Tube Map swaps station names for football players

What once started out as an art project to take the tube map and give stations different names has spawned a whole industry of clones and spoofs, many unauthorised and very rarely, authorised by London Underground.

One of the rare authorised tube map variants is being launched today that covers a topic that I personally know absolutely nothing about… football.

As a historical sort, I am aware that it is the Football Association’s 150th anniversary though — as I keep a log of significant anniversaries — and as the Association was formed in a London pub, and just a few months after the London Underground was formed, it seems fitting to tie the two together.

I can’t point out any significant things to look out for on the tube map, and more football savvy people may be able to laugh or snarl at some of the suggestions. The map contains daggers, although in this case to signify knighthoods as opposed to disruptions.

I am informed by persons wiser in the art of soccer that the lines themselves hold significance, with the Docklands Light Railway using names of pre-war players The Victoria Line features stars of the women’s game.

The Metropolitan line has become the Managers line. The Central Line is for goal scorers.

The District line is now represented by central defenders while midfielders replace stations on the Piccadilly line.

The Circle line is made up of ‘Giants of the Wold Cup’ featuring the likes of Pele and Maradona. The Overground pays homage to overseas stars such as Didier Drogba, Robin van Persie and Ossie Ardiles.

The map goes on sale at the London Transport Museum Shop in Covent Garden and Wembley shop as well as online at www.tfl.gov.uk/shop

Heinously though, they missed off Harry Beck!

No — the man who designed the original tube map wasn’t actually a footballer himself, but there was a footballer called Harry Beck. Not as grand a player as the others who got chosen, but his omission missed a chance for a subtle joke.

I wasn’t able to find out which team the map designer would have supported, if any.

The other stations with connections to the person include:

• Peter Schmeichel – Denmark Hill – Former Danish international
• Dennis Bergkamp – Highbury & Islington – Arsenal legend
• Tim Cahill – New Cross Gate – Former Millwall favourite
• Attilio Lombardo – Norwood Junction – Former Crystal Palace favourite
• Mile Jedinak – Crystal Palace – Current Palace star
• Pavel Srnicek – Queen’s Park – Former QPR favourite
• Eric Cantona – Wembley Central – FA Cup Winner at Wembley
• Nicolas Anelka – North Wembley – FA Cup Winner at Wembley
• Rodney Marsh – Shepherd’s Bush – QPR legend
• Sir Bobby Charlton – Lancaster Gate – England legend/Former FA Councillor
• Jimmy Greaves – Tottenham Court Road – Tottenham legend
• Ian Rush – Liverpool Street – Liverpool legend
• David Beckham – Leytonstone – Place of birth
• Mick Channon – Newbury Park – Horseracing trainer
• John Terry – Fulham Broadway – Chelsea legend
• Tony Gale – Putney Bridge – Former Fulham favourite
• Andy Thorn – Wimbledon – Former Wimbledon favourite
• Joe Harvey – St. James’s Park – Newcastle legend (Player & Manager)
• Billy Bonds – West Ham – West Ham legend
• Bobby Moore – Upton Park – West Ham legend
• Graham Taylor – Watford – Former Watford manager
• Sir Alf Ramsey – Wembley Park – World Cup-Winning manager at Wembley
• Alex Stepney – Tooting Broadway – England goalkeeper started career at Tooting & Mitcham United
• Dave Beasant – South Wimbledon – Wimbledon legend
• Jack Wilshere – Arsenal – Current Arsenal star
• Theo Walcott – Finsbury Park – Current Arsenal star
• Ian St. John – St. John’s Wood – Surname
• Eddie Hapgood – Woolwich Arsenal – Arsenal legend

That said, I am surprised that Covent Garden has been replaced with a player that Wikipedia suggests might not have been hugely famous — as that station is closet to the pub where the Football Association was formed.

And here endth the sole comment I feel qualified to make about the map and its selection of names.