There were four groups, each containing 4 ‘teams’. From each, the top two went through, then on to the quarter finals, semi finals and final. In each group, the four teams played each other so that was three games.

I think, if I had been able to get through to the final (i.e. play about 7 games), I might have been able to score at least one goal, that is how fast I was improving.

It was fun. I went down with scores of 5-0, 4-0 and 1-0. Amongst the people I played was the writer of the book, Daniel; the 1977, Junior World Champion (currently a lecturer at Pisa University); and some equally unknown Italian.

The overall winner was the current World Champion! Who knew that they still had it.

And they all took it so very seriously. The bases are much flatter these days. The bases are polished at the beginning of each match and, sometimes, at half-time. I suppose it’s the equivalent of oranges or something!

They won’t let you borrow the polish. I’m not certain that, in my case, it would have made much difference. Perhaps I would have been flicking the ‘men’ off the board more often than I did?

They didn’t appreciate V’s cheering, apparently. Thank goodness I didn’t score a goal!

Then we had wine and food, supplied by the Festival.

It was a warm and pleasant evening, in the old piazza at the back of the Festival offices. Not so many spectators as there had been for the chess but then, there appears that there isn’t a Boris Spassky of Subbuteo, so it’s not really a surprise.