It seems the more technological we get the more we hanker after more simple pleasures which is why the sporting toy hit this Christmas is Subbuteo.
Table football where you flick a football piece on a semi-circle stand at a mini-ball to a fellow player, on up the green felt pitch and into the goal is back.
It’s not as real as the latest FIFA iteration but that’s much of the charm.
I first learned about other countries through sporting competitions and replicated that through Subbuteo.
Why we had the Uruguay team I still don’t know other than the Brazil team was probably sold out.
Your traditional Subbuteo box came with Scotland and England teams and here’s where this gets current.
John Motson, the doyen of English TV commentators is plugging Subbuteo and he is the ideal man for the job.
Because he, and his sheepskin coat, are instantly recognisable and made the perfect accessory for your kit.
You could also get grandstands, fans (remember them), floodlights, the World Cup, and probably a wee VAR room now too.
The beauty of Subbuteo is that you could get it in other sports too.
And I would often play out the-then Five Nations Rugby Championships.
And the iconic touring New Zealand All Blacks, Australian Wallabies, South African Springboks and Argentine Pumas.
The passing behind made it a little pedestrian but the rugby kicker and scrum machine more than made up for it.
Subbuteo offered cricket too which obviously had its challenges for bowlers but they uses a chute?
While they even did hockey and, get this, soeedway.
And there were some sports which obviously beat the imagineers such as swimming and horse racing!
There is a Subbuteo World Cup which was lined up for Rome this year but will now take place next year when Spain will defend their title.
And maybe I’ll combine it with a trip to the Olympic Stadium to see Roma after arriving with the Son and Heir there a few years ago without my passport.
We did get to play giant fusbol outside the stadium… but that’s a whole different game.
MEET YOU ON THE FELT
