Subaleague International crest — a hand-drawn flicking hand Subaleague International Bringing the flicking world together since 1988
The official record

Thirty-eight years of Subbuteo, taken entirely seriously.

Subaleague International has been in more or less continuous operation since a communique dated 6 September 1988. Its flagship competition, the Christmas Cup, has been contested in Sheffield sitting rooms, Czech forests, Cornish farms and, most recently, a Derbyshire field with hot tubs — in December, March, July and August, which the governing body considers consistent with the name.

Christmas Cup 2026 — Knotlow Farm

FC Fabron Californie '89 defeated Madeleine Milan 1–1 (3–1 on flicks)

Fabron's fourth title, 21 years after their last — organizer Nicki lifting the trophy at his own tournament, via a shoot-out against the only team never to have lost a Cup game. The trophy arrived by way of a 23-team worldwide relay, including a stop at an Indian border cowshed. Glamping pods, hot tubs, 20p showers (just the one temp tho), and the buffet of legend. Next: bids open for 2028.

Full report, results and photographs →

Roll of honour

YearVenueWinnersScoreRunners-upTeams
2026 Knotlow Farm, Flagg FC Fabron Californie '89 1–1 (3–1 on flicks) Madeleine Milan 28
2024 Kemp Iveta, Maletín Baustelle 2–0 Spital Subastars 28
2020* Ferrygate, Martham Madeleine Milan 1–0 Newlands Street Wanderers 22
2017 Harthill, Harthill Blade Runners 4–2 Newlands Street Wanderers 27
2013 Dyffrydan, Dolgellau Cardboard Box Hotshots 3–2 Bain's Boys 15
2012 Lincolnshire Lanes, East Firsby Rob of the Rovers 3–0 Cardboard Box Hotshots 24
2010 Lincolnshire Lanes, East Firsby Spital Subastars 1–0 Rob of the Rovers 24
2008 Rest Harrow Farm, Trebetherick Cardboard Box Hotshots 4–0 Aston Vanilla 18
2007† U Vrbů, Prague Cardboard Box Hotshots 4–0 Ukrainian Lift 13
2005 Stadion U Rodiny Loudů, Prague FC Fabron Californie 3–0 Racing Vegetation 21
2004 Murky Lake Park, San Jose Cardboard Box Hotshots 2–0 Screw Ups 6
2001 Alt Camp, Barcelona Kick Butties mini-league Blade Runners 4
1999 Mushroom Park, Sheffield FC Fabron Californie 2–0 Cardboard Box Hotshots 8
1995 Panelák Park, Prague Cardboard Box Hotshots — — 9
1993 Quality Carpet Park, Sheffield Blade Runners 2–1 Rob of the Rovers 8
1992 Bramall Lane Bowl, Sheffield White Star 0–0 Cheese 11
1991 Stumperlowe Stadium, Sheffield Rob of the Rovers 1–1 (3–2 on flicks) Cardboard Box Hotshots 20
1990 Tipton, Tipton School Drive Greenshirts 4–0 Eric's Sex Gods 10
1989 Stumperlowe Stadium, Sheffield FC Fabron Californie 0–0 (won after extra time) The Lion Roars 21
1988 Stumperlowe Stadium, Sheffield Das Jakobang Rangers 2–0 Blade Runners 17
  1. 2026 FC Fabron Californie '89 d. Madeleine Milan (1–1 (3–1 on flicks)) Knotlow Farm, Flagg · 28 teams
  2. 2024 Baustelle d. Spital Subastars (2–0) Kemp Iveta, Maletín · 28 teams
  3. 2020* Madeleine Milan d. Newlands Street Wanderers (1–0) Ferrygate, Martham · 22 teams
  4. 2017 Blade Runners d. Newlands Street Wanderers (4–2) Harthill, Harthill · 27 teams
  5. 2013 Cardboard Box Hotshots d. Bain's Boys (3–2) Dyffrydan, Dolgellau · 15 teams
  6. 2012 Rob of the Rovers d. Cardboard Box Hotshots (3–0) Lincolnshire Lanes, East Firsby · 24 teams
  7. 2010 Spital Subastars d. Rob of the Rovers (1–0) Lincolnshire Lanes, East Firsby · 24 teams
  8. 2008 Cardboard Box Hotshots d. Aston Vanilla (4–0) Rest Harrow Farm, Trebetherick · 18 teams
  9. 2007† Cardboard Box Hotshots d. Ukrainian Lift (4–0) U Vrbů, Prague · 13 teams
  10. 2005 FC Fabron Californie d. Racing Vegetation (3–0) Stadion U Rodiny Loudů, Prague · 21 teams
  11. 2004 Cardboard Box Hotshots d. Screw Ups (2–0) Murky Lake Park, San Jose · 6 teams
  12. 2001 Kick Butties d. Blade Runners (mini-league) Alt Camp, Barcelona · 4 teams
  13. 1999 FC Fabron Californie d. Cardboard Box Hotshots (2–0) Mushroom Park, Sheffield · 8 teams
  14. 1995 Cardboard Box Hotshots Panelák Park, Prague · 9 teams
  15. 1993 Blade Runners d. Rob of the Rovers (2–1) Quality Carpet Park, Sheffield · 8 teams
  16. 1992 White Star d. Cheese (0–0) Bramall Lane Bowl, Sheffield · 11 teams
  17. 1991 Rob of the Rovers d. Cardboard Box Hotshots (1–1 (3–2 on flicks)) Stumperlowe Stadium, Sheffield · 20 teams
  18. 1990 School Drive Greenshirts d. Eric's Sex Gods (4–0) Tipton, Tipton · 10 teams
  19. 1989 FC Fabron Californie d. The Lion Roars (0–0 (won after extra time)) Stumperlowe Stadium, Sheffield · 21 teams
  20. 1988 Das Jakobang Rangers d. Blade Runners (2–0) Stumperlowe Stadium, Sheffield · 17 teams

Italicised years denote sideflicks — satellite tournaments of contested official standing. † The 2007 tournament's categorisation as a full affair remains before the Ombudsbod. The Big Book logs the Maletín Cup as 2025; the reasoning is assumed to be intentional.

The institution

17 full tournaments. Four countries. One trophy, recently returned from a worldwide relay through the hands of 23 teams. The Cup was founded by Cardboard Box Hotshots management as a birthday celebration and a recruitment drive for Subaleague International, a league which has itself been running, in some form, since a communique dated 6 September 1988.