SoCal Power Rankings

With the SoCal season coming to a close, it's time to merge the South and North into the top ten power rankings for both the Pro Premier and Championship.

Tier One: SoCal Pro Premier

1. California United FC II

California UFC II has been unstoppable this season. Every game has been merciless with the club winning in style and with marginal scorelines. Its toughest match came against OCFC 2 and United walked away with a 2-0 victory. Currently it has only allowed one goal this season and has scored 35. These next couple of weeks offer the biggest challenge as it plays Santa Ana Winds FC on Sunday and continues its U.S. Open Cup qualification on November 18th against Cal FC.

2. Cal FC

The undefeated team in the North comes in a close second with a chance to topple my first place team this weekend during Open Cup action. Cal FC has been dominant throughout its season in the north and has yet to be challenged by league competition. When against second place LA Wolves FC, Cal came out with a 5-1 victory. Cal FC has allowed three goals this season and scored a total of 26.

3. Santa Ana Winds FC

The Winds have been almost flawless this season. They have shown their dominance against their Northern rivals LA Wolves and have beaten tough South competition in the likes of Orange County FC 2. Their one loss this season came from a week four disaster trip to Gremio FC SD, where they lost 3-0. The Winds look to continue their qualification run this week against SoCal Premier side Buena Park FC. Santa Ana currently has a goal differential of plus six.

4. Orange County FC 2

Standing atop the SoCal South table, this first place team has played two to three more matches than its Southern counterparts. OCFC 2 has played against every club in its competition and during the matches with the other two top clubs in its division- Cal United FC II and Santa Ana Winds FC -it could not earn a result, losing 2-0 and 3-2 respectively.

5. LA Wolves FC

The Wolves sit in second place within SoCal North having only lost one match to the first place Cal FC. LA also had its U.S. Open Cup run snuffed out by rival Santa Ana Winds FC. While they have done well inside their division- averaging three goals a match -the Wolves have yet to show dominance against the top contenders in the division. They earned a narrow victory over recently promoted Kern County Mustangs and beat third place Sporting San Fernando 2-0.

6. Sporting San Fernando

Sporting San Fernando is running with a perfect away record, beating some of the lower placed clubs in the division. With the club's eighteen goals out of six matches, SSF has only allowed ten so far. Last week it picked up one of its biggest victories against Kern County Mustangs, but is due for its biggest match of the season this weekend against Cal FC.

7. Kern County Mustangs FC

This newly promoted club has done well in its first Pro Premier season. After winning last season's Championship promotion playoff, it has gone on to score eighteen goals in seven games. It has already faced the top clubs in the competition, losing narrowly against Cal FC and LA Wolves FC. Their recent loss to Sporting San Fernando drops the Mustangs into seventh in the Pro Premier power rankings.

8. San Diego Premier Pros FC

If you had a chance to listen to my appearance on the Lower League Soccer Show, then you know that I picked this San Diego Club to win it all in the South. Unfortunately for the Premier Pros, they have been unable to maintain their form from the beginning of the season. They have competed against two of the top three and were able to earn a point against OCFC 2, but were annihilated 7-1 at the hands of California United FC II. They go on to face Santa Ana Winds FC on November 17th and look to continue to turn around their season and march up the table. They currently operate with a goal differential of plus one.

9. San Diego Zest FC

San Diego Zest is currently battling for the title of best in San Diego. It traveled to San Diego Premier Pros FC and took a point, then welcomed Gremio to its home stadium and served its guests up a 5-1 beatdown. Its season form is on the up though as it has earned ten points in its last four matches and look to continue that upward trajectory as it faces Newcastle United FC this Sunday night. In its six games, it has scored fourteen goals and allowed eighteen.

10. Lionside FC

Lionside's best result came pretty early on against the now third place Sporting San Fernando. This week two matchup saw LFC earn a 2-2 draw away from home. Fortunes have not always been on LFC's side though, especially after being knocked out of the U.S. Open Cup by Santa Ana Winds FC. This week it faces off against LA Wolves FC after not having played a match in two weeks. Hopefully it can pick up a much needed win and maintain its perfect home record.

Tier Two: Championship

1. LA 10 FC

This rebranded club has had a dominant season this year. LA 10 has averaged almost five goals a match and has only allowed ten goals all season. While it still has two very tough games at the end of the season, it has shown that its high-flying offense can score against any opposition. LA's toughest result was earned against a home-sided Warriors FC where it earned a 3-2 victory. LA 10 FC will look to remain undefeated as it faces off against Tiburones Rojos USA this Saturday.

2. City Legends FC

In their inaugural season, the City Legends have shown that they are ready for promotion as they continue their run to remain undefeated. Their strength of schedule has also been no laughing matter, earning victories against the top clubs within their division. Their only draw came from a 3-3 match against Disciples FC.

3. Newhall Premier

This is where the Championship power rankings get a little funky. Newhall earns the third spot based on its strength of schedule. Its one draw came at the hands of San Fernando Valley FC, but it has seen great success against strong teams like Warriors FC and Revolution FC. Its toughest match yet will be in the last week of play against LA 10 FC, but the club looks poised to earn six more points before that. It has also scored eighteen goals while only allowing six.

4. Inland Empire FC

IEFC has been a powerhouse within the SoCal South this season. It has allowed the fewest goals within both the North and South divisions and remained undefeated until its recent battle against City Legends FC. The club also looks to be in position to remain at the top of the South table as it has a favorable last four matchups.

5. San Fernando Valley FC

Currently ranked second in the North table, SFVFC remains undefeated with a goal differential of plus ten. What drops SFVFC down to fifth in the power rankings is its strength of schedule. Until this point San Fernando has only faced one of the top five clubs within its division and that result ended in a 1-1 draw. San Fernando’s toughest portion of the schedule comes the next three weeks where it faces all top contenders in the North.

6. Santa Ana Winds II

Santa Ana has proven to be a powerful organization within southern California soccer. The Winds II started off the year with four straight victories, then losing two times in a row to two of the top competitors in the division: City Legends FC and California Rush SC. Its last three matches will prove to be challenging as it faces off against the remaining two teams of the top five: Inland Empire FC and Disciples FC.

7. Warriors FC

Another first year club coming up strong in southern California. It is tied for second within both Championship divisions for the most goals scored. It has scored 24 goals this season and has allowed fifteen. It has remained a tough team to play against, even battling first place LA 10 to a 3-2 loss. WFC's remaining schedule is quite favorable and it only plays one top contender in its final three matches.

8. Disciples FC

Disciples FC has played spoiler to both City Legends FC and IEFC, giving both of those clubs their only draws of the season. The Disciples Football Club has only lost one match this season and look to carry its form throughout the rest of the schedule. Even with three draws, the Disciples have managed to have a plus nine goal differential.

9. California Rush SC

While the Rush sit above Disciples FC in the table, it has also lost to all top competitors. CRSC's biggest challenge comes this weekend as it faces a traveling Disciples side that is eager to jump above the Rush in the table. It currently is tied on point totals with Disciples FC, but have a higher goal differential of plus eleven.

10. SoCal Troop FC

Rounding off the top ten is another South competitor; SoCal Troop FC. The third team in the South that is tied with twelve points, but falls to the others on goal differential. It has scored fifteen goals this season and has allowed nine. One of its four wins comes against the top five competitors and its remaining schedule looks to be a big hill to climb. But with a few more victories, the Troop can launch itself into the potential promotion candidates.

These last few weeks will play host to some of the toughest must-see matches of the season. Will the table remain in its current form, or will a club climb the rankings and achieve glory? Stay tuned, because it's firing up out here in southern California.

- Steven Ramirez

Editor’s Note: The score of the Cal FC/LA Wolves FC was misreported 3-0, it has been corrected to reflect the correct score of 5-1.

We Are A People, We Are Alive: A Look Into The History of Croatian-American Soccer

One of the great factors in American soccer through its over one hundred years of history is the ever-expanding inspiration of immigrants on the soccer community. These connections can be traced across the world, and while the higher divisions of soccer in the United States do not always acknowledge this connection- modern or historical -the pride and appreciation of these roots is anything but dead in the lower leagues. One pattern visible in the lower leagues of the Midwest is the connection between Croatian-Americans and soccer clubs, as shown by the presence of UPSL clubs like the Croatian Eagles- otherwise known by the Croatian translation of its name, Hrvatski Orlovi -and RWB Adria.

First founded in 1917 under a local rotary club, the Croatian Eagles became independent in 1922 and have been active ever since. The Croatian presence in the Midwest can often be traced to conflicts in Central Europe in relation to the First and Second World Wars. The Eagles are rightfully proud to be the product of those that survived and found a way out of conflict. "Croatians emigrated from the Austro-Hungarian empire due to the unrest which eventually started WWI in 1914. The creation of their soccer club would allow them to foster and preserve their heritage away from home… The club’s home is the Croatian Park which was acquired by the small Croatian community in the late ‘50s.”

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Speaking with the Croatian Eagles, the club made it clear that it has always been a priority to find a happy medium where its roots could be celebrated while still welcoming people of all backgrounds. “Our club is mostly comprised of non-Croatians though our board and their kids who are members of the club have Croatian roots… Our club has a rich history and as such we work hard to continue what was started 96 years ago. We believe that soccer is for everyone and not just the wealthy.” Even with its roots and name being specifically Croatian, there is a sort of diversity throughout the club’s legacy. Looking at a newspaper clipping which features the entire first squad of the Croatian Eagles in 1922, one can find representation from across Europe on the Eagles roster. “You will notice name with German and Hungarian last names not only Croatian. The Croatian community was also involved in the founding of a local German soccer club as well.”

Based in the lower league hotbed of Milwaukee, the Croatian Eagles consider themselves positively inspired by the city and its working class values. “Milwaukee is a smaller and mostly blue collar town whose traits are hard work and enjoying the simple things in life. Our club shares those traits and we are for everyone and we will educate all skill levels equally and hope that our influence will help guide the kids to something bigger and better.”

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The story continues in Chicago where RWB Adria finds itself one of the key clubs in the Midwest’s portion of the UPSL. The club brings modern skill and organization to the league, along with decade upon decade of rich history. RWB Adria also plays in the local Chicago league, titled the National Soccer League, where it has played for nearly one hundred years dating back to before its current iteration.

Originally intended to be named “Croatia Chicago,” the club was forced to avoid what was, at the time, considered an overly ethnic name. Inspired by the globally admired Adriatic shore and sea, the club would instead go by Adria. By 1976 the naming convention of Red White Blue- the three colors of the Croatian and US flags -had become popular and the club finally reached its permanent name of RWB Adria.

The club, rooted in the emigration of Croatians from the then communist nation of Yugoslavia, has always functioned as a proud column of the Croatian community in Chicago. General Manager Ante Loncar explained that in many ways the club represented one of a few ways these Croatian immigrants could show the city and the country that they existed. “Soccer and the club were our way of advertising our homeland that we never actually had… we showed that we are a people. We are alive.”

Both clubs highlighted in this piece had impactful runs in the USPL’s 2018 spring season. The Croatian Eagles finished 4th in the Midwest - North Division with a 4-1-5 record, while RWB Adria placed first in the Midwest - Central Division with a 7-1-2 record. The success, however, did not stop at the local pitch for Croatian and Croatian-American soccer, perhaps coming most notably with the success of the national team in the 2018 World Cup. The national team, clad in its classic red and white checkered kits, went on to make the world cup final for the first time in its nation’s history and, though France came out as champions, would become one of the great stories from the latest iteration of the tournament.

Clubs like Hrvatski Orlovi were plenty aware of the national team’s success and how it invigorated Croatians and lovers of the game around the world. “The World Cup inspired many people even outside the Croatian or soccer world. We have seen Croatian clubs receive additional exposure due to the direct success of the Croatian National team. ‘Neopisivo’ the experience was indescribable.”

2016 RWB Adria Squad

2016 RWB Adria Squad

Loncar added that the World Cup run was a powerful experience for him and soccer lovers around Chicago, “When you see your country playing in a World Cup final… it’s just amazing.. what I loved best was the Americans that came… because of course you want the underdog to win.” Loncar also added that the World Cup run and the growing presence of Croatians on the roster sheets for major European clubs like Juventus, Real Madrid, Inter, Liverpool, and Barcelona has helped “Put less pressure on us,” as Americans often no longer need clubs like Adria or Hrvatski Orlovi to educate them about the basic facts when it comes to Croatia.

You may be asking yourself, “Okay I just learned about a couple interesting clubs with some common threads, but why does that actually matter?”

There is a common narrative in the way some Americans think about the beautiful game, a narrative that suggests that the game is relatively new to the nation and represents a risky and cloudy new path. What the stories of the Croatian Eagles and RWB Adria show us is that this sport is not new to this country. Both clubs included in this piece are older than the Super Bowl, the championship game of what most perceive as an older and more rooted sport in the US, first played in 1967, and two or three times the age of most who claim this idea of newness. They also vastly outdate any professional soccer league currently active in the country right now. The other lesson is that this path is not untouched or unknown. It is a path that has been paved by the ambitions and passions of countless immigrants to this country from Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific.

Learning to appreciate and acknowledge the work done by clubs like Adria and Hrvatski Orlovi is not just important for the average person’s perception of the Croatian-American experience, it is key to one’s understanding of the nature of soccer in this country, one that dates back long before the acronyms we now use to section the world’s game.

- Dominic Bisogno

Editor’s Note: This piece was edited to reflect that Yugoslavia was a communist nation, not a Soviet nation.

When the USL Comes Knocking

 

I moved to El Paso 8 years ago. I moved here from the Southern tip of Texas, McAllen. While there may have been some lower tier clubs in the area, the Rio Grande Valley (where McAllen is located) wasn’t a hotbed of soccer action. The soccer fans that I knew in the area were diehard Mexican national team fans and that was about it. Just before my move from McAllen, rumors had popped up about a new USL side that was just about to add a club in Edinburg (the city next to McAllen). But I was gone before the USL side, RGV Toros, came into existence.

Coming to El Paso, there was zero soccer culture here. Again, all the interest was invested in clubs and national teams below the border. But there were always rumors. I can specifically remember 3 years ago when there was a report that the group that owned the local minor league baseball affiliate were working with the USL to bring a team to El Paso. When I say report, I literally mean ONE article that popped up and was never mentioned again. Like most fans of soccer in El Paso, I waited and waited but nothing seemed to come from it.

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When Local Means You

Then a year ago, the UPSL came to the area. First, there was FC Grande in neighboring Las Cruces. Soon after it, Southwest FC announced operations. I can honestly say that without these two clubs I would not be the supporter of lower league soccer that I am today. Before the UPSL expansion, I was heavily invested into MLS and USL, blissfully uninformed of the PDL, NPSL, or UPSL. I was the host of a MLS-focused podcast, Bury My Heart USA, and was a firm supporter of MLS, though unhappy about the flaws in the system (Pro/Rel, salary cap, etc). With the expansion of the UPSL, I found clubs I could embrace at a local level.

FC Grande, though farther from my house (about an hour drive), really connected to me as a soccer fan. I got to know the owner of the club, I showed up at their tryouts, I made friends who were also following the development of the club. I loved their logo, the pluckiness of the team, the feeling of community at the matches. It didn’t matter that I had to drive an hour each way to support the club, I was hooked. So hooked that I helped found a supporter’s group for the club, Notorious FCG. We are a small but enthusiastic bunch of supporters who chant, bang drums, and insist on popping smoke whenever our home side scores. We are a tiny group, but our club is also tiny. Halfway through the season we printed a bunch of stickers and began passing them out during the matches, “Support Local Soccer.”

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USL Comes to Town 

During this same time period, the USL project in El Paso really began to grow. Announcements were made, colors were promoted, the name of the club was teased for months in social media, billboards, and the local news. That wait finally ended yesterday when the USL side announced their name was El Paso Locomotive FC. Already local media are mislabeling the team “the locomotives.” I assume this is a lack of awareness of the history of soccer, but it’s cool. As these announcements emerged, I wondered about how Locomotive would affect the local soccer environment.

 Unlike many other USL branded clubs, El Paso did not have a soccer heritage, at least not a club soccer heritage. With two fledging clubs in the local market, still trying to establish themselves with soccer fans, would the USL just smother those clubs out of existence? And there were signs of it right away. The local AO group immediately began backing the USL group, long before the name was announced. How much stock you put in AO is up to you, but they were the only well-established group of soccer supporters in El Paso, so their support meant something, at least locally. I watched on social media as guy after guy that I’ve met in the local soccer community began buying season tickets for Locomotive. The USL seemed to be gaining a foothold in a way that the UPSL just hadn’t been able to in their first season in the area. 

The Conflict

While I am not the social media warrior others are, I certainly have an opinion about the USL and their ever-expanding reach into lower tier soccer. While the UPSL and NPSL are not perfect organizations, I believe their true desire is to increase the number of soccer clubs and expand the sport’s fandom throughout the country. The focus is more towards independent clubs and the desire to someday get to Pro/Rel. I hear that from club owners, league officials, and fans. In contrast, MLS and USL appear to be tightening the upper divisions of American soccer in a way that benefits those already in power. MLS continues to charge ridiculous expansion fees from prospective owners, even from clubs which clearly should be in the top tier (FC Cincinnati comes to mind). USL is slightly more complicated, but, for most lower league fans, no better than the top tier.

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This year saw a massive expansion by the USL. Having solidified their hold on the second division of soccer (aided by the USSF’s snuffing out of the NASL), USL rolled out a massive expansion of their influence and control of lower tiers. A rebranding brought the three tier system: USL Championship, USL League 1, and USL League 2. The rebranding was an obvious appeal to English soccer fans, as the divisions follow their naming conventions, including the confusing use of the word “Championship” to describe a second-tier league. What isn’t brought over from the English system is Pro/Rel. There were mentions that it might be rolled out in the future, but MLS was preaching the same line 20 years ago. Don’t hold your breath.

“...businesses, no matter what they sell, are always the same: expand, conquer, maintain control. USL is no different.”

As this rebranding was ongoing, USL continues to expand in soccer markets around the US, selling rights to communities all over the country. Markets who had been ignored for years by the 1st and 2nd tier were suddenly being targeted. Included in that plan was Chattanooga, who’s NPSL side is well-established and considered a model lower-tier club. Is it good business to expand into a market already sewn up by a lower-division? Look at other industries, of course it is. Walmart has destroyed hundreds of small business operations by expanding into markets. With a massive infrastructure and control of prices, any large organization can take a loss in a small market for a period of time to eventually run the competition out of business. And I’m not entirely anti-Walmart, I’m just saying that businesses, no matter what they sell, are always the same: expand, conquer, maintain control. USL is no different.

There is a gap currently between UPSL and, to a lesser extent, NPSL and their target markets. Clubs are still struggling to draw fans in most markets. That could mean two things. It could mean that there are not enough soccer fans to support a soccer club. Most of us would hiss and boo this idea. On the other hand, it could mean that local soccer clubs have yet to connect to their local markets. There are exceptions, of course (I see you, Detroit). But if the USL believes the second opinion, that could explain their big push into these markets. Get in, get the billboards up, and gobble up the local soccer fans as quickly as possible.

Where does that leave you and I?

In history, there’s periods of upheaval that shape the future. In those periods, things are shifting rapidly and it’s hard to see what the future holds. Go back to the 20s and 30s, when the Fall River Marksmen and Bethlehem Steele were dominating the American Soccer League. They were outdrawing the Yankees and Red Sox, crowds were massive. If we could go back in time and talk to the fans of those clubs, how would they have predicted the future? Maybe they would have pointed to all the growth and market saturation and predicted a bright future for the league. But we can look back 90 years and know what actually happened. The Great Depression and anti-immigrant hysteria smothered the great soccer leagues of that era and the sports that now dominate soccer rose to power. Soccer, as a national sport, went underground until the late 60s.

So I say all that to say I don’t know what the future will bring. Is the USL going to dominate all these tiny markets across the country, forcing local clubs to get in (to the league) or give up? Will the tiered approach by USL result in a Pro/Rel system that eventually forces MLS to open up? Is USL bad or good?

“All of these arguments have points I can agree with at some level and the people making these arguments aren’t evil or bad. Hell, in some cases, these people are my friends. This article isn’t an attack on them, they seem to have figured out how they believe.”

I have friends in the soccer community that think I am overthinking this subject. My concerns to them are easily dismissed. Some seem to have bought into the USL, arguing that it will result in better player development (as a USMNT fan, I hope so). Others argue that stability will be the result of this expansion and isn’t that a good thing? Still others push the idea that USL will bring more payed positions for soccer players in this country. There’s even a more cynical point of view that higher tier equals better soccer. I think there’s even another opinion that argues that you can support more than one club. I’m not sure I agree with that, but maybe? All of these arguments have points I can agree with at some level and the people making these arguments aren’t evil or bad. Hell, in some cases, these people are my friends. This article isn’t an attack on them, they seem to have figured out how they believe. This is much more the thought process of a conflicted soccer fan, watching his city of choice going over to the USL.

But when I stand on the bleachers in Las Cruces, NM, as the sun begins to dip below the mountains, and I see my guys run out on the field in their blue and gray uniforms, I feel like I know the way I believe. Local soccer means more than the city in the name of the club. If this massive USL expansion eliminates all these lower clubs, there’s little I can do as a fan to change that. If eventually DCFC and Chattanooga finally succumb and join a bigger league, the world will continue to spin. But until that bleak future (from a lower-tier perspective), I will continue to support my local club. A club full of guys who grew up here, who play for pride and passion.

Just because USL comes knocking doesn’t mean you have to open the door.

- Dan Vaughn

edits: Originally this article had included the sentences “Obviously, this plan must have been a recent idea, after their promoted branding of USL D3 was just getting underway. But every recipe requires breaking some eggs, so let’s ignore that.” Those were removed after a reader pointed out the trademarks had been filed over a year ago.

SUBBUTEO: SOCCER FOR THE ARMCHAIR MANAGER

We’ve all been there once or twice before. Ranting and raving on social media about how our favorite club’s manager doesn’t know what they are doing or saying they should have played someone else instead of the starters that day. We’ve even gone on our favorite game consoles and lived out a fantasy through the myriad of video games available globally. But, in this golden age of FIFA, Pro Evolution Soccer, and Football Manager, there exists another version of the beautiful game. No, it’s not foosball, though that can get quite exciting. I’m talking Subbuteo, or tabletop football. For some, this may sound foreign or cause some confusion, but rest assured this game has a long history and has only grown in popularity.

Courtesy of Derby City Subbuteo Club, care of Eric Major

Courtesy of Derby City Subbuteo Club, care of Eric Major

A version of Subbuteo was first invented in 1929 and initially called Newfooty. However, it wasn’t until 1946 that Peter Adolph made significant improvements to the game, filled out a patent application, and gave it a new name. Initially he wanted to name it “Hobby” but couldn’t get the trademark rights to it. Fortunately, Mr. Adolph was headstrong and determined. He eventually came across the name Subbuteo in the Latin name for a Eurasian hobby falcon. While there were orders continuously coming in, it wasn’t until 1947 that the first set was produced and delivered to a customer. The game continued growing in popularity, which in turn led to improvements and new pieces being added to it. 1961 saw the first 3D figure introduced into the line, which eventually evolved in 1967 to what are described as “heavyweight” figures. 1961 also saw the ultimate end of Newfooty, which most people attribute to the success and popularity of Subbuteo at the time.

Courtesy of Derby City Subbuteo Club, care of Eric Major

Courtesy of Derby City Subbuteo Club, care of Eric Major

As you can see in the picture above, Motorik Alexandria FC has managed to not only establish a small footprint in the overall American soccer landscape, but also has made its way into local Subbuteo leagues.

The game continued to grow in popularity through the 70s and 80s, but production was halted out of the blue in the 90s. Also, during 1992, the governing body for Subbuteo- the FISTF -was founded. FISTF stands for the Federation of International Sports Table Football. Yes, it’s okay to laugh at the name and have some sophomoric humor attached to it, but this governing body is taken very serious by players around the world.  

While the game production was halted in the 90s, Hasbro (who had bought the game some time previously) did eventually sell the rights to the game to Total Soccer, who re-launched the game in 2012. Since then, the game has grown again in popularity with new stands created for fans to make stadiums, ballboys, policeman, fans, etc. A Subbuteo World Cup has even spawned from the newfound popularity in the game. The 2018 Subbuteo World Cup was recently held in Gibraltar on September 1st and 2nd, with Spain winning the Open category of the Cup.

While the game of Subbuteo and the beautiful game of soccer share a lot of the same rules, some of these rules have been modified to fit within the confines of this amazing tabletop game. First, a player keeps possession of the ball so long as the figure they are flicking hits the ball and the result of that hit doesn’t hit an opposing figure. In addition to that, the initial figure used can only be used two more consecutive times in that sequence to total three flicks. Second, a player can only take a shot on goal if they have crossed what is known as the shooting line, which is equal distance from the goal and the midway line. During these shots, the opposing player can move their goalie around by using a rod attached to the bottom of the goalie. Lastly, there is an offside rule, but it isn’t like regular soccer’s offside rule.  Subbuteo’s offside consists of attacking players being on the goal side of the opponent’s shooting line, whereas it’s the midfield line in soccer.

Courtesy of Derby City Subbuteo Club, care of Eric Major

Courtesy of Derby City Subbuteo Club, care of Eric Major

As previously mentioned, there is a shooting line in the attacking half of the field, which also functions as an offside marker within each game played. However, in the next two photos you can see that there is no shooting line. The exclusion of the line may be based on the skill of the players, but could also be based on the want for a more authentic look when the matches are played.

In addition to the more traditional outdoor look of the game, there is also an indoor style mat used within some groups. Most purists may squabble about that, but for some people, they enjoy indoor soccer just as much as they enjoy the traditional side. Either way, it seems like they are both pretty popular among fans and players.

In the end, each person has their own personal preference in games to play out their managerial fantasies, but I think most of us would find more enjoyment in Subbuteo, especially those who love strategic board games. I would like to thank Eric Major of Derby City Subbuteo Club for sharing his knowledge of the game and also for the pictures showcased in the article. I would recommend talking with him if you’d like to learn and understand more of the game.

- Shawn Laird

All photos are courtesy Derby City Subbuteo Club, care of Eric Major.