Question 1

Peter Adolph named Subbuteo after the scientific name of which bird, as he could not trademark his preferred name 'Hobby'?

Accepted Answer

Hobby hawk. The hobby hawk's Latin name is Falco subbuteo — Peter Adolph couldn't trademark 'Hobby' so cleverly used the scientific name instead.

Question 2

The first Subbuteo sets did not include a playing pitch — what household item were purchasers instructed to use as a playing surface instead?

Accepted Answer

A blanket. Early buyers received chalk and instructions for marking out a pitch on a blanket — the first proper green pitch wasn't included until later editions.

Question 3

Which well-known games company acquired Subbuteo in 1969, before later selling it to Hasbro?

Accepted Answer

Waddingtons. Waddingtons Games acquired Subbuteo in 1969, bringing the game under the same roof as Monopoly and Cluedo in the UK.

Question 4

Subbuteo was adapted from an earlier table football game called Newfooty — in which city was Newfooty invented?

Accepted Answer

Liverpool. Newfooty was invented in Liverpool in 1929 by William Lane Keeling — Peter Adolph adapted its concept to create Subbuteo in 1947.

Question 5

Which country won the first Subbuteo World Cup, held in London in 1970?

Accepted Answer

West Germany. West Germany's victory in the first Subbuteo World Cup in 1970 mirrored the country's strong football pedigree on the real pitch.

Question 6

In Subbuteo, how many consecutive flicks is the same figure allowed to make before possession must change?

Accepted Answer

Three. The three-flick rule prevents one player from dominating possession — if the same figure touches the ball three times, possession changes.

Question 7

In Subbuteo, the offside law applies to figures forward of the opposing team's shooting line, rather than which line as in actual football?

Accepted Answer

The halfway line. Moving the offside line to the shooting line rather than the halfway line was a practical adaptation for the tabletop format, keeping the game flowing.

Question 8

What nickname was given to the Subbuteo figure introduced in 1978 to facilitate machine painting, before it was replaced in 1980?

Accepted Answer

Zombie. The 'Zombie' figure earned its nickname due to its stiff, arms-outstretched pose designed for machine painting — fan backlash led to its replacement within two years.

Question 9

Early production of Subbuteo was centred in Langton Green, near which English town?

Accepted Answer

Royal Tunbridge Wells. Langton Green in Kent was the birthplace of Subbuteo production — Peter Adolph ran the operation from his home in this small village near Tunbridge Wells.

Question 10

In which German city was the Federation of International Sports Table Football (FISTF) founded in 1992?

Accepted Answer

Hamburg. FISTF was founded in Hamburg in 1992 to govern international table football competitions, formalising rules and organising world championships.

🧠 Subbuteo Quiz

Subbuteo Quiz — Questions and Answers

Subbuteo

1easyPeter Adolph named Subbuteo after the scientific name of which bird, as he could not trademark his preferred name 'Hobby'?

2easyThe first Subbuteo sets did not include a playing pitch — what household item were purchasers instructed to use as a playing surface instead?

3easyWhich well-known games company acquired Subbuteo in 1969, before later selling it to Hasbro?

4mediumSubbuteo was adapted from an earlier table football game called Newfooty — in which city was Newfooty invented?

5mediumWhich country won the first Subbuteo World Cup, held in London in 1970?

6mediumIn Subbuteo, how many consecutive flicks is the same figure allowed to make before possession must change?

7mediumIn Subbuteo, the offside law applies to figures forward of the opposing team's shooting line, rather than which line as in actual football?

8hardWhat nickname was given to the Subbuteo figure introduced in 1978 to facilitate machine painting, before it was replaced in 1980?

9hardEarly production of Subbuteo was centred in Langton Green, near which English town?

10hardIn which German city was the Federation of International Sports Table Football (FISTF) founded in 1992?