Held for the second year running in the wonderful confines of  Toft Cricket Club in Knutsford, Cheshire, England, the "Knutsford Event" as it is becoming known, was again staged in an effort to help raise much needed funds for Leukaemia Research. Saturday the 2nd Oct and Sunday 3rd were the dates that everyone had had pencilled in their diaries since Andy Murray and his team had announced it was going ahead earlier in the year. Last years event was an unmitigated success and it was hoped that this year's would be too. And so to the playing format........ a league of 20 teams like last year, plus an F.A. Cup style knockout thrown in for good measure. But who were the teams? The Premiership was old hat so Andy (Taff to his mates) decided to run the league using last years fantastic and honourable playing spirit as his motive. All the kits would be in the style of early 1900's teams. The 12 founder league members were joined by some early FA Cup winners, some legends and some ..... well, cool kits. We therefore had teams such as Everton and Preston North End, joined by the Royal Engineers and Bradford Park Avenue! There were also the likes of Corinthians and Cardiff Riverside rubbing shoulders with Burnley and Newton Heath. A message in the event programme by his Royal Highness King Edward VII set everyone off on the right note and it was with this in mind that I should tell you that this years group of players and collectors were collectively known as ......................... "The League Of Extraordinary Plastic Gentlemen"  (LXPG) ..................... a title well earned!

The players arrive.

 

This year the event had come to the attention of Mark Adolph, Peter Adolph's son. (Peter being the creator of Subbuteo way back in 1947). Mark sent a message of encouragement to the players, making reference as to how his late father would have been so pleased to have seen the Knutsford event played in such good spirits and with a charitable outcome to boot.

Taff reads out Mark Adolph's message.

The playing figures were again hand painted by Neil Lishman under the guise of the Stefan Corda Company. However this year his company also created and provided the figures themselves plus the bases. Neil and his team managed to paint, assemble and box 40 teams, all in authentic 1900 era colours and trims. The quality and attention to detail was fantastic and the queue to buy the teams at the end of play on the Sunday is a testament to Neil's skill and professionalism. The playing bases handled rather like the old Heavyweight bases of the 1970s which is the effect I believe Neil was hoping for. 

The Stefan Corda Company

 

    Some views of the figures

   

The players were again paired up to represent each team. To balance things out it was one good player with one inexperienced player. I was lucky enough to be paired with Chris Wrigley on the Saturday and Jamie wiseman on the Sunday and i would like to take this opportunity to thank them both for their efforts. (Chris never lost a game which is what helped us finish as high as 14th! Without him playing I shudder to think what might have happened).

Me and Chis Wrigley

This year the standard of play was definitely higher than last year which in itself is a testament to the event. It was quite obvious that the "non-players" from last year had been playing a fair few games over the last 12 months. There were very few drubbings with the majority of the 15 minute matches ending 1-0. This years league champions were Stuart Andrews and Mohammed Ali, representing Burnley, whilst the Cup winners were Steve Lucas and Simon Bryan representing Bolton wanderers. WELL DONE all.

Some action shots

Cup Finalists

The Championship Shield

As well as all the playing going on, a collectors swap meet was held on the Sunday morning in the adjoining marquee. This year it was decided to pause the playing for a couple of hours to give everybody an equal chance to browse and trade. Steve Fox, Andy from Frodsham and Ian Carrick were present again. Whilst Tom Taylor was again selling playing equipment including tournament quality goals and bases. John Briggs, Jamie Ballard, Gary Protheroe and a chap called Craig whose surname escaped me all had pleanty to whet the collectors appetites. I also took my spares and came away with some superb Newfooty teams and a couple of nice Subbuteo Heavyweights. All in all a very worthwhile morning. (One unusual item seen was an all white moulded Subbuteo "Walker" team - see pic).

Sunday swap-meet

And so the story goes on ............ another fantastic playing event! A great Swapmeet .....good food, day long bar, wonderful spirit and a shed load of money raised for Leukaemia Research. Lets not forget that its this particular charity that ultimately benefits from such an event. I would therefore like to thank all those friends and family members who have sponsored me for this years Knutsford, its greatly appreciated. This year it is especially welcome as I have just been informed that my next door neighbour has been diagnosed with a rare strain of the illness. Lets hope that the good work done by Leukaemia Research will ultimately help people such as my neighbour Les. Thanks again!      ROLL ON KNUTSFORD 2005

And the winner again is...... Subbuteo!

contact -  collecting.subbuteo@virgin.net       Last updated - 10 October 2004