Clear the Table, Iron the Pitch, and Lock up the Cat – (Table) Football’s Coming Home…

GUEST POST: In 2024, the Subbuteo and Sports Table Football World Cups are coming home to Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Steve Sharman chats with FISTF President Steve Dettre to explore some of the history of Subbuteo and table football, reviews the results of previous World Cups, and gets excited about what is in store for fanatics and casual observers alike over three days in September. 

As Euro 2024 becomes nothing more than another disappointing memory and the relentless cycle of another season rumbles on, there is one form of football that is undoubtedly returning to its roots – a form of football that is truly ready to come home. 

The Federation International Sport Table Football (FISTF) Eland Cables World Cup is coming to England, and to Tunbridge Wells, the place where Subbuteo was invented. 

Although for some, Subbuteo-drenched nostalgia consists of crawling around on the floor chasing after a player who had disappeared under the sideboard following an over-zealous flick, or of kneecapped superstars resurrected with half legs and super glue, for others, Subbuteo is serious business. 

Spread across three days from the Friday 20th to Sunday 22nd September, and with events taking place in three venues across Tunbridge Wells, this World Cup is set to be the biggest in the long history of Subbuteo and table football with over 320 players from 26 countries due to compete. 

In addition to the Eland Cables FISTF World Cups (individual and team), the programme also features an opening ceremony and live draw for the FISTF events, the Subbuteo World Cups (where individuals and teams play by old Subbuteo rules), and the Subbuteo Flats World Cup (original style 2D figures). There is also a Subbuteo family fun day, a Subbuteo walking tour, and a Subbuteo Exhibition.

Events take place at the Royal Victoria Place, Tunbridge Wells Leisure Centre, and the Amelia Scott, and are all free of charge. 

Subbuteo roots 

Invented by Peter Adolph at his home in Langton Green, a small village whose boundaries blur into the affluent outer edges of Royal Tunbridge Wells, the first versions of Subbuteo were launched in 1947. 

The name Subbuteo is thought to come from Adolph’s initial desire to call the game ‘The Hobby’; however, unable to secure a patent for that name, the former RAF Flight Sergeant turned to the latin name for a subspecies of buzzard called a hobby: ‘sub – buteo’, and thus, Subbuteo was born, a nod to the inventor’s own aviation history, and a Latin interpretation of the name he originally sought. Although Subbuteo has been manufactured for over 75 years, and different formats operate under slightly different rules, the fundamental principles of the game have remained constant – to use your hands to ‘flick to kick’ and score more goals than your opponent. 

Sold in over 55 countries, the actual figures themselves have evolved over time, from the first players that featured a base inspired by a button and a washer and figures printed on card known as ‘flats’, through heavyweight ‘zombies’, to the lighter, plastic players and then the three dimensional rubber figures used today. Over 700 teams have been immortalised in Subbuteo form, from iconic international kits such as 1970’s Brazil and Italia 90’s West Germany, to many club sides from around the globe, and even fictional sides such as Roy of the Rovers’ Melchester Rovers. 

Subbuteo has given rise to a vibrant and fascinating subculture, the essence of which is expertly captured by Subbuteo enthusiast and author, Derek Air, who Outside Write recently spoke to about his book, Land of the Giants. Limited edition sets, custom painted sets, and rarities can sometimes sell for hundreds of pounds, and collector’s fairs attract a sizable number of enthusiasts looking to build their collections. It isn’t just the teams that catch the attention; over the decades, the accessories available – everything from pitch side hoardings and tiered stands, to working floodlights and electronic scoreboards – have led to some absolutely incredible homemade Subbuteo arenas.

The evolution of governing bodies

FISTF is the current governing body for Subbuteo and different forms of table football, and is currently led by President and former Australian Subbuteo International, Steve Dettre. However, the organisation(s) responsible for governing Subbuteo have evolved more than the game itself.

The first group formed was The Union Européene de Subbuteo (UES), which was founded in 1961 by representatives of the Dutch, Belgian, and German federations. The UES was soon supplanted in 1963 by the European Table Soccer Federation’ (ETF) / ‘Union Européenne de Football de table’ (UNEFTA) and then in 1979, the Federation of International Subbuteo Associations (FISA) was created to formalise rules and set the standard for international global competition. 

FISA continued as the governing body until 1992, when several key players on the Subbuteo circuit started to see FISA as more of a marketing arm of Waddington’s Games. As Steve Dettre recalls, the players wanted more involvement in the organisation of tournaments, and more formalisation of global rules and standards. 

Following discussions in Hamburg, Germany, a relatively amicable merger between the ETF and FISA was agreed and FISTF was born – bringing the international administration, implementation of rules, and global table football promotion under the banner of one governing body. Led by first president Belgian Jean-Marie Van Butsele, the ‘S’ in the FISTF acronym originally stood for Subbuteo. However, due to the desire to move away from what was deemed a product name rather than the name of the sport but unwillingness to rebrand under a new name, the ‘S’ was changed to represent Sports, leading to the current name. 

Early Subbuteo World Cup history

The inaugural Subbuteo World Cup – under the administration of Subbuteo Sports Games (SSG) Ltd. – was played in London in 1970. The tournament saw German Peter Czarkowski crowned the first World Champion, beating Belgian great Pierre Tignani 2-0 in the final. The 1974 tournament was held in Munich, Germany, where Dutchman Dirk Baerwald triumphed. In 1978, the World Cup returned to London; on this occasion, Belgian Phillipe Outmans emerged victorious. 

By the 1982 event, administration of the World Cup had shifted from SSG to FISA. The winner of the first FISA Subbuteo World Cup was Italian Renzo Frignani in Barcelona, Spain. Subsequent winners included Willy Hoffman of Switzerland in Athens, Greece (1986), and Greek Angelos Tsakiris in Rome, Italy (1990). The World Cup in 1994 was significant in many ways, not least as it was held in Chicago, USA, the first non-European venue. The tournament was also the last played under the FISA administration and was won by Belgian Dominique De Marco. 

FISTF World Cup history

Also in 1994, the first FISTF World Cup was held in Paris, France. This tournament was also won by De Marco, who beat home favourite Eric Naszalyi 2-1 in the final, giving the Belgian a unique place in history, as the only player to win FISA and FISTF World Cups in the same year, a feat that will likely never be repeated. 

FISTF World Cups have expanded in two major ways; whereas SSG and FISA World Cups were held every four years to coincide with FIFA World Cups, FISTF events are more frequent, held every two years until 2000, and then annually since 2001. FISTF events also incorporate a range of categories; in addition to the traditional Open event for individuals, World Cups also now include teams events, women and youth categories, and a veterans category. 

The Open event has been dominated by players from Italy (11 titles), Spain (5) and Belgium (4), with single victories for Vasco Guimaraes who won an all-Portuguese final in 1996, Dutchman Eric Verhagen who triumphed in Vienna in 2008, and Wolfgang Leitner, who claimed Austria’s sole Open title in 2016. 

The record for most Open titles (mens) is held jointly by Italy’s Massimo Bolognino, and current number one ranked player in the world, Spain’s Carlos Flores, who both have three titles to their name. 

Given their dominance in the Open events, it may come as no surprise that Italy have also largely dominated the men’s team event. The Italians have come out on top 16 times (out of 23 tournaments), including a run of nine consecutive victories between 2001 and 2009 and victory on home turf in the most recent event in Rome (2022). Massimiliano Nastasi and Massimo Bolognino hold the record for team titles, with 12 titles apiece.

Women’s rule

Despite the impressive exploits of male players in the Open competition, none can come close to claiming the dominance of Delphine Dieudonné in the Women’s tournament. The Belgian legend has won an incredible 13 individual titles and 11 team titles. Outside the indomitable Dieudonné, only Denmark’s Kamilla Kristensen has won more than a single individual title, triumphing in both 2003 and 2006. 

Belgium also lead the way in women’s team titles, with 13 victories. France have won the team World Cup a respectable five times, and have also been beaten finalists on four occasions, with all the defeats coming against perennial foes Belgium.

The benefit of experience and the exuberance of youth

The familiar story of Italian dominance is also evident across the age group categories. Italy have won 13 veteran team titles and 11 veteran individual titles, with Renzo Frignani winning more titles than any other player (4). Diego Tagliaferri, Giorgio Giudice, and Marco Di Vito can each claim two under-12 age group titles, whilst Claudio La Torre, Leonardo Giudice, and Matteo Ciccarelli each have a brace of wins in the U’15/16 category, although Simão Fonseca of Portugal and Wolfgang Haas of Austria have also have two victories. The trend is bucked slightly in the U’19/20 category, where Germany’s Bjorn Kegenbein leads the way with three victories. 

In the team tournaments, Italy have won the U’12 title on eight occasions, with a win apiece for Belgium and Spain. After early success for Belgium and Portugal at the U’15/16 age group – the two countries sharing the first six trophies – remarkably, Italy have won the last 12 editions. At U’19/20, Italy have won 10 titles, with nearest challengers Belgium racking up five victories. 

What makes the World Cup special?

The World Cup is a major event in the table football calendar and as FISTF President Steve Dettre highlights, taking part in a World Cup is a privilege. As Dettre explains, for other table football tournaments such as a Major or a Grand Prix, anyone who registers can play. However for the World Cup, spots in all categories are limited per country, so every player who is competing will have earned the right to be there through a domestic qualification process. 

There is some consternation that this format means some highly ranked players are missing from the event. However, as Dettre argues, nobody has a divine right to represent their country at the World Cup; everybody coming to Tunbridge Wells has battled hard for the right to be there. 

What to expect in Tunbridge Wells

Under the watchful eyes of this year’s mascot Langton the Lion, the 2024 FISTF Eland Cables World Cup will feature some of the world’s best players who are set to compete in the Open, veteran, womens, U’20, U’16, and U’12 categories. Alongside the traditional European powerhouses such as Italy, France, Belgium, and more recently Spain, individuals are travelling in from as far as Japan, Singapore, Australia, Brazil, and the USA to pit their nimble fingers against players from across the globe.

With Spanish world number-one Carlos Flores missing the tournament through injury, a host of players will have their eyes on the success in the Open competition. Number two in the world rankings and top seed is Christophe Dheur from Belgium, whilst Dimitrios Dimopoulos and Alberto Di Maggio (Greece), Saverio Bari (Italy), Samuel Bartolo and Mark Gauci (Malta), Bessim Golger (Belgium), and Wolfgang Haas (Austria) will all be in with a shout. Throw in wild cards such as Christian Filippella (USA), plus homegrown stars Kasper Bennett, Elliott Bellefontaine, and Chris Short (England), and the trophy may well end the weekend engraved with a new name. 

Hopeful undertones

Royal Tunbridge Wells – one of only three royal towns in England – is the perfect place to host the World Cup, and will welcome the Subbuteo community to the hometown of its creator with open arms. 

Whether it was ordering a new set online or digging an old set out the loft, Subbuteo experienced a resurgence in popularity over lockdown, and although the youth of today are likely more enamoured with Football Manager or FIFA to get their recreational football game fix, Subbuteo is still alive and flicking.

This event promises to be the biggest event of its kind to date. With high hopes for the English players in a wide open field, combined with a strong sense of nostalgia for those of us rediscovering Subbuteo, this World Cup will seek to ensure that one way or the other, football comes home this year.

You can learn more about Steve Sharman here or follow him on Twitter/X here.