.

He beat former European champion Alex Borg in the group stages, before disposing off Martin McCrudden, Anthony McGill, Stefan Mazrocis and ex-world amateur champion Darren Morgan in the knockout stages.

It was neck and neck in the final at 6-6 before Grace scored a big break in the deciding frame to ensure it was his name on the trophy.

"I was only 10 minutes away from being the European champion," said Steadman, who is a full-time player and has just signed a sponsorship deal with Lancashire PVC Trade Frames. "I didn't get my chance in the final frame of the tournament. David didn't mess up. I couldn't have done anything different and I can't complain. I had a good time and it is no mean feat to be runner-up in the European Championships.

"I was on Polish television every night and I am getting quite famous in a lot of countries around the world. But I want to be famous over here. I want to be on the BBC - not some dodgy foreign channel.

"I have got an application for a wildcard going through now because there are only so many times you can get so close before they take notice."

Steadman is refusing to get downhearted by another near miss, and has taken advice from snooker legend Jimmy White about his future.

"Usually when somebody qualifies for the main tour they drop off it the next year," said Steadman. "Maybe by keep missing out, I will be 100 per cent ready when I do qualify.

"I was speaking to Jimmy White about it and he thinks it is all character building, and he could be right. I think my time will come eventually.

"I don't think the standard is too different from what I am playing at the moment.

"I just want my chance to mix it with the big boys - and then I will grab it with both hands."

Steadman, who will be playing in an exhibition involving White and Alex Higgins at Bolton Albert Halls on July 30, will find out whether his wildcard application has been successful by early August.

In the meantime, a new qualifying season began this week and Steadman will be hoping for a flying start to his first ranking event in Wales.