British Council British Council Visual Arts

In a catalogue note the artist described the history and making of this work:

"In 1974, 13 year old Nick Kidney painstakingly repainted and remodelled a standard team of Subbuteo footballers, transforming them into 'The Subbuteo Superheroes'. It was typical of Nick that the project was never quite finished, that the goalkeeper would remain untouched, an Achilles heel in the side with normal human frailties. Of course, he played with them only once or twice before they lost their allure and were soon forgotten. Inevitably, the superheroes were superseded by more grown up adventures, with guitars and girls.

It is one of the more satisfying achievement of my book In Soccer Wonderland that it inspired Nick, now approaching 40 and married, with two kids, a career and a mortgage, to venture into his parents attic and rediscover this unique and touching memento of teenage innocence and ingenuity. With the inclusion of a superb new goalkeeper, Mr Fantastic of the Fantastic Four, Nick has also replaced the team's only weak link, finally completing a side that he began building 25 years ago.”