Âé¶¹Éç

Use Âé¶¹Éç.com or the new Âé¶¹Éç App to listen to Âé¶¹Éç podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK.

Episode details

World Service,5 mins

The football World Cup where you flick instead of kick

Not by the Playbook

Available for over a year

Football is usually all about kicking but not at the Subbuteo World Cup where it was all about flicking. The table-top game is played on a table instead of a pitch, where players flick miniature players with their fingers to try and score and beat their opposition. Over 300 players representing 26 countries travelled to where the game was invented in Tunbridge Wells in England to compete for the prestige of being crowned world champion. Sportshour's Christian Allen spoke to players taking part as all the flicks and tricks unfolded. Image: People look on as England veteran player Darren Clarke (R) takes a shot against Belgium during the Subbuteo World Cup in Tunbridge Wells in south east England, on September 22, 2024. A three-day table-football tournament, which ended on Sunday, saw 300 of the world's elite from 26 nations jet into the southern England town of Tunbridge Wells, the "spiritual home" of table-football where the iconic game Subbuteo -- which was later copied around the world -- was invented in 1946. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Programme Website
More episodes