LAND OF THE GIANTS. Publication date: June 24, 2024

Key features
• Details the history and ongoing renaissance of Subbuteo, the
football brand which originally hit table tops in the 1950s
• Includes a wonderful collection of unique stories from
dedicated and passionate Subbuteo enthusiasts, players and
collectors across the world
• Delves deep into the culture and what it is that drives that
dedication, whether for competitors, collectors or creators
• An incredible picture section showcases the world’s most
amazing collections and stunning stadia
• One of two books written by Derek on table football being
published this year.

When the Covid-19 lockdown hit in March 2020, millions of people suddenly found themselves confined to their homes, with their lives on hold as the planet fought a deadly pandemic. Land of the Giants: My Journey Through the World of Table Football chronicles the author’s discovery of a vibrant Subbuteo subculture and the emergence of an online community that was determined to keep alive a game under threat. Over a period of three years Derek Air met and interviewed dozens of those dedicated to the game. He tells their stories: the collectors who scour charity shops, collectors’ fairs and online auction sites in search of that rarity they hope will complete their collections;
the players who take the game so seriously that they train as hard for competition as their 11-a-side counterparts; the artists, who paint their figures and bring to life great teams, past and present; and even those that recreate famous stadia at scale. Land of the Giants is a love letter to an old-fashioned favourite, a much-loved game, and one that simply refuses to die
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Derek Air has been playing the game of Subbuteo on and off for fifty years. A former school teacher, he has written a number of articles on German football for the fanzine Halb Vier and produced four series of the podcast Finger Flickin' Good in which he chronicled the stories of the Subbuteo community both in the UK and further afield. Land of the Giants is his first non-fiction book. A proud Scot, he lives in the Black Country.

Publication: 24 June 2024
Price: £19.99
ISBN 13: 9781801507295
Format: 222mm x 144mm
Binding: Hardback
Extent: 304 pages