No injury time for new Subbuteo teams

Classic table football game Subbuteo will return to shops in March.

A new version of the game, launched by Paul Lamond Games at Toy Fair this week, claims to have eliminated many of the problems that originally plagued it. An improved pitch means kids should no longer have to iron out creases, while the figures are now made of flexible plastic to withstand being squashed underfoot.

And licensing tie-ups with Premiership clubs means players can field detailed Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool players.

The first Subbuteo set rolled out in 1947 and featured goals made of wire and paper, plus chalk and instructions on how to mark out the pitch.