I have two brothers and when I was growing up Subbuteo was a game we played a lot. If you have never played it is basically a table top football game. You have little figures for the two teams and a ball and you move the little figures to mimic a real football game. My brothers collected the different sets of mini football players and had their own football league. It was very tense when it was being played, no interruptions were allowed. My parents probably still have the original game lying around in the house.
Subbueto was withdrawn from the shelves fifteen years ago but Paul Lammond Games re-launched Subbuteo in January. If you have a son who is looking for a great gift for Father’s Day I think this would be perfect, it will provide hours of table top fun. It will also ensure peace and quiet for mums, unless you get drawn into the game.
In the boxed set you get 20 players and 2 goalkeepers, the pitch with two goals and a ball and the rules. This is enough to get started but you can add to your collection by buying individual team sets.
There are a number of improvements on the original game. The figures are more detailed and you do not have to glue the players and bases together any more, one of the sources of frustration when I was little. It also claims that the figures are so strong and flexible you can drive a car over them. If this is true it will prevent a lot of upset caused when a player is accidentally trodden on and broken. The bases have been shaped differently as well which makes it easier to move players in a straight line. There is also a new luxury playing pitch making the game look more realistic.
The figures come in a range of different strips including a range of fully licensed Premiership Club teams, including Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool. Fortunately I managed to find Newcastle United as well or my son would not have been at all happy! You can also get the England, Scotland and Ireland national teams. More Subbuteo product launches are planned for later in the year so it is worth keeping an eye out.
Subbuteo is aimed at ages eight up to grown up. It is available on Amazon as well as in stores nationwide including Toy R Us, John Lewis Oxford Street, selected Waterstones and Toymaster branches as well as from independent retailers.
Subbuteo will be sponsoring the next annual ‘Table Football’ World Cup, taking place at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium from 20-22 July 2012.
Red v Blue Playset RRP £39.95
Team Sets RRP £12.95
Referee set RRP £9.95
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