In my latest edition of blogging, I’m going to focus on another hobby I’m involved in and that’s Subbuteo.

The tabletop game has been around since the 60’s and I’m sure most, if not all football fans, will know what it is. Most recently I moved house and discovered a number of items that I forgot I possessed, with Subbuteo being one. Upon opening the box and looking to see what I had, it brought back plenty of memories and a ‘want’ to play again.

In the last month I’ve joined a number of groups on Facebook who share a huge passion for the game, as well as networking with a number of players. Upon discussing many things with them, it is clear to see that there is still plenty of interest in the game. At this point, I still hadn’t played a game, but the overwhelming interest was now there.

In this moment of excitement and exploring what was on the market, I discovered that there was numerous leagues running up and down the country. I then took some time to think and plan ahead, which has enabled me to start implementing my own league, here in Berkshire. Observing the different groups on Facebook, it was largely male, with a higher average age. What wasn’t seen at all, we’re children? So, I did some research over the last 2/3 weeks and have found that there isn’t many younger players in this country. I interact with hundreds per week through my job, so that has made my decision quite easy, in the fact that I’ll offer out to these first. A new Subbuteo Club for children (both boys and girls)!

The fun really has started now, as I’m not just purchasing Subbuteo for my own collection, I now need as much as I can get my hands on, to run the club.
Upon approaching a couple of groups on Facebook, I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of generosity there is, in helping a fellow collector. Since I made the decision to progress with the club I’ve managed to secure pitches, players, scoreboards, balls and fencing. There are smaller items like benches too, as well as full limited edition sets.

The short term plan is that, children can attend to learn the game and then play it, in a pressure free environment. With a long term plan being, next year’s World Cup! The competition is taking place here in the UK, so there is surely no better time in starting, as this is the ultimate achievement for any fan?
Having something to strive for, such as this, will give the club context and meaning with a firm focus on what we wish to achieve. Even if weren’t fortunate enough to get a player into the competition, it will be a great experience in definitely trying.

‘Off the pitch’, I’m getting familiar with everything I need to know again, especially what teams I may like to purchase. Being a QPR fan, I’ve been lucky enough to pick up a couple of sets off of eBay, along with many other classic teams. The ‘La Leggenda’ range is superb and this has a firm focus on some of the previous greats. The detail on each player is commendable and there is a true likeness to the strips that the teams wore. Along with having a vast range to pick from, you can pick up some absolute bargains on eBay, so there is no need to pay those large prices. I have recently printed off the full list of teams, so this could be my new project in trying to complete!

There also seems to be a huge interest in the pitch surrounds, with many enthusiasts sharing their own incredible efforts. While this won’t be my immediate priority, I will be looking at purchasing some grandstands in the near future to decorate one of my new Astro pitches (which seem to be a huge upgrade on the ‘old school’ fabric style. They cost more, but look like they could save a lot of hassle).

The next steps will be to launch the children’s club around the 18th April, with an adult only club opening during the summer. While I’m yet to know if there is much interest in the ‘older’ age group, I’m certain there will be an uptake with the youngsters (especially with a World Cup) on the horizon.

For now, I’ll be researching the internet for ideas that I could use for my club and reviewing the rules to ensure I know exactly what I’m doing.

In the meantime, I’d love to connect with any Subbuteo fans or anyone who wishes to get involved with the game. There will be many opportunities coming up in he next month or two and I’d love for you to join us.