We do not know if Peter Adolph originally intended to launch the game with celluloid players in 1946/47. He certainly had them in mind but material shortages, production problems or for some other reason we had the two short-lived card player types. The timing of the various player types is not as clear cut as you might think. The first cut-out players were replaced by the press-out card version but not until late 1949. The first celluloid players were in the 1948 catalogue so actually probably preceded the press-out card players. The primary purpose of the press-out players was to be the basis of the cheap introductory set. Replacement card teams were available as accessory sales, but most players probably upgraded to early celluloid teams from 1948 onwards.

The design of what I call the Alf Intermediate Celluloid was very similar to the card players with dots for eyes, but besides a different material the first celluloid had two distinct features, a curly mouth and wide square shoulders. In looking at which teams might have been produced as Alf types it is likely the first 24 teams were offered in that design, but we need to gather more information in from collectors about what they own or have seen. I have certainly seen 19a in the Alf design and Craig Atkinson tells me he has a no 28 team in the Alf design. Does anyone have any later teams as we may need to extend the likely lifetime of the Alf design.



I have no solid proof that Alf was the first celluloid but I think ot is a fair presumption for several reason. Not least of these is the similarity of the design to the card players, including the long arm gap between the player's arm and waist which disappeared in other celluloid designs. The relative scarcity of the Alf type suggests it is old or short lived and probably both. It follows that I can only speculate when Alf was replaced with the more familiar celluloid designs - I suspect some time in 1949 and would appreciate any information from anyone who owns the second catalogue, if it holds any clues. If we can establish firmly which teams appeared in the Alf design this would help date it. Let us not forget that the cricket sets launched in March 1949 had card players but this may not help as basic football sets kept card players for many years to come.

I rather like the Alf design and look forward to eventually owning a 'set' of one of each of the available designs. But Subbuteo Table Soccer was moving on. One word of warning here. Many collectors tend to use the catalogues as clear evidence of when items became available but this is most unwise. They do give a clue but many items became available in the early years long before they appeared in the catalogue.

The next design, Early Celluloid, is the one most collectors will recognise as the classic celluloid figure. More short back and sides than the Alf design, quite clear features, three clear white sock bands and a surface that varied from rather dull to quite glossy, a finish smooth to textured they are quite varied but unmistakable. The arm gap had shortened, the shoulders became more rounded and a neat short crease in the player shorts. There is a difficulty here as what I assume are later printings of the Early Celluloid design do appear with less clear sock bands and band breaks, breaking down the dividing line with Late Celluloid. Questions also arise about the finishes. Some examples have a much darker almost photographic negative appearance, others feel much rougher although sometimes this is because the surface is starting to show minute cracks. A good illuminating magnifying glass is a must for the collector.



I suspect Early Celloid ruled the roost for about a decade, longer than any other Subbuteo player design I think. Late Celluloid was more a development from the earlier design than anything else. I originally wrote in the first draft of Flick Me! that the distinctive features were the high gloss finish amd seemingly unfading colours. In less forgiving moments I think the defining features is the astonishingly poor quality which continued in to the last player type. You still get three sock bands but they are often indistinct or have breaks in the bands. The accuracy of the colour printing is variable and the short crease tends to lengthen. Some of the kits look as if a five year old with a felt tip pen has been let loose on the design. Facial features tend to blur together. The Wolves player below is a good example of the poor quality from his collar to his socks. Note the long short crease and the poor colour positioning at the elbows and top of the legs.



There does semm to be a reasonable supply of Late Celluloid teams around but this may be due to the number that were in stock when the company ceased trading. Much of this stock was given away at the time and is surfacing from drawers and attics in house clearances.

The fourth and last celluloid player type to be produced is a variant of Late Celluloid I call Alien Monkey. Taking the quality to a new low you have to wonder how these teams were allowed on sale. The hands on the earlier designs were not good but AM seems to have acquired hooves. You have to wonder what Billy Bremner might have made of this rather pathetic player, mincemeat perhaps? One of the joys of Subbuteo collecting is that it was not a precisely manufactured item. Before 'just in time' came 'anything goes' in order to keep the sets moving out the door. After all, we should not forget they were manufacturing a game when all is said and done so complete fidelity to the real thing was hardly a requirement.

Some of the late issued team numbers appear to exclusively of the Late Celluloid type. It could be that these teams were manufactured in Gibraltar or Barcelona after these facilities were opened in 1963. Dating of the Late teams is uncertain as the company did not make the distinctions I have. Team 49 was clearly issued in early Celluloid while 49c, the orange version, is very much a Late Celluloid team. Teams 51 to 55 all seem to be in reasonable supply in Late Celluloid. While team 49 was issued in 1966 and team 51 in 1967 there seems to be an indication that Late teams started to appear around 1967. It is entirely possible that, because flat team sales would be low in the 1960s, unsold Early versions remained on sale with Late teams for several years.



Not only do I intend to create full scan sets of card and celluloid players but also a gallery of player characteristics such as those mentioned above.






Flick Me! subbuteo archive celluloid player