Leukaemia Research Subbuteo Premiership
October 4th & 5th 2003
This event will long be remembered by the small but dedicated band of collectors and players that attended over the weekend of 4th & 5th October 2003. Held in the wonderful confines of Toft Cricket Club in Knutsford, Cheshire, England, the event was staged primarily to help raise much needed funds for Leukaemia Research. It all began earlier in the year when Andy Murray (Taff to his mates), had the barmy idea of holding a Subbuteo playing event during which the whole of the English Premier League fixtures for season 2003/4 would be contested. He also added an FA Cup tournament just for luck. The idea caught on and soon it was full steam ahead, with many fellow collectors jumping on the bandwagon and offering to help. Andy,s friend Mike deserves a special mention here as does the man behind the Stefan Corda company, Neil Lishman who hand painted 40 Subbuteo teams in fantastic detail.
Practise makes perfect!
Approximately 40 "nutters" agreed to give up their weekend and to participate in the event which was dedicated to the memory of Taff's Dad who had sadly succumbed to Leukaemia some years earlier. With everyone present the matches soon got underway and each and everyone was played in the spirit that Peter Adolph (Subbuteo's inventor) had envisaged it should be, back in 1947. That's not to say it wasn't competetive, and soon people were anxiously viewing the projector screen to see where their teams were in the table. Most teams had two players who either alternated their games or played as home and away players. Each team also had its own dedicated (and sponsored) table, meaning that home advantage became a realistic proposition.
Goodison Park!
Everton FC (Courtesy - The Stefan Corda Company)
Click here for EFC Home (Big Pic)
Click here for EFC Away (Big Pic)
Click here for Blackburn Away (Big Pic)
Much needed food was provided (Footy food = pie and mushy peas!!)
plus the odd rest break, oh yes not forgetting the bar which I believe was
open all day long! I played as Everton with my mate Ian (a mad Liverpool
fan!!) and all in all we didn't do too bad eventually finishing in 8th
place in the league. Ian actually went on to win the FA Cup tournament on
the Sunday as Liverpool with Kenny Beggs who had flown over from Ireland
with John Moore just to take part. The Premiership was staged over both
days and reached a climax on Sunday afternoon when Leicester finally
emerged victorious. Congratulations are in order to Trevor Arthur who
played all his team matches single handedly to take the title and the
shield of victory!!
League Action!
Premiership winner - Trevor
Arthur
The FA Cup was sponsored by Mike Peacock of "Little Plastic Men" fame and he also made the presentation of prizes on the Sunday. The format was a straight knockout with each player playing one half for his or her respective team. Yes we did have one young lady taking part, Eva, and what a player too. In fact the team she played as, Middlesboro, reached the final only to be pipped 1- 0 by Liverpool.
FA Cup Semi-final (Boro v Man
Utd).
FA Cup Semi-final (Liverpool v Wolves).
FA Cup Final (Boro v Liverpool).
FA Cup Winners (Ian &
Kenny).
As well as all the playing going on, a collectors swap meet was held on the Sunday morning in the adjoining marquee. This was a really well supported meeting with sellers from all over the country in attendance. Matt Harris, Steve Fox and Pete Whitehead of Subbuteo World fame were there. As too was Andy from Frodsham and Ian of I.C. Toys who had an amazing amount of collectable and obsolete Subbuteo for sale. Peter had lots of newer items plus some mint & boxed 80s Subbuteo found in Italy. He was also taking payments for membership of the New Subbuteo Club which is being launched in Jan 04. Tom Taylor was also present selling playing equipment including tournament quality goals and bases. Credit must go to Trev Smith for organising the swap-meet using contacts he has built up during his time in charge of the Subbuteo Club.
Sunday swap-meet
I hope this page helps to convey the message that Subbuteo can be fun. Its a game that surely still has a future regardless of how badly it has been marketed over the last 10 years or so. The event as described not only rekindled the playing spirit amongst the people who took part but it also helped raise the awareness of an important charity such as Leukaemia Research. The programme printed specially for the event contains a personal message from ex England footballer Gary Lineker whose own son George was treated for Leukaemia and it is hoped that several thousand pounds will have been generated via sponsorship connected with the weekend. Everyone who took part, no-matter how small a part it was, had the same story to tell........they all agreed it had been a fantastic experience and they all want to do it again some time soon........ Watch this space for developments!!
Taff (Andy Murray) The man
responsible!
Mike Lewis, the Other man responsible!
And the winner is......
Subbuteo!
contact - collecting.subbuteo@virgin.net Last updated - 26 October 2003
