Goodman Triumphs in London to Claim the 2025 Chris Phillips Trophy

Event Winner Simon Goodman (Right)

ESA Old School Circuit 2025/26 – Round One (London Subbuteo Club)

The 2025/26 ESA Old School Circuit kicked off in fine style on Sunday 12th October 2025, with London Subbuteo Club hosting the opening round at La Pizzica Restaurant in Fulham, London.

Sixteen players gathered for a day of classic Subbuteo action, good food, and warm camaraderie as they competed for the Chris Phillips Trophy, honouring the much-missed London and Surrey player whose legacy continues to bring the community together.

After a thrilling day’s play, Simon Goodman emerged as Round One champion, edging out Jason Christopher in a tense final decided by sudden-death shots. Goodman’s journey to the title was full of drama, none more so than his semi-final clash with Paul Andreas, where he trailed 0–1 until the dying seconds. A direct free-flick equaliser for handball in injury time took the tie to shots, where Goodman completed his comeback to book his place in the final.

Event Runner Up Jason Christopher (Right)

In the Plate competition, Joe Parody claimed victory after a closely contested final against Mark Weaver, rounding off a memorable afternoon of Old School flair.

Plate Winner Joe Parody (Right)

Plate Runner Up Mark Weaver (Right)

The venue added its own special flavour to the day, quite literally, as players enjoyed a generous lunch break of pizza, pasta, and pints of Moretti, with plenty of laughs and stories shared around the tables. Jason Christopher also unveiled a brilliant electronic scoreboard, which added a modern touch to the traditional format and kept the audience gripped throughout.

Simon Goodman (Left) Vs Paul Andreas (Left) Referee Andrew Forster-Fake (Middle)

Tony Banks took home the award for Best Local Player, reaching the semi-finals with some fine displays of London flair.

Tony Banks (Right) vs Jason Christopher (Right)

The event carried WASPA points for all participants, and, as always, the focus was on sportsmanship, enjoyment, and keeping the spirit of Subbuteo alive, just as Chris Phillips himself would have wanted.

Neil Doherty (Left) vs Mark Weaver (Right)

The circuit now moves north to the Godiva Subbuteo Club in Coventry for Round Two on Sunday 9th November, where players will be eager to build on the momentum from a wonderful start to the season.