A Flat Back Four

 

I've been in conversation with a fellow solo player David Forsyth, who to be fair has been playing solo a lot longer than myself. He has informed me his own solo league is now coming into it's 13th season, and during that time he has played with all manner of player types, but has had and still has a great affinity to the original flats. David a retired Teacher has been one of the factors which encouraged me to start this blog. I was delighted when he offered to write an article with an insight to playing solo with flats. So I'll now hand you over to David.
 

Solo Games with Flats  

When I was given my first Subbuteo set in 1964, the new "Continental" style players and sets were all the rage. I don’t think it was possible to go into any local toy or games shop and find any sets with the original flat celluloid figures for sale, or even in view. Not that I, or anyone else, would probably have spent our pocket money on them. In those early days, everyone had the playing figures now known as original heavyweights. Since then, at different times, I have become used to playing with most of the later developments of playing figures, and must confess that I think the modern flat based sliding players take a dimension out of the play.

Just over three years ago, I saw an original box set of "flats" on display at a local toy fair. The seller informed me that it wasn’t in a very good condition, but I reckoned it was worth a tenner just to obtain and read the enclosed leaflets and literature. Lets just say that most of the players were not only well past their playing days, but most needed emergency orthopaedic surgery! Nevertheless, after the fitter players had enjoyed (hopefully) a gentle run out and brief training session, I became an instant convert to the original "flats" game.

So began the next stage of the new Subbuteo adventure, trying to obtain a small but moderate collection of these teams, enough to form a league. This stage progressed steadily, with several teams, and a few more box sets, obtained from Subbuteoworld, plus a few made privately, and finally a particularly enjoyable, successful, (and expensive!) visit to the Collectors Fair at Renishaw in Sheffiield, and the league was well underway.
 

"Positional play becomes more important". Photo courtesy of David Forsyth.

The Play

The first thing to notice, without stating the obvious, is that the bases are smaller, but solid, and have no added weight inside for balance. This gives the figures a lower centre of gravity, but because of the celluloid, lighter in weight than many modern players will be used to. As a consequence, the straight line flicking "comfort zone" is shorter, as is the natural passing distance. The ‘curl’ or ‘spin’ is tighter but, once you are familiar with how they play, they can be more precise.

These figures also appear to be better suited to playing the ball, especially the very light FF one. It may surprise some readers to know that even the original 25mm ‘big ball’ is in fact lighter in weight than the modern 22mm one that has replaced it.
The reason for the introduction of the heavier ball is believed to be an attempt to make it more suited to the heavyweight figures, when they were introduced.
 

How do these conditions affect a match?

I can only answer this one from personal experience, but the limited comfortable flicking and passing distances make for a shorter passing game, which, in turn means more of the team getting involved. Positional play becomes more important, and it gives more credence to phrases like,
“Remember that the positioning of figures on your side has a large bearing on the results you will achieve” as printed in the Advanced Subbuteo Table Soccer handbooks of the sixties.
Personally, I find games played with the flats more interesting and rewarding to play. This is because the more importance given to positioning and tactics produce more variety in the game, as there isn’t, or shouldn’t be, a difference in flicking skills between each team, and solo games become more interesting when the teams play a different formation and tactical game.

Conclusion

As I have stated, I really enjoy matches with the card or celluloid figures which have become known as “flats”.

I know that the good quality teams of such figures can are rare and can prove an expensive purchase, especially if you only intend to “give them a try”.
On the other hand, a fan of Subbuteo will surely enjoy the experience of playing the Peter Adolph’s original version of this game, especially when played with the original Advanced rules, with their allocated times for taking blocking flicks etc., rather than the ‘rather rushed’ shorter modern version of the game, which is possibly less suited to solo play anyway.

I can only recommend to anyone who has an opportunity, and without a massive cost, to take a chance, like I did. You never know, it may provide another enjoyable, if slightly different, way to play the game.

David Forsyth
 
 
I'd like to thank David for his contribution. It's been many moons since I played with flats, and as David mentioned in his post they play so much differently from their counterparts. They may play differently, but they are nowhere near inferior, anyone who plays Subbuteo should at least try them and make their own decision, will you?
 
Keep on Flicking.
 
Ian 

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