What is Subbuteo?
Subbuteo is table soccer. It is played on a felt pitch that is slightly larger than the average dinner table. The game is played between two players, each have ten figures they flick around the pitch and a goalkeeper on a rod to defend their goal. To see action from games go to the photographs and videos page.
Why the name “Subbuteo”?
The game’s creator Peter Adolph wanted to patent the game with the name 'The Hobby' but was not allowed to register that name. Being an ornithologist he named the game after the bird the Eurasian Hobby, Latin name Falco subbuteo.
Today 'table soccer' and Subbuteo are used interchangeably.
Subbuteo is a trademark of Hasbro. The Southern California Subbuteo Club is not affiliated with Hasbro.
History of Subbuteo
1946
The games creator Peter Adolph lodges his patent application and the first advertisement for the game is in the The Boy's Own Paper. The first sets
consisted of goals made with wire and 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. No pitch was provided, instead the instructions included how to
mark out with chalk, that was provided, the playing area onto a blanket, an old army blanket was recommended. The cardboard flats and button bases are
soon replaced by celluloid flats and plastic bases.
1961
Three-dimensional handpainted plastic figure replace the orginal flats. After several design modifications, this figure evolved into the classic 'heavy
weight' figure.
1968
Waddingtons toy company purchases Subbuteo from Peter Adolph.
1970s
The game reaches the peak of its popularity. Over 300 teams are available in different kits and a large number accessories are available, including corner kick
and throw in figures, floodlights, score boards, referee and linesmen, stadiums, and even a streaker. In this period of 90% of teenage boys in the UK own
the game.
1978
The 'zombie' figure introduced to allow the machine painting of figures.
1980
After much negative feedback, the zombie figure was replaced by the 'light weight' figure that continued until the 1990s.
1980s
With the advent of game consoles and computer games the popularity of the game starts to wane.
1981
Jokari become the first mass distributor of Subbuteo in the USA.
1982
Jokari starts the American Subbuteo Association. The ASA is the
representative national organization for the USA. First ASA National Championship takes part in the summer of this year.
1985
The Southern California Subbuteo Club (SCSC) is founded.
1992
The international governing body Federation International Sports
Table Football (FISTF) is formed to replace the competing European Tablefootball Federation (ETF) and Federation of International Subbuteo Associations
(FISA).
1995
Hasbro aquires Waddingtons.
1997
When Hasbro stops supplying teams to Italy, distributor Edilio Parodi starts producing a clone of the game for Italy called Zeugo.
1999
Hasbro announces that due to flagging sales it will stop manufacturing the game. The decision is reversed after an outcry from fans of the game.
1990s-2000s
As the availability of Hasbro supplies dwindle other enthusiasts start manufacturing compatible figures, bases and accessories. With competing manufacturers
of bases their performance improves significantly over the Hasbro and Zeugo bases.
2002
Parodi purchases the license from Hasbro to manufacture the game as Subbuteo.
2005
Hasbro relaunches the game. The three dimensional figures are replace by flats featuring photographs of players from the major European teams.
 Flat |
 Heavy weight |
 Scarecrow |
 Zombie |
 Light weight |
 2005 Hasbro |
Links of interest
- Peter Upton's Subbuteo tribute website
- The new Hasbro Subbuteo
- Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery's online exhibition about Subbuteo
- More Subbuteo links