Not quite a sport but more than a game – Eland Cables sponsors the Subbuteo World Cup

The Subbuteo World Cup – more formally the Federation of International Sports Table Football World Cup – is coming to Tunbridge Wells, the town it was invented in, in September 2024. Eland Cables is the title sponsor for the event – but why did we choose to get involved?

It’s all down to a colleague of ours: Did you know that Darren Clark, our UK & Ireland Sales Director, is a former National Champion?

Where it all started

Having started to play in the 1980s in a street league, as many others did, he replied to a call on the back of the Subbuteo box to join the association (writing for information and sending off a cheque for a small amount) and attending local league events. He was often soundly beaten, but he was hooked!

Fast forward to 1994 and, after stepping back from playing semi-pro football, he won the Subbuteo National Championship and qualified for the World Cup later that year in Chicago. He didn’t progress too far at that tournament, but it introduced him to a global community all playing a game of skill that’s compared to a cross between snooker and chess.

Work and family often rightly took precedence but when he did play, he had reasonable success - in 2010 he won the World Masters Championship, having previously lost on penalties in the 2005 World Cup semi-final in Belgium. It pushed him back up the UK rankings, but it wasn’t until Covid hit in 2020 that the passion was really reignited as he realised he missed the camaraderie and community from playing.

Subbuteo – a niche ‘sport’ with widespread appeal

What few of us will realise is the global appeal of Subbuteo. There’s 3-4 million registered players worldwide; Italy is the heartbeat of the game; Athens has a dense concentration of clubs; it’s a game that’s taken Darren across Europe, to Singapore, and the US.

Why the appeal? There’s healthy competition, it requires mental agility, it gives players confidence and social skills, introducing players to people and cultures from around the world.

Darren says “There are plenty of business comparisons that can be made – it’s taught me that every game is a new world so I can’t become complacent, taught me how to lose well but also be tenacious, it shows me that I am always learning.”

The World Cup in 2024

And so to the 2024 World Cup tournament, held every four years. Darren is taking on the role somewhere between team manager and Ryder Cup captain, selecting squads across U12, U16, U20, the main Open category (18-45), and Veterans (45+) to play in both individual matches and team games across the weekend.

Darren’s based selection firmly on results, favouring performance in ‘The Majors’ and the Grand Prix on the European circuit over local tournament success. It is, by his reckoning, the best squad ever. He himself has qualified by virtue of what he deems ‘a decent season’ where he reached the semi-finals of two of this year’s Majors (in Paris and Mons) and made the final in the Caen Grand Prix. We’ll have to wait and see if that translates into World Cup glory.

Eland Cables’ sponsorship – an ESG action

As a company, our ESG, charitable, and community engagement activities tend to be linked to the communities we’re involved in. From the electrical industry where we work to sponsor students via the IET Futures Fund, to donating to foodbanks in the local community, to supporting initiatives that work to raise people out of poverty, embrace education, and promote inclusiveness – issues close to the heart of our colleagues.

We see Subbuteo in this same light: It’s an inter-generational game that is accessible to all; its something everyone can try; it promotes community – and yes, a little bit of nostalgia too. We’re delighted to offer our backing to enable this international tournament to take place.

So whether you’re playing on the floor of the living room, in a club tournament, or even in the World Cup squad, we hope you too will enjoy the community that Darren describes as “not quite a sport, more than a game” brings!

 

There are active Subbuteo associations across England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland. If you’d like to know more about getting involved, Darren is happy to make introductions – no kit needed!