A Subbuteo club in Finchampstead is helping men reconnect with childhood memories while supporting their mental wellbeing.
Finchampstead Subbuteo Club, who meet every other Monday, brings together players united by their love of the tabletop football game to compete and socialise in Twyford.
Subbuteo is a football game in which players use their fingers to flick small plastic players mounted on weighted bases across a specialised pitch, aiming to score goals.
In light of World Mental Health Day on 10 October, members have highlighted the importance of community groups in providing a sense of belonging.
Alan Cutler, one of the founding members of the club, said: “I think it’s reliving our childhood.
“I would use the phrase safe space. It’s escapism.
“It’s a complete immersion, you just get absorbed in what you’re doing, and the time just goes.”
Cutler, who previously delivered training for Mental Health First Aid England, believes the conversation around mental health should also focus on maintaining positive wellbeing, rather than only addressing difficulties when they arise.
He said: “I think sometimes we don’t recognise how much we value something until it’s not there.
“Everybody’s got mental health, and I think sometimes the connotations around it are associated with being bad or negative.
“So, I like to focus more on the mental wellbeing.”
For fellow founding member, Jon Patten, rediscovering Subbuteo has offered a way to reconnect with a childhood passion while navigating the challenges of social anxiety.
He said: “Subbuteo was etched into the back of my mind since playing in the 1960s so I started to search the internet to see if anyone still played.
“I was pleasantly surprised to learn that it has enjoyed a renaissance over the last few years and is played all over the World – mainly by people of my age.
“I look forward to our Subbuteo evenings very much. In between meetings I spend a lot of time practising at home, trying new moves and tactics that I can put into play on a club night.
“For someone like me who struggles with social anxiety and social awkwardness a Subbuteo club is a brilliant way of meeting people because it is socially levelling.”
On the pitch, the focus is on the game. Off it, the club offers something just as valuable: a chance to build friendships and feel part of a community.
Patten was introduced to the club by organiser Dave Simmill, who has also found purpose and enjoyment in bringing the players together.
Having been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease around eight years ago, Simmill said keeping active and having something to focus on were important parts of his routine.
He said: “With Parkinson’s, you have to keep doing things, because if you stop, the Parkinson’s takes hold.
“I do enjoy getting together with the guys, and we’ve done a couple of curry nights as well, which has been good.”
Alongside organising fixtures, managing the club’s social media accounts and developing a website, Simmill has taken on the practical work that keeps the community running.
He said: “I always enjoying doing things like the website, and also with the technology now I can upload our results online.”
Nostalgia is another key part of the appeal, with many players returning to a game they first enjoyed decades ago.
Club member Martin Trewhella received his first Subbuteo set for his 12th birthday, eventually winning the Cornwall Championships, reaching the first division of the National League and representing England.
After years away from the game, it was a chance discovery that brought him back.
He said: “I didn’t really give Subbuteo another thought until recently when I was cleaning up my loft and found my old Subbuteo pitch. So, I thought perhaps I’ll give it a go again.
“I googled it and found Finchampstead just around the corner. So tracked down Dave and asked if I could come along. And so, I did.”
At a time when loneliness and social isolation remain important issues for men’s mental wellbeing, Finchampstead Subbuteo Club highlights the value of community groups in bringing people together through shared interests.
The club is always open to inviting new members, with players of all abilities welcome to come along to club nights at Loddon Hall, Twyford.
More information can be found on their Facebook page @FinchampsteadSubbuteoClub.
Featured image credit: Dave Simmill
Join the discussion