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.

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.

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

NGD Solo League - Wolvendean Away

As a direct result of requests to see my solo league teams. I present the side that finished runners-up this season, Wolvendean in their change strip.

Wolvendean Athletic 2nd kit

NGD Solo League Teams

When I get chance I play a solo league - here are some on the teams I use.

They are fictitious but many are based on real teams.

All these teams are painted on Santiago.

Everlast United - Away

Burndale FC - Away

Burndale FC

Everlast United

Fullingham City

Fullingham City - Away

Middleton United

Middleton United - Away

Newhouse Rangers 

Newhouse Rangers - Away

Norton Wanderers

Norton Wanderers - Away

Redpool FC

Redpool FC - Away

Wolvendean Athletic

Wolvendean Athletic - Away

Sheil Park Away & Home strips

Melchester Rovers vs YoungHeart Manawatu

Post match handshake.