1947 Subbuteo was created by Peter A. Adolph in 1947. The first sets contained two cardboard teams (that you needed to cut out), 20 small plastic bases for the outfield players and two rectangular brown bases for the goalkeepers with metal rods for control. The goals were made from metal wire with a card net. A piece of chalk was also included so that you could mark out a pitch on a blanket or a flat surface.

1949 Cut out teams are replaced by a stronger 'press out' figure, shortly followed by the flat celluloid plastic figure.

1950 Twenty-four different teams available.

1953 Three different playing sets were now available: Popular Assembly Outfit, Combination Edition and the Super Assembled Set.

1960 36 different teams available by the beginning of the decade.

Arrival of the 00 scale 'Short Sleeved' Heavyweight footballer

Arrival of the 'Heavyweight' Footballer

Continental Range of accessories is launched. This range includes accessories such as floodlights, scoreboard, fencing and numerous other accessories that enhance the game.

1969-70 Metal Goalkeeper rods are replaced by green plastic ones.

1970- Arrival of the 1970 'World Cup' Special Edition. Includes many accessories from the continental range.

1971-72 Team range reaches 81. Some new editions to the range are Clydebank (73), Aston Villa (74) and Bournemouth (76).

1973-74 Team range reaches 165, including many European club sides and International teams like: Armenia Bielefeld (131), Monaco (148), Bulgaria (152) and Uruguay (163).

1974 World Cup Edition, followed by the legendary Munich World Series. The 'Munich' edition includes accessories such as: Pitch surround (C108), half-time scoreboard (C111), Police set (C113), bench set (C114), Scoreboard (C115), transfers (C129), Corner kickers (C131), throw-in figures (C132), interchangeable goalies (C133), ball boys (C134) and many more.

1978 322 Teams available. Latest additions were Motherwell (313), Bayer Leverkusen (315) and Sochaux (316).

1977-80 The Arrival (and departure) of the 'Zombie' style player.

1978 World Cup Edition - which included the new black scoreboard (C158).

1978 - 79 Arrival of the Green /Tan grandstand and terrace units, which gave Subbuteo enthusiasts the opportunity to create their own stadiums.

1981 Image overhaul for Subbuteo, A new box which allowed you to view the team through the cellophane window. The arrival of the Lightweight footballer.

1981 Introduction of World Cup teams.

1982 New accessories were added to the Subbuteo range. Notably, the Astropitch.

1982 Subbuteo leaves Kent for Tyne and Wear before moving to Castle gate, Outen, Leeds.

1982 Subbuteo is taken over by Waddingtons Games Ltd.

1983 Waddingtons begins to scale down its Subbuteo products. Many accessories disappear from the catalogue.

1988 The old and much loved green/ tan Grandstand is replaced by a new modern red and blue tiered stand complete with executive boxes. The old tan Terracing changes colour to light grey.

1991 Arrival of the "Greek pillar" floodlights (61222).

1995 Waddingtons purchase the rights to use the F.A. Premiership logo on Subbuteo products.

1995 Subbuteo add black footballers to English teams.

1995 Numbers of teams in Subbuteo range is down to around 150.

1996 Hasbro take over Waddingtons.

1996 Team boxes are re-designed as are the bases of the players. Teams come with eleven outfield players, ten bases and one goalkeeper. Number of teams in the Hasbro range is down to around 40.

1996 Many accessories are deleted from the range, including the Astropitch, Floodlights and terracing.

1997 Team range is trimmed down yet again as team production concentrates on the English Premiership.

1998 France 98 Edition is released on a small scale. This set includes new throw-in and free-kick figures.

1998 'Subbuteo Squads' card game is introduced.

1998 Hasbro team up with Boots the Chemist to create a Subbuteo Chocolate Edition for Christmas.

1998 Manchester United Edition released. This set includes a red fence and a playing itch with had the United badge on it.

2000 Due to poor sales, Hasbro announced that it was going stop producing Subbuteo.

2000 Public outcry forced Hasbro to re-consider their decision.

2000 At the end of the year Hasbro in an exclusive deal with Toys'R'Us released an updated Premiership Edition, Manchester United Edition and a 'new' Deluxe Edition (which included a grandstand). These new set were available from Toys'R'Us only.