I get many pleasures from developing Sing Up The River End! But sometimes an unexpected thrill comes when researching for articles, and accidentally finding a new website that really impresses me. To say that the site Old Football Games impresses me would actually be an understatement. It covers the subject of football based games, and in particular a private collection of over two hundred of them, together with pictures and descriptions. It is a treasure of a site - and hugely nostalgic for anyone whose childhood dates from the 80's or earlier.
I found myself on a glorious trip down memory lane, finding half a dozen games I either owned or had access to via schoolmates. Everone's favourite Subbuteo is prominent - though strangely it largely passed me by as a kid - I doubt I ever played it more than a couple of times. I had a similar though far less popular variation but could no longer recall what it was called. It had much bigger players, and you pulled their legs back in order to achieve a kicking action. Thanks to Old Football Games I now know it was called Big League. I would never have got that name in a million years.
So you can imagine how happy finding this site has made me.There are other games on there that I will post articles on in the future, with memories of me and my mates crowded around a small table on a wet school holiday afternoon. And a recollection of jealousy too. A friend had one of those featured games and I remember wanting it so badly as a twelve year old !! I never did get to own it and instead busied myself designing home made versions with cardboard and dice. More on that in another post.
I found myself on a glorious trip down memory lane, finding half a dozen games I either owned or had access to via schoolmates. Everone's favourite Subbuteo is prominent - though strangely it largely passed me by as a kid - I doubt I ever played it more than a couple of times. I had a similar though far less popular variation but could no longer recall what it was called. It had much bigger players, and you pulled their legs back in order to achieve a kicking action. Thanks to Old Football Games I now know it was called Big League. I would never have got that name in a million years.
So you can imagine how happy finding this site has made me.There are other games on there that I will post articles on in the future, with memories of me and my mates crowded around a small table on a wet school holiday afternoon. And a recollection of jealousy too. A friend had one of those featured games and I remember wanting it so badly as a twelve year old !! I never did get to own it and instead busied myself designing home made versions with cardboard and dice. More on that in another post.
I would strongly recommend you visit the site using the link at the bottom of this post. Allow yourself at least half an hour to look around and ensure you also click on 'Fancy A Laugh', which demonstrates the innocence and naivety of times gone by. If like me you had any involvement in footy games as a kid you will love it, and if you are so inclined you can even purchase a game or two. It's a journey of wistful reminiscense and well worth the effort. And it's just what we like to see - here on Sing Up The River End!
pictures : top - Norwich City Subbuteo flat figure middle - Shoot, a spin off from the magazine above left - goalmouth action from Soccer Craft above right - Penalty Shot by Marx
All pictures are copyright of Old Football Games and must not be reproduced without permission.
[This article has been re-published and first appeared on Sing Up The River End! on the 4th of June 2010]
.
No comments:
Post a Comment