When you think of players preparing for a World Cup, a garden shed may not be the first place that comes to mind in terms of an ideal training location. But when it comes to Subbuteo, the much-loved table-top football game, Martin Óg Bradley’s garden shed in Londonderry is a perfect spot to prepare for the upcoming World Cup in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Some players representing Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have been playing Subbuteo in the shed ahead of the World Cup starting on Friday.
Hugely popular in the 1970s and 80s, Subbuteo sees competitors take turns to flick miniature models of football players around a replica stadium in an attempt to push a ball into a goal. The World Cup is taking place from Friday 20 September to Sunday 22 September in Royal Tunbridge Wells, which is where the game was invented back in 1946 by Peter Adolph. The first Subbuteo World Cup was then held in 1987 and this year's iteration, like previous years, will see see players compete both individually and in teams for their countries. More than 26 nations are expected to be represented at the tournament this year.
Hoping to leave their mark on the competition are Martin Óg Bradley, Oisín Mór and Lawrence Watson from the Derry City Table Football Club. Martin Óg Bradley told BBC News NI his passion for Subbuteo came from playing as a young child and then, like many others, he fell back in love with playing the game when he was older. "My father played it, my uncles played it, my brother, everybody on our street played Subbuteo growing up," he said. "I drifted away from it for awhile in my teenage years for a time, but then I met Lawrence and we started the club and about ten years later here we are. We now have an all-Ireland circuit, we travel to competitions all over the world and it has just grown and grown."
He said there is obviously a competitive element to the game, but one of the best things about Subbuteo is the social aspect. "We have made friends with people from all over the world through Subbuteo - we had an Australian guy in the shed with us playing Subbuteo recently - it's just a fantastic way to meet people over a shared love of something. The game is open to absolutely everyone and one of the best things about it is that anyone can give it a go."
Lawrence Watson said Subbuteo is very much like "chess but with miniature footballers" and loves the tactical element of the game. For Lawrence, he is hoping to perform better than he did at the last World Cup in Rome 2022 and has high hopes for the Northern Ireland team. "I enjoyed being there in Rome, but there were a lot of heavy defeats," he told BBC News NI. "Qualifying out of the group is the goal this time and we do have a really strong team this year," Lawrence said. "Northern Ireland have never finished bottom of their group at any World Cup so it's about getting out of the group and qualifying - that would be a massive, massive achievement."
Oisín Mór, who will be representing the Republic of Ireland in this year's tournament, has also been using the shed to get some games in before flying across the Irish Sea. For him, like many others, his first experience of Subbuteo was a child and he has carried that passion for the game right into adulthood. "Subbuteo was obviously big in the 70s and 80s and was the big thing before computer games, but we've found, especially after the Covid-19 lockdown, that there's been this huge resurgence of Subbuteo," he said. "I think so many people went up to their attics during that time and dug out their old Subbuteo sets and fell back in love with it." Oisín says the Republic of Ireland team is hoping to perform well this year, but knows they will be up against some fierce competition. "Much like in the football World Cup, there are countries who traditionally perform well in major tournaments, so in terms of Subbuteo, players from countries like Malta and Italy will always do well. So for us, we are hoping to put ourselves up against some of the best players in the world and see how far we can go."
The location of this year's tournament makes it extra special for fans of the game. "Tunbridge Wells is the birthplace of Subbuteo," Martin Óg Bradley explained. "It is where it was invented and all the first sets came from, so without that, we wouldn't have anything." At the height of its popularity, more than 300,000 team sets were sold every year as players could not get enough 'Flick to Kick' action. Martin Óg said both teams from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are hoping to do well in the tournament and will be cheering each other on throughout the World Cup. "This year is looking like one of the biggest tournaments in a long time, so we can't wait for it and the fact it is in England is also handy for all of us because it's only a short trip across the water."
To celebrate the World Cup in Tunbridge Wells, a giant Subbuteo player arrives in the town where the game was invented in 1948. 78 years after its invention, Subbuteo is coming home, to Tunbridge Wells, the town where it was invented by Peter Adolph in 1948, for the playing of the Subbuteo World Cup 2024. Kicking off the competition in style, Tunbridge Wells welcomed a giant Subbuteo Player that was flown in and air dropped into the town. This created quite a buzz for the competition which runs from Friday 20th through to Sunday the 22nd September, and will see over 350 players from over 26 nations competing to lift the trophy. Subbuteo, distributed by University Games, has enjoyed a resurgence over the last decade since its relaunch in 2012. Transcending generations as a true family game, the best-selling range now includes licensed Main Games and Player Sets in multiple colourways, as well as a full array of accessories.
The Subbuteo World Cup has been created to give spectators the best experience, with the event being held at two locations in Tunbridge Wells – the Royal Victoria Place Shopping Centre and the Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre. The Royal Victoria Place Shopping Centre will also host a Subbuteo World Cup Family Fun Day, on Sunday 22nd September, where children and families can come along and learn to play, as well as take part in mini tournaments for the opportunity to win Subbuteo prizes. Gemma Lewington, Marketing director for University Games, tells us both the Subbuteo brand and University Games will be supporting the World Cup at both event level as well as the sponsorship of the England Team Kit. "Subbuteo is a nostalgic brand that evokes childhood memories for many parents and grandparents," she commented. "It truly is a family game that transcends generations and it is growing in popularity year on year. The World Cup and Family Day are such a great opportunity to showcase this fantastic game to the next generation of players and enthusiasts."
Alan Lee, chairman of The English Subbuteo Association and member of the Organising Committee for the World Cup, added: "It has been 12 years since we last hosted the World Cup here in the UK, and so it is a fantastic opportunity for the public to see the game played at its full potential. We have a jam packed weekend of events that showcases both the game and the Subbuteo brand, and with Subbuteo Clubs opening up all around the UK, hosting an event of this scale offers a fantastic opportunity to continue the legacy of this iconic game."
A Subbuteo Exhibition will open on 21st September at The Amelia Scott, in Tunbridge Wells, and run through to 5th January. There will also be walking tours available over the weekend, taking in iconic landmarks around the town, as well as a closer look behind the scenes at the exhibition. For more information on the World Cup events, visit the website here. Retailers can find out more about the Subbuteo range on the University Games website, or follow the company on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Click here to see a giant Subbuteo player landing in Tunbridge Wells ahead of the new exhibition.
