We are the cream of sporting excellence in Huntingdon, and have been since the HSA's formation in 1988. An exclusive band of 19 individuals make up the HSA membership.
EL SUBBUTEO
WHERE'S JORGE?
Dave Butler reports on his international in Peru
The list showed two addresses � I sent the same message to both, and the next day received an �out-of-office reply� � Miguel was on holiday for the next two weeks, but where?!?! Would fate be so cruel to place Peru�s only player out of the country whilst I was there? I feared I had revealed a passion for Subbuteo hitherto unknown to his colleagues. As we know the world can be ignorantly cruel to those of us who follow our glorious game. My hopes were pinned on the other address, and that it would be a personal one.
The next day, as I entered the internet caf�, I had a strange intuition that I would receive contact from Miguel. As I opened my inbox I knew it would be there and so it was, but what would he say? I scanned the message as if it was an exam result � would the Peruvian say �Si� or �No�? Result! Miguel was up for it and so we excitedly packed our bags and headed for Peru.
As I crossed the border into Peru it seemed the immigration form was missing a box. Tourist? No. Business? No. I was there for one reason only � Subbuteo.
After some altitude training in the north of Peru we headed for Lima. Miguel had suggested a tour of Lima on our first day, followed by a match the second. Miguel whizzed us around Lima�s beautiful streets, plazas, cathedrals and districts and we wondered whether he would be as impressed with a tour of Huntingdon. We were incredibly impressed with Miguel�s hospitality, taking several hours to show us around.
The following day we were invited for a game, possibly the first international in Peru. Miguel�s girlfriend, Amancaya, had never seen another Subbuteo player and was curious to know how normal I would be. I was flattered to be considered more or less normal.
First Miguel showed us his extremely impressive collection, featuring many items that I had never seen, most notably including some modern players with ultra flat bases. As I would discover, these would be extremely good for chipping the ball. As Miguel showed us these new developments in Subbuteo I felt like James Bond being introduced to new gadgets by Q. Or like Luke Skywalker learning new Jedi skills from Yoda. 'New flat bases, not as clumsy or as random as the 1980s sets'.
After Miguel�s amazing hospitality off the pitch I wondered if he would be as welcoming on the green beize. As we warmed up I could see that we were of a similar level � my first match on foreign soil was not to be an easy introduction to international Subbuteo.
Miguel continued this form in our next match, which proved to be a fiercely-contested one. Miguel took the lead with a well-taken free-kick, giving the keeper no chance as he whipped the ball into the corner of the net. The Peruvian stoutly defended his lead, whilst threatening to extend it. The pressure was on � nobody said international Subbuteo was going to be easy.
With time running out I managed to equalize from a chip from a tight angle. Miguel�s ultra-flat bases, that he had told me were good for chipping, were proving their worth. Indeed, at times they were too good, as several of my shots sailed over the bar.
Even a generous five minutes of injury time couldn�t separate us and the match ended in a hard-fought draw.
The following night we went for a post-match meal, rounding off a lovely three days of international Subbuteo. Miguel and Amancaya had treated us to the kind of hospitality and friendliness that should make the world of Subbuteo proud.
Peru, August 2005