Costa Rico - Subbuteo 2003

Whilst I am not a massive fan of modern table soccer teams and indeed the figure type shown here,  I do like this Costa Rico Subbuteo team.

These teams were produced by Edilio Parodi of Italy under licence. They come in a black box with Subbuteo branding,  feature an 11th outfield player and come on the popular 2003 Subbuteo bases. Shame about the standard goalkeeper that accompanies them.  

Costa Rico Subbuteo 2003

Presenting Reference 170 - Burnley FC

I wanted to do something a little bit special for my 100th post and decided what better way to celebrate than to show the reason why my Subbuteo passion ignited.

It was 1979 and I had been playing Subbuteo for a few months. The first items I had bought were the Club Edition, complete with red and blue zombies and two C100 teams, Liverpool and Norwich.

It was my birthday and I had some money, so I took a trip to the shop were I bought most of my Subbuteo.  'Herbert Leather' was actually a cobbler but he sold Subbuteo on the side. I'd gone along with my either my brother and mum (maybe both) and I remember being short of time because we had to be somewhere.

I looked at the shop catalogue and picked a number of references that I fancied. I looked at four or five teams before being shown the reference 170. As soon as I saw it I fell in love. From the large sky blue 'V' on the front of the shirt to the bright base combination of claret outer/sky inner - they were perfect.

Although at that time I was already well and truly hooked on football or 'togger' as I called it Subbuteo just another game, albeit one of my favourites. When the clarets came on the scene the love affair really began.

The actual team I bought on that day is pictured below - it is very play worn as it was such a favourite. This kit is, in my opinion, a classic. The size of the 'V' varies from team to team, these are massive and fairly messy -  a few of them even run onto the shorts.

I'm still hoping for a reintroduction of this kit to the Turf. We can only hope.

Reference 170 = Burnley 'V' shirt

Reference 170 = Burnley with Panini Stickers

Claret and Blue Army

Check out Burnley's latest playing strip at The Claret's Website.

Luton Town - Subbuteo Zombie

A smashing hand painted Luton Town zombie side is today's pick. I acquired this team minus one player and was lucky enough to find another from a member of the Independent Subbuteo Forum.

If you haven't visited the site then you should check it out here - ISF

Reference 169 - Luton Town

Moulded Heavyweight - Walkers

Another day another moulded team. This is a generic Blue Walker team from the 1960's box sets. These come in long sleeve and short sleeve versions.

Blue Walkers

I'm going to go into more detail on box sets in an upcoming post, in the meantime, this is a typical set where you would find the walker figure.

Display Edition containing Walkers

Replica Moulded Classic Heavyweights

I painted these replica moulded heavyweight teams to represent variations of two Subbuteo references. The teams here are New Hearts and Juventus.

The Hearts team was an updated kit that seems to have appeared in limited numbers after the real life team changed their kit. SSG printed 'New Hearts' on the boxes. Other teams had the same treatment, i.e. New Norwich, New Burnley and New Wolves to name three.

The Juventus kit is usually painted as black stripes on a white shirt, so this kit is simply a reversal.

Reference 27  -  New Hearts

Reference 34  -  Juventus (reverse stripe)

More information about variant teams can be found on Peter Upton's site.

The figures are available from Top Spin.

Accessories - C135, VIP Presentation Set

A little bit of a teaser this one. Here we have a pitch side figure from the VIP Presentation set. The lady in question is widely accepted as the Queen Mother - however, I think it is more likely Katherine Duchess of Kent.

She is usually painted in dull grey colour. as many of the pitch side figures seem to be, however she also turns up in this pale blue number, with fetching royal blue shoes.

C135 VIP Presentation Figure 

An interesting fact is the Duchess, a football fan, has presented the FA Cup more than any other member of the Royal family. So who better for SSG to immortalise in plastic?

Katherine Duchess Of Kent

Moulded Heavyweight - The Scarecrow

Continuing with the moulded heavyweight theme - here are the figure type commonly know as 'scarecrows'. I think they look like George Best or maybe Charlie George.

As in the last 'classic heavyweight' post, the sock variation is evident.

As far as I can work out these figure types were present in the late 60's early 70's and were therefore available side by side with the other moulded styles. Often box sets would include different figure types in the same box, usually full teams, but occasionally just the odd figure.

Generic Red Moulded Scarecrow

Generic Red Moulded Scarecrow (with sock top)

(The Goalkeeper is a Santiago Replica I painted up to accompany the team.)

If you have any extra information about these figures I'd be delighted to here from you.

Moulded Classic Heavyweight - Generic Red

Moulded figures from the sixties and seventies took a variety of forms, as I have discussed on the blog already. Today's post shows the moulded classic heavyweight figure. It's the same as a regular HW but the feet are attached to the disc (so it is one piece...moulded in fact).

This figure type usually turns up as the generic red and blue teams, but England, reference 154 is fairly common too. The Football Express boxes also contain them, and there again they turn up in a variety of other kits (see my earlier post on this).

I've photographed two of the generic red teams I own. First up you can see the difference in the shades of red. Secondly the team on the left has white socks and the other is basically a reference 161.

Generic Red Classic Moulded Heavyweight

Tracksuited Teams C.103.

I've already touched on the tracksuited teams in a previous post but felt like I needed to add some extra and better pictures.

Below is a sky blue team in their later version box. I believe the C103 teams came in two different styles of box. This particular item is one of my favourite Subbuteo accessories, it's also in mint condition (which is always nice!)

C103 - Track-Suited Team - Aesthetically beautiful but totally useless

C103 - Track-Suited Team Box 

Lovely isn't it!

Another angle

Another picture of the red C103 (I didn't like the last one I posted up). A couple of these guys are really bent over - I think, even in this picture, you can see than the un-balanced nature of these teams would make them impossible to play with. 

C103 - Track-Suited Team Red 

I've also included a picture of the four tracksuit teams available. Base colours and discs vary, but are usually the team colour on the outer plus a white inner. These can be reversed as seen on the sky blue team below. In addition to this the figures are either made from coloured plastic or can be white with the kits painted on (as seen on red player).

C103 - Track-Suited Teams

I'm not expert on these items, so if you can shed any additional light on the 103 Track-suited teams then please email or add a comment.

Heavyweight - Ref 1

I'm a little short of time tonight and considered not posting, but I'm quite pleased with how the blog is going and wanted to continue making daily entries. So without further ado.

Peter Upton has done the leg work on the sides represented by reference 1. So thanks to him for the list of teams. Picture by yours truly.

1960's - Arsenal, Bournemouth, Barnsley, Charlton, Lincoln City, Liverpool,  Manchester United, Middlesbrough , Nottingham Forest, Brechin City, Stiring Albion, Doncaster Rovers, York City, Aberdeen, Third Lanark, Wrexham. 1970s Workington, Cliftonville, Portadown

In France it was simply sold as 656.412 Equipe Rouge. 

Reference 1 - Generic

Heavyweight Subbuteo - Manchester City

I watched a great film last night called 'Once In A Lifetime' - it wasn't about the Talking Heads funnily enough but the New York Cosmos. Released it 2006 it's an absolutely fascinating insight into the team, rammed full of stars like Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, Giorgio Chinaglia and Carlos Alberto and also the North American Soccer League and the men who made it possible. I heartily recommend.

I'd like to follow up with a Cosmos Subbuteo post, but I don't have them immortalised in plastic (something I may well remedy). Instead I am presenting some Heavyweight Manchester City teams.

The link between the two sides is Dennis Tueart, who was in the film and of course the news announced last month of the deal between City and the New York Yankees to bring the Cosmos into the MLS.

Reference 5 - Manchester City - Sky blue outer

Reference 5 - Manchester City - White outer

Santiago Replica Team, with kicking Goalie

Accessories 18 - Advertisement Mug

There's not much to say about this one other than it is a Subbuteo advert mug. I drank my peppermint tea and other such tasty beverages from this for 18 months. As it is showing signs of disliking the dishwasher, I decided to retire it.

Sport Billy

With a massive head and incredibly ugly visage, Sport Billy came onto the Subbuteo scene in 1981. Aimed at the younger player it was a flop and sold badly. It didn't last long, only until 1982.

I was desperate for a Sport Billy Football box set as a kid, even though I was probably too old at the time. I had a paper round and cash to burn (that's not true actually, but I'm building this up a little), I remember gazing at the catalogue wishing I had one. The strange thing is I never, 'NEVER' saw it in a shop.

I imagine the 12 year old me would have been very disappointed had he managed to get his hands on a set. The reason being, the players are garbage - they are top heavy and impossible to flick more than a few centimetres. They will not be swerved, under any circumstances, believe me I've tried.

You only appreciate their size, they are four inches high, when compared with a regular HW. Most striking though is how ugly they are - they are hideous, they shock me and are enough to put off any kid. They are nice to hold though, weighty, sturdy, very satisfying. If only their faces weren't so very, very ugly.

...did I mention they are really ugly?

Sport Billy - ugly bleeders

Sport Behemoth (Billy)

Football Express

A lovely catalogue image of Subbuteo's five-a-side game.

Football Express Advertisement

I felt it was a little random putting up a picture of FE and not describing it further, so I have lifted and slightly amended the text describing SSG's Football Express from Peter Upton's excellent Subbuteo site.

The first OO scale five-a-side game arrived in 1971-72, and was called Football Express. In this version of the game, the pitch is reproduced on the bottom of the box, with the box sides becoming the fence surround. There are also curved plastic corner pieces, that prevent the ball becoming stuck in the corners (a problem with the rival Super Striker pitch). These also serve to strengthen the box at its weakest points. The goals lock into the box, which means that the whole goal stands inside the area of the pitch. On each side of the goal is another piece of curved plastic which again throws the ball back out into play.

The first thing you notice when reading the rulebook is the reverse to the normal shooting rules. In Football Express, shots must come from outside the semi-circular "goal area", so long range shooting is encouraged. In addition, only the goalkeeper is allowed to remain inside the "goal area", and if a scoring player finishes up inside this semi-circle, then the goal is disallowed.

Football Express is played with four outfield players, plus a goalkeeper. The goalkeeper has two figures - a diving version on a rod, and a free standing version for playing up field, which he is encouraged to do. The rules suggest that the diving goalie be used mainly for defending free kicks and penalties. You can only change between goalies when your free-standing 'keeper is inside his own goal area, and you are in possession of the ball. If the free-standing goalkeeper is inside his area, and the opposition have the ball, then you are allowed to flick him to try and intercept any shots.

Housekeeping

Updates

The eagle eyed amongst you will have realised I've updated the gallery and Solo League pages. I've also added a brand new Solo Cup page with details of this year's competition.

Eagle Eyes

NGD News

The Solo League has finished for another season and it was corker. Redpool were once again crowned champions after a nail biting final match of the season. Read all about it here.

The new season starts in July - but we have the excitement of the cup before that! Information on this year's cup competition can be found here.

Thanks

It's been great receiving feedback and many positive comments through email, I really appreciate it thank you. Feel free to leave comments on the blog too - that's what it's there. 

Accessories 17

Who wouldn't like a wash bag and a traditional wooden rattle? Stupid question really. These absolutely essential Subbuteo branded products are a must have...

They are quite nice actually, from the vintage style packaging to the overall quality of the items themselves, Marks and Spencer got it right.

Traditional Wooden Football Rattle 

Wash Bag

Subbuteo On The Web

The balldejour blog features an interesting article on Subbuteo. It is a few years old now but still well worth the read.

A bit of Subbuteio related browsing, you know how it is, threw up these great images of Eden Hazard and the ball boy incident as created by Terry Lee.

NGD Solo League - New Additions

A lot of thought has gone into the playing strips of the NGD teams. First and foremost I couldn't see the point of replicating a kit that was already available in the Subbuteo range. If I did then I may as well just use those, rather than design new ones. I also decided that I wanted to put together different base combinations, ones rarely, if ever, seen. The NGD sides are painted on Santiago figures and that range includes 16 base colours. Therefore it is possible to create 256 (if my maths is correct) combinations. If Top Spin replica teams are added to the league in the future, these have different colours and base shades, therefore the possible combinations increase even further - to well over 500.

I feel I've created a visually appealing range of teams that offer something a little different. My ego is not so large, however, that I am blinkered to the fact that most of the kits probably already exist somewhere in the world.

When developing the kits I have shied away from what I would call 'standard kits' preferring to include more stripes, bands and sashes than would usually occur. I've also added less fashionable colours, i.e. yellow has become a popular colour in the NGD. In real life the colour occurs regularly as trim and in away kits but is not a home strip staple.  

Two new additions to the league are pictured below. In my younger days I played for the real life counterparts of both. I have modified the kits to fit in with my design ethos and am pleased with the outcome.

Ford Celtic - Home

AFC Litherland - Home

Litherland host Ford Celtic in the first round of this season's Solo Cup this week. Results to follow.

Accessories 16 - Pitch side figures

Whilst this is by no means all the pitch side figures available from Subbuteo, it does cover a number of sets (even if all the figures are not present). Some of them are quite lovely, others less detailed. The painting is by and large best described as average, it certainly wouldn't win any awards.

Various pitch-side figures 

Here we have the doctor figure from the manager sets. This shows the variety of colours used  (particularly bases) and the standard of painting this particular figure received.

SSG Doctor figure

NGD Solo League - Fazakerley FC

NGD will have a second division next season. I decided on the six new clubs months ago and have painted them up.  However, recently I created a team that caused me to have a rethink. I like my new team so much, that I decided to elect them into the league in place of another club. The team that failed to make the cut will have to remain a non-league side, for at least another season.

I was painting this team and wasn't sure where it was going. I had mixed a nice shade of blue and was keen to use it up. It could quite easily have ended up as a Ref 210 - Hambuger FC, the two strips, (as can be seen below) are obviously very similar. In order to give them a personality of their own I plumped for a pink shirt with white trim (it's actually much nicer in the flesh, the flash has done it no favours). I felt that the pink shirt gave it a retro feel, plus it looks killer on the base combination.

The name 'Fazakerley' just popped into my head after I based them up. So, as name and strip seemed to fit - a new team was born. Fazakerley is a suburb of Liverpool and in the north of the city, near Rice Lane. It was here that William Keeling's opened a factory to produce his table soccer game 'Newfooty'. Keeling's game was a rival of Subbuteo in the 1950's and is worthy of further discussion on the site...but not here and now. 

Fazakerley FC

I discovered that Everton wore a very similar kit in the 1900's - the similarity between the Goodison Park outfit and Fazakerley FC is purely coincidental however. The Toffee's strip, reproduced here. is taken from the excellent Historical Football Kits website (without permission). 

Everton FC - 1886-87

Fazakerley FC make their debut tonight in the NGD Solo Cup. In case you are wondering, the unlucky club who miss out on making their league debut are St Botolph.

Zombie Leeds?

Missing the zombie posts? Not so many this last couple of weeks! Here is a reference 21 to slake your thirst.

Reference 21 - Leeds (plus one)

NGD Solo League - Shrugborough Town Home

This is one of my favourite kits and is another team from my solo Subbuteo league - this team was born for season two of the NGD. They struggled, finally finishing eighth, but in doing so guaranteed a least one more season in the first division.

Painted onto flesh coloured Santiago figures and on Santiago bases,  I have stuck the players in with blu-tack which not only serves to keep the players in place (therefore negating the need to use glue), it has the added bonus of weighting the team slightly, so they play a little more closely to the original Subbuteo heavyweight bases.

Shrugborough Town

England 317 & 321 - Zombie England

England is, unsurprisingly, a very common team in the Subbuteo world.  As such it can throw up a number of variations. Here we see an away strip, machine printed with added hand painted trim. Amongst the home strips we have a hand painted version, pale short version and base variation.

Admiral was a cool kit manufacturer back in the mid seventy's and supplied a number of clubs. It's fair to say that many of the kits they went on to produce became iconic and reached legendary status. To my mind some of the best Subbuteo teams are the ones wearing Admiral. Aberdeen, Coventry, Luton Town and West Ham all wore classic admiral kits. Check out a more comprehensive range on John Devlin's fantastic True Colours website.

England greats Kevin Keegan, Trevor Brooking, Mick Channon and Glenn Hoddle wore the strips featured on the references 317 and 231 between 1974 and 1981. I got my own replica England home strip around 1976 as a birthday present, it was very expensive. I still remember my mum wanted me to choose a different kit, no doubt because of the high price tag, but I was an insistent and selfish little boy - sorry mum.

A great history of this and other England strips can be found at England Football Online.

Reference 321 - England away

Reference 317 - England home hp

Reference 317 - England home blank disc mp

Reference 317 - England home pale short

Reference 317 - England home white base

Accessories - TV Tower C110, Cameraman

I took this picture of the C110 cameraman and was quite pleased with it so decided to share. I cropped the image, so the whole tower is not visible, but liked it as it shows the figure in good detail. This is the later version of the set.

A couple of months ago, I was surprised to find out that Scalectrix released a TV tower that was virtually identical to the Subbuteo version, only in a much larger scale. I found an image on Vintage Toys and Games and have pre-produced it here without permission.

C110 - TV Tower Cameraman 

Scalectrix - TV Tower