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Set N (metal version): Two fully assembled deluxe goals.
Manufactured in strong copper wire, with the posts and crossbars in white acetate tubing and covered by real netting.

The picture shows the early goals (and balls) with the plain card boxes they were packed in. See the picture of Set Q for a side-on view of these goals. The metal goals do not have any lower support bars, but you won't notice, because the metal makes them pretty sturdy. On the above set of goals, the nets have been fixed to the posts with black cotton. 

• These "copper wire" goals are still in the 1958-59 catalogue, but plastic has arrived by 1961...

Set N (plastic version): Two fully-assembled deluxe goals.
Manufactured in strong white plastic. Covered by real netting.

The plastic version fits the OO scale range very well, and last on this number until 1976. They then switch to become C148 (or C148N) in the 1977 range tidy. They seem to have just missed out on a 63xxx number, having been phased out as an accessory in 1983 (there were plenty of other goals in the range by that time)

They may be called "strong plastic" in the above description, but I still broke many of these goals in my youth, and bits of goal are a common feature of second-hand sets. A picture of this goal can be seen below with Set NN.

• An odd thing to note is that the new plastic goals were more expensive. The metal set was 5s 5d in 1958 and the plastic set 5s 11d in 1961.

The interior size of the small goal 111mm x 54mm, compared with 125mm x 60mm for set N, and hopefully the scan above shows the size difference between the sets. Sensibly, both goal types are the same depth - 50mm - so the ball will still stick in these smaller goals. Apart from the depth, all the dimensions seem to be reduced - the posts are thinner, and even the net seems to be more delicate. Thanks to Eddie Lang for supplying these goals for the website. They are first produced in the early 1960s, and live on to become C149 in 1977. However, they only existed for a couple of years on this new number, and were absent from the 1979 range.

Set O: Packet of eleven football player-figures.
Stamped out in flat plastic.

I assume that these celluloid figures were designed to replace the card ones, and they were in the range by 1949. However, I guess the big cost difference kept the card sides popular, and the two versions actually ran in tandem for the whole history of the flats (although the celluloid does out last the card ones by a single year - their last catalogue appearance being 1972/73.

Interestingly, the plastic figures were never sold as a complete useable team - you needed to buy a set of bases (set E) in an appropriate colour before you could use them (and if you then wanted a box for them you could buy Set S). It does seem strange that the card figures were sold with bases, whilst these never were. 

 The two teams illustrated are Bristol Rovers (No 12) and Arsenal (No16). 

• In 1949-50 only the first 18 sides (out of 24) were available as a celluloid.

• They cost 2s 11d in 1949 and 20p in 1972

Set P: Referee and two linesmen.
In flat plastic mounted in black bases.

These are the celluloid version of Set L, and like most of these sets, they were already being offered for sale by 1949. These are one of my favourite Subbuteo items. Note that the ref has a double breasted top coat, and the linesmen have single breasted. That's status that is! The red sock tops are a nice touch. The figures are machine printed, and the sock tops seem embossed on the top. The set hangs around until 1972 when they cost 15p and where their FLAT status was stressed to stop confusion with the OO equivalent. 

Set Q: Goal-holding device - For use with set N.
Set QQ (Q2): Goal-holding device - For use with set NN.
Set Q3: Goal-holding device - For use with set C122.
Scientifically constructed for firmly fixing both goals to the table... provides for immovable goals without damage to the actual table surface.

Early Version (1940s-1960's)

I'm very grateful to Gordon Watt who provided this earlier version of  Set Q. Sold in a long, thin box that is actually longer than my scanner (!) this set consisted of two pairs of long metal rods. On each, a hook clips over the top bar on the side of the goal, and a loop in the metal fixes around the rear corner post of the goal. Then you bent the end of the rod around under the table, using a movable white plastic sleeve to prevent damage. Another strange, but effective invention by the Subbuteo design studios. This set is designed to fit the old metal goals, and the metal/acetate construction nicely matches these goals. However, they also fit on the plastic Set N - and were produced alongside those goals in the 1960s. Set QQ was also produced in this version to hold the metal version of set NN. Set Q was established in the 1949 range, while set QQ was added in 1954-55, a couple of years after set NN arrived. The two sets remained in the catalogues until replaced by the plastic versions in 1971.

1970's Version
    

I tend to play Subbuteo on a large piece of hardboard laid on the floor, and using these later goal grips works a treat. They are at their most useful when I'm using the goalkeeper training wall, as I need one hand to hold the goalie, and one to flick the ball, and this doesn't leave anything to hold the goal with, except the goal grips - or my feet. They simply consist of two green plastic hooks with long flat handles. The hooks clip over the bar at the back of the goal, and the handles are clamped to the tabletop with a standard metal clip. 

The new sets arrived in the 1971 catalogue - with the new Set NN holder being renamed from set QQ to set Q2, There was also a longer set called Q3, which was introduced to hold the C122 goals. However, these new sets were short lived, with none of them available by 1975. This was probably because no goals produced after C122 have a back bar.

Set R: Material for treating goals
So the ball stays in the net after even the hardest shot. A simple idea and most effective.

I've been advised that this was some type of sticky tape, about an inch wide, which was stuck on the bottom of the inside of the net. Thanks go to Chris McKay for this info. Jools has now sent me an illustration of this set, complete with instructions for its use. I've had to reduce the size of this picture, but hopefully it is still readable. I imagine this item was effective as long as you hadn't got as far as chipping the ball. And I have to wonder how long it would be before the tape was covered in fluff and bits of the pitch! 

• This item left the range in 1973 when it cost the princely sum of 5p

Set S: Team holder carrying box.
Designed to hold the player figures, one ball and goalkeeper manipulating wire. Manufactured in red, royal blue, light blue, black, white, old gold, green, tangerine, maroon and yellow.

Another item produced in all of Subbuteo's favourite colours. The box was designed for the old flat players of course, who were usually sold separate from their bases, and so were not sold in a box. Illustrated is a green team inside a green box. As you can see, the box is very nice, and although they are not actually very big - it still looks as if you could store about four teams in it of you bunched the players up a bit more. The box continues to support the flat player range until 1971.

As with the bases, it takes a few years for the full range of boxes to be established. 1949-50 has red, blue, white, black, tangerine and green, whilst 1952-53 replaces the tangerine with old gold. The full range shown above is in place by 1953-54 though.

Set T: Six pitch flags.
These are manufactured so they do not obstruct play at the corner touchlines.

These early flags were again in the 1949-50 range, and have rather cleverly designed bases. They continued to be sold until the arrival of the plastic flags with ball raising bases in the continental range (C117). That set arrived in 1969, and set T was gone by 1970. The big advantage of these older flags is that they are much more difficult to break - but they probably hurt more if you kneel on them. The picture above is a reduced version of one sent to me by Steve Bowes (thanks Steve). The box is interesting because it is also designed to hold set F (three balls), or set P (the referees). This gives some indication of the size of these flags - they are about the same size as a Subbuteo figure, both in height and circumference. 

Mike Henderson has kindly sent me the instructions for these flags, which quote a British Reg. Design of 859418. The instructions are a little different than I expected, so I've quoted them here - "Insert the point of the wire post into the underneath part of your playing pitch so as to appear just outside the actual corner or half way line on the surface of the field of play. Slide the plastic flag on to the top of the post. See that 3 red flags are on one side of the pitch and three white flags are on the opposite side. The posts do not rest on the field of play with the circular base showing." 

Scorer's position? These came from the days of set positions like "outside half", and "inside left". They are the final product in the 1949-50 range, and one was included in the sets of the era (in a rather nice purple as featured above). Luckily, the other side where you write the stats was a more subdued colour. The fixture card continued to feature in the full sets right through the 1950s and 1960s. The orange version above came from a 1967 set, and is a more reasonable colour. However, notice that this newer version keeps the original 1940s "kicking figure" logo. 

The item was finally revamped in the 1970s, complete with new logo, and an advert for Football Express. This set is illustrated under C150 - the code the set was given in the 1977 re-number. Like many of the other sets, this one only survived for about a year on the new number.

And to drive your friends nuts. First arrived in 1950, and survived to become C151 in 1977. Removed as a single accessory in 1979, it was incorporated into that year's new referee's kit (which was C166), so you could continue to get the whistle until that set too was cancelled - in 1984. Thanks to Brett Silberg for sending me this picture.

• In case you cannot read the writing in the picture it says "Subbuteo whistle" around the word "REF".

• The "pea" inside the whistle was a round white plastic ball also used in fivesides and the floodlit cricket.

Stefano Montecchiesi sent me this catalogue illustration of set W. In the 1976 price list it is the second most expensive item at £2.80. To compare, the then new stadium grandstand was £2.95, and two floodlights £2.20. For that reason I was expecting something a little more grand than the illustration shows. I used to use an old white kitchen timer for Subbuteo matches, and it was actually surprisingly similar to this item. 

Since I wrote the above, I've been advised that the reason this looks like a kitchen timer is because it is one! It is simply a re-boxed Smiths kitchen timer of the period. They even had Smiths printed on the face (so check your mother's kitchen, and see if she has one). Available in a number of different colours - I've seen red and green. 

• The set first arrived in 1950, became C152 in 1977, and had vanished by 1979.

• In the 1950s this tended to be cheaper than the pitch, but is more expensive by 1961-62. In this catalogue it is 25s beating the brand new floodlighting (24/6) and the combination edition (21s). Only two items cost more. The Super Assembled set (49/6) and the biggest EPNS Cup (50/6).

Figuring they might as well cover all bases (possibly literally), Subbuteo began to sell their own glue in 1952. That way, you were less likely to melt the players, or have them fall out the base at inappropriate moments. The set was designed for gluing both card and celluloid flats into their bases, and ceased when they did  in 1973. However, I'm sure Subbuteo could've marketed a glue to mend all the players, goals, balls, and flags that were broken down the years.

This is the very first pitch surround produced from 1953. The set consists of a length of twine, plus six metal clips - four small ones for the corners of the pitch, and two larger ones for the half way line. The twine passes through the eyes in the clips, and when it has been passed right around the pitch it can be tightened and tied at one corner. The middle clips are bigger so you can use the set with the type of dining table we had, which has a thick centre and thinner pull out flaps. 

In keeping with the other accessories of the period, the clips were made of copper wire with white plastic tubes covering the ends (see the early versions of set N, Set Q, and C110). Also like the rest of the 1950s range, set Y was practical rather than showy. The game was not really being sold as a toy in this period.

In use it proves hard to get the clips to fit tightly to the table. The instructions suggest using card or wood to wedge them. I guess they could be bent to fit the table - but I'm not going to try this with a thirty year old set !! Once the clips are fixed you can get the required tension in the string. The set was still in the 1969 catalogue, but by the mid 1960s the red fence had been introduced to the continental range and this was much easier to use. Actually though, the catalogue that says farewell to Set Y (1971) is the same one that says hello to the classic green fence.

Early Version.
    

*Sadly, fifty years later we still have arguments about those added goals at the Worthing Five-Star league (you know who you are!)

The first scoreboard produced for Subbuteo was made from cardboard, and had arrived in the range in 1953-54. As illustrated, these have been sighted in green and red. As you can possibly see, the boards illustrated have different methods of displaying the score. On the red scoreboard they are on a strip which you pull, while on the (later I think) green version they are on a circular piece of card fixed to the board with a pin. The three sets of holes in this board hold the white name cards that were later re-used in the brown plastic scoreboard, shown below. 

Upon obtaining a few extra catalogues this year, I have realised that there are two "new type" dates for set Z. The first of these is in 1961-62, which also sees the arrival of the separate name sheets (set ZZ). The price of the set increased at this time from 1s 6d to 4s 3d. (and the score cards alone are 1s 3d in 1961). I assumed this was the late version, but then that clearly debuts in 1969-70, where once again, the board is new, gets the proper "big stadium style" description, and increases in price (again) to 9s 11d. 

There does not seem to be anything between the green and red scoreboards illustrated above to justify the 1961 increase. So was there an earlier set, which I have yet to see? 

Late Version. 
A completely new, fully working accessory presented in big stadium style. Insert cards with names of English and Scottish clubs.

The lovely brown scoreboard arrived "new" in 1969-70. The difference between this recorder and the previous ones clearly shows the shift in emphasis in Subbuteo designs that started with the arrival of the OO teams. The early figures, and the A-Z range produce an abstract game that is similar in feel to snooker, or table tennis. With the OO scale accessories, Subbuteo finally developed its own distinctive look. The idea that the game could become a scale reproduction of a real football game - with stadium accessories that wouldn't look out of place in any OO scale model village, or railway layout - was a good one sales-wise (although a lot of older players didn't agree, preferring the original tactical game). The brown scoreboard is a classic part of this new look. The small "Sunday Express" advert, and the little grey lights are delightful touches.

As the red fence had not become a new Set Y, it is strange that the new scoreboard did not go straight into the Continental range. Especially as the box calls it the "new continental type". However, it got there eventually, usurping the Subbuteo tie to become C115 in the early 1970s. Even then it was still referred to as C115Z for a few years. It lost the Z suffix in 1977, but was replaced shortly afterwards by the black scoreboard still used today. Thanks go to Joe Butt for the scan of the rather cute early box.

The new look "continental style" score recorder is an appropriate place to conclude my look at the early Subbuteo range. If you'd like to move into the classic OO era of accessories then choose from the pages listed below.

• The Main Subbuteo Page.
• The full text listing of accessories
• The Early A-Z Range (Set A - Set M); (Set N - Set Z)
• The Continental Range (C100-C120); (C121-C139); (C140-C169); (C170-C193).
• The Waddingtons/Hasbro Additions (C200-61221), (61222-61240 + reused numbers).

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