Simon Emmerson, Nottingham Forest supporter and Subbuteo Collector tells us his story of how he discovered his passion for his club and the 00 Scale footballers we know and love.
| Where do I start? I guess the beginning is the best place, my grandfather was a season ticket holder at Nottingham Forest and decided it was time to blood his grandson in the Garibaldi Red of the then newly crowned Division One Champions. He still reminds me to this day what a fidget arse I was and how he barely got to see a ball kick. The only two memories I have from that day was the walk along the Trent Embankment, it seemed to go on forever. The game is a blur to me now apart from watching a podgy left Winger by the name of John Robertson teasing the West Bromwich Albion full backs. From then on I was hooked on Forest and John Robertson. |  |
 | Throughout my life as a Forest Supporter I’ve seen the highs and the lows. More lows in the recent 15 years or so. The lowest point for me as a fan was seeing the deterioration of Brian Clough in his last season as manager and us being relegated along with his retirement from management. The highs have to be the annual trips to Wembley in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Favourite players if I had to pick three would be John Robertson, Johnny Metgod & Stanley Collymore. |
| My Favourite Forest match was against Manchester United at the City Ground 84/85 Season. Johnny Metgod winning free kick a few minutes from full time to win 3-1. I’m still attending Forest matches my last game was last Saturday against Cardiff City which I’d like to forget. It’s in the blood, my son turns four next March and is nearing his first game. I’m looking forward to introducing another fidget arse to the Forest family. |  |
00 Tales
My first introduction to Subbuteo was a visit to a wealthy family friends house. They had an outdoor purpose built Subbuteo games room. The walls on all four sides displayed green boxes with hundreds of Heavy Weight Teams all stored in Alphabetical order. The Subbuteo pitch was surrounded by a stadium of Green and Brown Grandstands full of painted spectators. I was only a young kid at the time but after that visit I was hooked.
I remember my first Subbuteo Set it was given to me for my seventh Birthday. I think the box had a Watford player on the front of it. My Dad’s a Sunderland fan so obviously I had the Sunderland and Forest teams along with Tottenham Hotspur. I remember having to wait for my Mum to iron the Subbuteo Cloth so I could play on the living room floor. I think we’ve all been there with the glued legs and heads.
From the age of seven to around eleven I didn’t bother with Subbuteo until a trip to a Toy Shop in Nottingham called Skills where I came across the new packaging of Subbuteo teams the 3600 series.
Queens Park Rangers and West Ham United caught my attention the 87/88 Season kits I believe. Once again I was hooked. When I was 13 my family moved to Hong Kong due to my Father’s work. I took my Subbuteo collection with me. While I was out there I came across a newly installed Toy R US in a shopping Mall my eyes nearly popped out when I saw a Subbuteo Section. I was happy as Larry I couldn’t believe it. New teams and the cherry on the cake was the introduction of the Astro pitch. I spread the word around school the next day. Before I knew it we had a league of around ten teams and a Season of Subbuteo commenced on my parents dining room table.
I remember my first Subbuteo Set it was given to me for my seventh Birthday. I think the box had a Watford player on the front of it. My Dad’s a Sunderland fan so obviously I had the Sunderland and Forest teams along with Tottenham Hotspur. I remember having to wait for my Mum to iron the Subbuteo Cloth so I could play on the living room floor. I think we’ve all been there with the glued legs and heads.
From the age of seven to around eleven I didn’t bother with Subbuteo until a trip to a Toy Shop in Nottingham called Skills where I came across the new packaging of Subbuteo teams the 3600 series.
Queens Park Rangers and West Ham United caught my attention the 87/88 Season kits I believe. Once again I was hooked. When I was 13 my family moved to Hong Kong due to my Father’s work. I took my Subbuteo collection with me. While I was out there I came across a newly installed Toy R US in a shopping Mall my eyes nearly popped out when I saw a Subbuteo Section. I was happy as Larry I couldn’t believe it. New teams and the cherry on the cake was the introduction of the Astro pitch. I spread the word around school the next day. Before I knew it we had a league of around ten teams and a Season of Subbuteo commenced on my parents dining room table.
When I reached my late teens my Subbuteo playing days and collection were relegated to the wardrobe and loft. My Forest watching days were cut down to a few pre season and early season games. A new chapter in my life had begun I excelled at Rugby Union. I played sixth form rugby, club, County & Midlands which lead to me being asked to join the Leicester Tigers. Unfortunately a bad injury I sustained while at Tigers lead to me playing a slightly lower level at Nottingham RFC. I owe a lot to Rugby it gave me confidence and a tremendous social life. I stopped playing in my mid thirties due to wear and tear.
Life after Rugby came in the form of Nottingham Forest and Subbuteo which take up any spare time I have. Alongside my Family commitments to my children.
EBay rekindled my love affair with Subbuteo as it still does to this day. People ask what’s your most expensive team or Accessory? I don’t have any idea, I tell them the most valuable Subbuteo items I have are the most memorable to me. My very first Subbuteo Team I purchased with my pocket money QPR I still have it in my collection. I remember during the Italia 90 World Cup I wanted the Romania Subbuteo team. I hunted all the Toy Shops in Nottingham for it, finally after finding it, I was over the moon I purchased transfer squad numbers to stick on the backs of the players, while doing this I’d come to stick on number 10 Hagi to find he only had one arm, gutted but wouldn’t swap or sell that team for all the tea in China!
Into my Forties the Subbuteo is stored in plastic boxes in the loft. I’ve just introduced my son to playing Subbuteo with the new Zeugo range of figures, easier to replace than a thirty pound 80’s team.
If you’ve read this I hope it’s been of some entertainment to you. I’m sure there’s many comparison some of you out there have had while enjoying/playing/collecting Subbuteo.
Life after Rugby came in the form of Nottingham Forest and Subbuteo which take up any spare time I have. Alongside my Family commitments to my children.
EBay rekindled my love affair with Subbuteo as it still does to this day. People ask what’s your most expensive team or Accessory? I don’t have any idea, I tell them the most valuable Subbuteo items I have are the most memorable to me. My very first Subbuteo Team I purchased with my pocket money QPR I still have it in my collection. I remember during the Italia 90 World Cup I wanted the Romania Subbuteo team. I hunted all the Toy Shops in Nottingham for it, finally after finding it, I was over the moon I purchased transfer squad numbers to stick on the backs of the players, while doing this I’d come to stick on number 10 Hagi to find he only had one arm, gutted but wouldn’t swap or sell that team for all the tea in China!
Into my Forties the Subbuteo is stored in plastic boxes in the loft. I’ve just introduced my son to playing Subbuteo with the new Zeugo range of figures, easier to replace than a thirty pound 80’s team.
If you’ve read this I hope it’s been of some entertainment to you. I’m sure there’s many comparison some of you out there have had while enjoying/playing/collecting Subbuteo.
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