In amongst the horror and carnage and corruption that is modern Western Europe, the Guardian has a quaint report on the table soccer game of Subbuteo, which apparently is still going strong and has its own fanatical retro-games following. The world final concludes tonight in Palermo, Sicily, and the report includes reminiscences on the popularity of the game in the 80s and early 90s. Just like D&D, its popularity was driven by its huge popularity amongst primary-school boys. I remember playing in a league at my school (and not coming in the bottom), and arguments with friends at home – I hadn’t thought of this for years, until I read this report.

Note also the photo of the humble abode of a 70s football club manager. You wouldn’t see anything like that now!