View source for Subbuteo

{{Short description|Tabletop association football game}}
{{Multiple issues|
 {{Lead too short|date=February 2021}}
 {{More citations needed|date=February 2021}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{ infobox game
| image         = Subbuteo playersP1010292.JPG
| image_alt     = Subbuteo model players with Subbuteo packaging
| caption       = Subbuteo players
| italic title  = no
| designer = Peter Adolph
| genre         = [[Tabletop football]] 
| publisher     = [[Hasbro]]
| players       = 2 or 4
| ages          = 8 and up
| setup_time    = 2 minutes{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}
| playing_time  = 20–30 minutes
| random_chance = Very low
| skills        = [[Dexterity]], tactics
}}
'''Subbuteo''' ({{IPAc-en|s|ʌ|ˈ|b|(|j|)|uː|t|i|oʊ}} {{respell|sub|(Y)OO|tee|oh}}) is a [[tabletop football]] game in which players simulate [[association football]] by flicking miniature players with their fingers. Its name derives from the scientific name of the [[Eurasian hobby|hobby hawk]], ''Falco subbuteo''. Peter Adolph (1916–1994), the game's creator, had wanted to call it "[[Hobby]]", but he was unable to obtain the [[trademark]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Hodkinson |first=Mark |title=Table-topping star of the big flick-off: Uncovering the bizarre playboy lifestyle of Subbuteo's inventor |work=[[The Times]] |date=16 October 2006 |access-date=12 August 2007 |url= http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article601725.ece|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110523033055/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article601725.ece|url-status= dead|archive-date= 23 May 2011}}</ref>

While most closely associated with the football game, versions of Subbuteo based on other [[team sport]]s, such as [[cricket]], both codes of [[rugby football|rugby]], and [[hockey]], have also been produced.<ref>{{cite web |title=Subbuteo Cricket |url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/17352/subbuteo-cricket |website=BoardGameGeek}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Subbuteo Rugby |url= https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/15112/subbuteo-rugby |website=BoardGameGeek}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/33489/subbuteo-hockey |title=Subbuteo Hockey |work=BoardGameGeek}}</ref>

== History ==
[[file:Peter Adolph plaque Tunbridge Wells.jpg|thumb|left|Heritage plaque commemorating Peter Adolph's Subbuteo factory in [[Royal Tunbridge Wells]]]]

Subbuteo was invented by Peter Adolph (1916–1994), who was [[Demobilization|demobbed]] from the [[Royal Air Force]] after the end of [[World War II]]. Searching for a new business opportunity he turned his attention to creating a new table-top football game. He adapted his game from [[Newfooty]], a table football game that had been invented in 1929 by William Lane Keeling of Liverpool. He made numerous improvements, including changing the heavy [[lead]] bases under the model players to lighter materials, using for his prototype a button from his mother's coat and a [[Washer (hardware)|washer]].<ref name="martin">{{cite book |last=Martin |first=Kathy |title=Famous Brand Names and Their Origins |date=19 February 2017 |publisher=Pen and Sword |isbn=9781781590157 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=c76wDQAAQBAJ&dq=peter%20adolph%20subbuteo%20tunbridge%20wells&pg=PA146 |access-date=1 February 2017}}</ref>

In August 1946 Peter Adolph filed an outline [[patent application]] for the game, which was not finalised until May 1947. The August 1946 edition of ''The [[Boy's Own Paper]]'' first announced Subbuteo's availability and offered to send details, but sets were not available until March 1947. According to rumours, after the early adverts, orders started to pour in as Adolph set about converting his patent idea into a deliverable product.<ref name="martin"/>

[[file:Subbuteo HeavyWeightPlayers1.jpg|thumb|Heavy weight players from the 1970s. The one on the left is a customised figurine representing an [[AS Monaco FC|AS Monaco]] player. The other two are as originally painted, reference 6 in yellow and ref 65 in white, representing England]]

The first Subbuteo sets, known as the Assembly Outfits, consisted of goals made of wire with paper nets, a [[cellulose]] [[acetate]] ball, cardboard playing figures in two basic kits (red shirts with white shorts, and blue shirts with white shorts) and bases made from buttons weighed down with lead washers. The story is that Peter found one of his mother's coat buttons and used [[Woolworths (United Kingdom)|Woolworth]] buttons for the early set bases. No pitch was provided: instead, the purchaser was given instructions on how to mark out (with chalk, provided) a playing area on to a blanket (an old army blanket was recommended). The first sets were eventually available in March 1947, several months after the original advertisement appeared. The first figures were made of flat cardboard cut out of a long strip. Later these card players came in press-out strips before being replaced with two-dimensional celluloid figures, known to collectors as "flats".

Early production of Subbuteo was centred in [[Langton Green]], near [[Royal Tunbridge Wells]] in Kent. Following the advent of the [[OO gauge|OO scale]] players the player figures were individually hand painted by local outworkers in their own homes.

[[file:Subbuteo-80s.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Players in national team colours from the late 1980s. The main figure is in the colours of the reference 457 Argentina team, while the figure in the foreground is in the colours of the reference 410 Brazil team]]

In its early years, Subbuteo had a fierce rivalry with Newfooty. In the run-up to Christmas 1961, Adolph introduced a three-dimensional handpainted plastic figure into the range. After several design modifications, this figure evolved by 1967 into the classic "heavyweight" figure pictured. Newfooty ceased trading in 1961 after a failed television advertising campaign but its demise is thought to be linked to the launch of the moulded Subbuteo players. There were several further evolutions of figure design. In 1978 the "zombie" figure was introduced to facilitate the machine painting of figures. After much negative feedback, the zombie figure was replaced in 1980 by the "lightweight" figure that continued until the 1990s when Hasbro acquired Waddingtons Games, which owned Subbuteo.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/subbuteo-wayne-rooney-as-you-ve-never-seen-him-before-5349959.html |title=Subbuteo: Wayne Rooney, as you've never seen him before |date=15 March 2005 |work=The Independent |access-date=1 December 2020 |archive-date=30 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030184733/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/subbuteo-wayne-rooney-as-you-ve-never-seen-him-before-5349959.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

After Hasbro bought Waddington Games in 1994, Subbuteo sales declined from about 150,000 sets per year to 3,000 in 2002 and just 500 sets in 2003, when production was stopped.<ref name="auto1" />

[[Hasbro]] relaunched Subbuteo in 2005 with flat photorealistic card-style figures on bases, rather than three-dimensional figures. The relaunch was not a success and was again discontinued.

In 2012, Hasbro licensed Subbuteo to [[Eleven Force]] and it returned to the shops with a new style of three-dimensional rubber figures, launching Subbuteo into its eighth decade of production. Subbuteo also made other things for the collector, such as stands to create a stadium, cups, crowds, policemen and much more.

In 2020, Hasbro awarded the licence to [[Longshore (company)|Longshore]], although Eleven Force remained Subbuteo's Spanish distributor. It was reported that Hasbro had been unhappy with Elevenforce's lack of interest in markets outside Spain.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://subbuteo.online/why-hasbro-chose-a-little-known-hong-kong-company-for-subbuteo |title=Why Hasbro chose a little-known Hong Kong company for Subbuteo |work=Subbuteo.onlin |date=10 June 2020 |access-date=1 December 2020 |archive-date=16 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116174732/https://subbuteo.online/why-hasbro-chose-a-little-known-hong-kong-company-for-subbuteo |url-status=live }}</ref> In May 2020, Subbuteo World, a long-term UK seller of Subbuteo, announced it was advising Longshore, and that there would be new teams, a Subbuteo VAR set, and new fences.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://subbuteo.online/new-subbuteo-owner-reveals-exciting-plans-for-the-brand |title=New Subbuteo owner reveals exciting plans for the brand |date=1 June 2020 |access-date=1 December 2020 |archive-date=18 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218123523/http://subbuteo.online/new-subbuteo-owner-reveals-exciting-plans-for-the-brand |url-status=live }}</ref>

Subbuteo is a registered trademark of Hasbro Inc.

== Gameplay ==
[[file:Subbuteo inside P1010298.JPG|thumb|Subbuteo inside packs]]
[[file:Subbuteo players P1010291.JPG|thumb|Subbuteo players]]

Playing Subbuteo is a physical simulation of [[association football]], involving [[dexterity]] and skill in flicking the playing figures, which stand on weighted bases, across the tabletop pitch towards the ball.

Hundreds of team kits and accessories are available, almost all representing real teams, with the exception of comic book team [[Melchester Rovers]]. Along with major teams such as [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]], [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]], and [[Real Madrid]], unpainted models are also available. There are also many additional accessories, such as new balls and goals, special figures for free kicks and throw-ins, stands and crowd, [[linesmen]], [[ball-boys]], [[streaking|streakers]] and policemen, floodlights and TV cameras.<ref name="auto">{{cite book |title=Cult Football |date=September 2010}}</ref>{{full citation needed|date=October 2023|reason=Needs at least author, publisher, and page number(s).}}

The rules are designed to correspond closely with those of [[association football]], albeit with some simplifications and alterations. Players maintain possession as long as the figure they flick makes contact with the ball and the ball does not subsequently hit an opposing figure, although the same figure cannot be used for more than three consecutive flicks. Shots at goal can be taken only once the ball is over the 'shooting line', a line parallel to and equidistant between the goal line and half-way line. The goalkeeper figures are attached to, and manoeuvered with, a rod that fits underneath the back of the goal. The [[Offside (association football)|offside law]] is in effect, but only pertaining to figures that are forward of the opposing team's shooting line (as opposed to the half-way line, as in actual football).{{original research inline|date=February 2021}}

==Subbuteo World Cup==
There is a [[Subbuteo World Cup]] competition.<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/the-subbuteo-story-how-a-war-veteran-cum-egg-collector-invented-britains-legendary-tabletop-favourite |title=The Subbuteo story: How a war-veteran-''cum''-egg-collector invented Britain's legendary tabletop favourite |work=FourFourTwo.com|date=16 August 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.footballiscominghome.info/the-players/memories-of-a-subbuteo-player/ |title=Memories of a Subbuteo Player |work=FootballIsComingHome.info |date=22 June 2013 |access-date=16 April 2023 |archive-date=16 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416164025/https://www.footballiscominghome.info/the-players/memories-of-a-subbuteo-player/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2024, it was hosted by Royal Tunbridge Wells to commemorate the town being the birthplace of the game.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwye5dyqvp4o |title=Garden shed helping players prepare for World Cup |publisher=BBC News |date=2024-09-20 |accessdate=2024-09-20 |first=Mike |last=McBride |archive-date=20 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920082302/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwye5dyqvp4o |url-status=live }}</ref>

Here are the previous winners of the Subbuteo World Cup.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://fistf.com/data-centre/hall-of-fame/ | title=Hall of Fame < FISTF }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Host
! Location
! Winners
! Runners-up
|-
||1970||{{flagcountry|ENG}}||[[London]]||{{flagcountry|West Germany}}||
|-
||1974||{{flagcountry|West Germany}}||[[Munich]]||{{flagcountry|NED}}||{{flagcountry|ENG}}<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/the-subbuteo-story-how-a-war-veteran-cum-egg-collector-invented-britains-legendary-tabletop-favourite | title=The Subbuteo story: How a war veteran-cum-egg-collector invented Britain's legendary tabletop favourite | date=16 August 2021 | access-date=16 April 2023 | archive-date=16 April 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416162519/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/the-subbuteo-story-how-a-war-veteran-cum-egg-collector-invented-britains-legendary-tabletop-favourite | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
||1978||{{Flagcountry|ENG}}||London||{{Flagcountry|BEL}}
|-
||1982||{{Flagcountry|ESP}}||[[Barcelona]]||{{flagcountry|ITA}}
|-
||1986||{{flagcountry|GRE}}||[[Athens]]||{{flagcountry|SUI}}
|-
||1990||{{flagcountry|ITA}}||[[Rome]]||{{flagcountry|GRE}}
|-
||1994||{{flagcountry|USA}}||[[Chicago]]||{{flagcountry|BEL}}
|-
||1994||{{flagcountry|FRA}}||[[Paris]]||{{Flagcountry|BEL}}
|-
||1996||{{Flagcountry|DEN}}||[[Silkeborg]]||{{flagcountry|POR}}
|-
||1998||{{flagcountry|BEL}}||[[Namur]]||{{flagcountry|BEL}}
|-
||2000||{{flagcountry|AUT}}||[[Vienna]]||{{Flagcountry|ITA}}
|-
||2001||{{Flagcountry|POR}}||[[Porto]]||{{flagcountry|ITA}}
|-
||2002||{{flagcountry|ENG}}||[[Birmingham]]||{{flagcountry|BEL}}
|-
||2003||{{flagcountry|MLT}}||[[Three Cities (Malta)|Cottonera]]||{{flagcountry|ITA}}
|-
||2004||{{Flagcountry|ITA}}||[[Bologna]]||{{flagcountry|ITA}}
|-
|2005||{{flagcountry|BEL}}||[[Tournai]]||{{flagcountry|ITA}}
|-
|2006||{{flagcountry|DEU}}||[[Dortmund]]||{{flagcountry|ITA}}
|-
|2007||{{flagcountry|FRA}}||[[Les Herbiers]]||{{flagcountry|ITA}}
|-
|2008||{{flagcountry|AUT}}||Vienna||{{Flagcountry|ENG}}
|-
|2009||{{flagcountry|NED}}||[[Rotterdam]]||{{flagcountry|ITA}}
|-
|2010||{{Flagcountry|DEU}}||[[Rain am Lech]]||{{Flagcountry|ESP}}
|-
|2011||{{flagcountry|ITA}}||[[Palmeiro]]||{{Flagcountry|ITA}}||
|-
|2012||{{flagcountry|ENG}}||[[Manchester]]||{{Flagcountry|ESP}}
|-
|2013||{{flagcountry|ESP}}||[[Madrid]]||{{Flagcountry|ESP}}
|-
|2014||{{flagcountry|BEL}}||[[Rochefort, Belgium|Rochefort]]||{{Flagcountry|ESP}}
|-
|2015||{{flagcountry|ITA}}||[[San Benedetto del Tronto|San Benedetto]]||{{Flagcountry|ESP}}
|-
|2016||{{Flagcountry|BEL}}||[[Frameries]]||{{Flagcountry|AUT}}
|-
|2017||{{Flagcountry|FRA}}||[[Elancourt]]||{{Flagcountry|BEL}}
|-
|2018||{{flagcountry|GIB}}||[[Gibraltar]]||{{Flagcountry|ITA}}
|-
|2022||{{Flagcountry|ITA}}||[[Rome]]||{{Flagcountry|ESP}}
|-
|2024||{{flagcountry|ENG}}||[[Royal Tunbridge Wells]]||{{Flagcountry|ITA}}
|}

==FISTF==
[[International Sports Table Football]] ([[FISTF]]) was founded on 16 June 1992 in Hamburg (Germany).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://fistf.com/about-us/ | title=Our Organization < FISTF | access-date=7 March 2024 | archive-date=7 March 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240307093339/https://fistf.com/about-us/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

Merging:

* European Tablesoccer (Football) Federation (ETF 1963-1993) 
* Federation of International Subbuteo Associations (FISA 1979-1996).
* [[European Tablesoccer Federation]] ([[Tablesoccer|ETF]])
* [[Federation of International Subbuteo Associations]] (FISA)
FISTF lays down the playing rules of Table Football.

==Video game==
A digital version was released by Goliath Games in 1990 for the [[Amiga]], [[Atari ST]], [[MS-DOS]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Commodore 64]], and [[ZX Spectrum]]. ''[[CU Amiga]]'' gave the game a rating of 95% and said "Goliath have managed to distill the essential elements of the original game and transfer them across to the Amiga."<ref name="CUA">{{cite magazine |last1=Dillon |first1=Tony |title=Screen Scene - Subbuteo |magazine=[[CU Amiga]] |date=June 1990 |issue=4 |pages=32–35 |url= https://archive.org/details/cuamiga-magazine-004/page/n31/mode/2up |publisher=[[EMAP]]}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Table football]]
* [[Table cricket]]

== References ==

{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==

* {{cite book |last=Payne |first=Richard |date=1996 |title=Fifty Years of Flicking Football |publisher=Yore Publications |isbn=187442702X}}
* {{cite book |last=Adolph |first=Mark |date=2006 |title=Growing Up with Subbuteo |publisher=SportsBooks |isbn=1899807403}}
* {{cite book |last=Willetts |first=Paul |date=2008 |title=Teenage Flicks: Memories of the Sub-Beautiful Game |publisher=Dexter Haven Publishing |isbn=9781903660027}}

== External links ==

* {{Official website|http://www.subbuteo.com}}
* {{bgg|3720}}
* {{moby game|id=/15102/subbuteo}}
* [http://www.subbuteoforum.org.uk The Independent Subbuteo Forum] The Independent Subbuteo Forum is the main Subbuteo reference website and message board in the UK.
* [http://www.subbuteorules.co.uk Subbuteo Rules] Subbuteo instructions in 12 languages 
* [https://subbuteo.online Subbuteo Online], Subbuteo Blog and News Site
* [https://fistf.com/2017/11/10/greats-past-michael-m-dent/ Greats of the past: Michael M Dent]

{{Royal Tunbridge Wells}}
{{Waddingtons}}
{{Hasbro}}

[[Category:Board games introduced in 1947]]
[[Category:Games of physical skill]]
[[Category:Miniatures games]]
[[Category:Waddingtons games]]
[[Category:Hasbro games]]
[[Category:Borough of Tunbridge Wells]]
[[Category:British games]]