The following article was written by Mike Butler and published in Brentford FC's match programme.

"It’s a fair bet that most of you reading this today will have heard of (if not played) the table football game Subbuteo.

Even in a leisure games market now dominated by the technical wizardry of computer games such as Championship Manager and the like, there is still a national fondness for the less sedate ‘flick and kick’ variety.

Peter Adolph conceived, developed, made and eventually distributed Subbuteo from his home in Tunbridge Wells during the 1950’s and it soon mushroomed to become THE footy game of choice for millions of youngsters during the next three decades. It spawned many different sets, hundreds of different teams and accessories and thousands of ‘leagues’ not just in the UK but across Europe and elsewhere.

My friend Steve and I started playing Subbuteo during the 1970’s and to this day still find time to play our own league some 35 years later. We are still using some of our original teams which will probably outlast us even if many of the little plastic men have suffered multiple breaks of both legs and require more than a little glue cement to be able to continue their careers!

Despite my ongoing loyalty to the game, what I wasn’t aware of until I recently read a book on Peter Adolph by his son Mark entitled ‘Growing up with Subbuteo’ was that Peter had pulled on a Brentford shirt in his youth.

Although born in Brighton in 1916 Peter’s family moved to Chiswick when he was 14 and Peter became a pupil at Gunnersbury Grammar. He was a natural sportsman and before long he was playing both Cricket and Football for his school.

Whilst playing the summer game Peter developed into a useful bowler and played for Middlesex schoolboys on a regular basis.

Meanwhile whilst still at school during the winter of 1932/33 he was also picked out as a footballer with some potential by the Brentford scouts of the day and invited to Griffin Park for a trial which he duly accepted. He played a couple of games for the reserves but didn’t make sufficient enough impression to be offered a contract and was let go by the Club.

His best friend at the time knew Peter was disappointed by his rejection by the Bees and played upon his obvious bitterness to cajole him into watching the team he supported just down the road, a side called Queens Park Rangers.

And Peter remained an active QPR supporter for the rest of his life although Mark Adolph notes that his Dad often said he could just as easily supported Brentford despite his earlier disappointment had his best mate at the time been a regular here rather than at Loftus Road.

Peter Adolph died in 1994 aged 78 but his legacy is an enduring pastime that sees team no. 9 continue to flourish in our little league at least…and it has to be said they continue to be a lot more successful than that team in blue and white hoops!"

Mike Butler