Argy58
Subbuteo | Table Soccer Players Association c1950s | Subbuteo Player TS (Table Soccer) 1960s
These badges are linked to the popular table top soccer game 'Subbuteo' which was invented in England by Peter Adolph in 1947. The game replicates, as close as possible, the rules of association football. Whilst 'Subbuteo' has also been made for other team sports like rugby and cricket its fame is rooted in the soccer game. The game requires both dexterity and skill by flicking playing figures attached to weighted bases to make contact with a large soccer ball.
The 'Subbuteo' trademark incorporated the Hobby bird of prey and Peter Adolph wanted to name his new product 'The Hobby'. Although he wasn't granted a licence to do this he looked up the Latin name for the Hobby which is Falco Subbuteo.........and the name 'Subbuteo' was born.
'Subbuteo' was not too dissimilar from William L Keeling's earlier table top soccer game called 'New Footy' that debuted in 1929. During the 1950s both games were vying for the same market and rivalry became intense. Both games used famous soccer players of the day to endorse their games but 'Subbuteo's' launch of 3D figures and other accessories in the 1960s signalled the end for 'New Footy'. With England winning the Fifa World Cup in 1966, 'Subbuteo' grew from strength to strength and by the 1970s it had become a truly global table top soccer game.
When Peter Adolph introduced 'Subbuteo' in 1947, he anticipated the need for a players association and this vision saw the introduction of the 'Table Soccer Players Association'. This allowed players to showcase their table top finger dexterity against similar minded players. This association lasted for seventeen years between 1947-1964. When purchasing the 'Subbuteo' game, the package also included a player association registration card and supporting publicity about the association and badge. The above 'Table Top Player Association' badge (left), dating to the 1950s shows an illustration of the table top game on the front and the name 'Subbuteo' on the back (Badge maker: J R Gaunt, London).
The red celluloid badge (right), dates to the 1960s and is of course indelibly linked to the Subbuteo Table Soccer game.
'Subbuteo' still maintains a world wide profile today and competitions are still a big part of the 'Subbuteo' scene. Today the game is made by Hasbro and it's estimated that over 500 million figures have been made since 1947.
Photography, layout and design: Argy58
(This image also exists as a high resolution jpeg and tiff - ideal for a variety of print sizes
e.g. A4, A3, A2 and A1. The current uploaded format is for screen based viewing only: 72pi)
Subbuteo | Table Soccer Players Association c1950s | Subbuteo Player TS (Table Soccer) 1960s
These badges are linked to the popular table top soccer game 'Subbuteo' which was invented in England by Peter Adolph in 1947. The game replicates, as close as possible, the rules of association football. Whilst 'Subbuteo' has also been made for other team sports like rugby and cricket its fame is rooted in the soccer game. The game requires both dexterity and skill by flicking playing figures attached to weighted bases to make contact with a large soccer ball.
The 'Subbuteo' trademark incorporated the Hobby bird of prey and Peter Adolph wanted to name his new product 'The Hobby'. Although he wasn't granted a licence to do this he looked up the Latin name for the Hobby which is Falco Subbuteo.........and the name 'Subbuteo' was born.
'Subbuteo' was not too dissimilar from William L Keeling's earlier table top soccer game called 'New Footy' that debuted in 1929. During the 1950s both games were vying for the same market and rivalry became intense. Both games used famous soccer players of the day to endorse their games but 'Subbuteo's' launch of 3D figures and other accessories in the 1960s signalled the end for 'New Footy'. With England winning the Fifa World Cup in 1966, 'Subbuteo' grew from strength to strength and by the 1970s it had become a truly global table top soccer game.
When Peter Adolph introduced 'Subbuteo' in 1947, he anticipated the need for a players association and this vision saw the introduction of the 'Table Soccer Players Association'. This allowed players to showcase their table top finger dexterity against similar minded players. This association lasted for seventeen years between 1947-1964. When purchasing the 'Subbuteo' game, the package also included a player association registration card and supporting publicity about the association and badge. The above 'Table Top Player Association' badge (left), dating to the 1950s shows an illustration of the table top game on the front and the name 'Subbuteo' on the back (Badge maker: J R Gaunt, London).
The red celluloid badge (right), dates to the 1960s and is of course indelibly linked to the Subbuteo Table Soccer game.
'Subbuteo' still maintains a world wide profile today and competitions are still a big part of the 'Subbuteo' scene. Today the game is made by Hasbro and it's estimated that over 500 million figures have been made since 1947.
Photography, layout and design: Argy58
(This image also exists as a high resolution jpeg and tiff - ideal for a variety of print sizes
e.g. A4, A3, A2 and A1. The current uploaded format is for screen based viewing only: 72pi)