Artist: Tom Paterson
Type: Front and Back Pages
Printed in Issue: 4th January 1986

The Story

Buster is with Delbert and they're trying to put together a football team. Firstly, Delbert suggests Brenda, but Buster isn't convinced that soppy girl would be any good. Brenda hears this and gives him a thump. Brenda boots his football out into the sky and tells Buster to stay out of her way.

One football down, they look for someone else to take part. They spot a tough looking kid and go to ask him, but it's Jelly and he runs off in the other direction, over a Mister Blister. Next up Dozy Derek appears looking to join in, but he trips on his trainer lace and Delbert's ball goes flying in the process. They hear something breaking on the other side of the fence, and Delbert and Buster to a runner.

Later in the park they realise they're not going to get anyone involved and they've lost both of their footballs at the same time. But then Mr Crabbe arrives with one ball that broke his greenhouse, PC Percy with a ball that knocked him off his bike, and Mister Blister who got flattened by Jelly. They're all coming to complain, but Buster explains they were just trying to find players for a five a side.

With that, all three adults decide they'll join in the five a side, although Buster wonders how to explain that they're too old for the junior league.

Notes

This is the first strip to feature Buster's new friends Delbert, Brenda, Jelly, Derek, and Mr Crabbe.
Buster and Delbert's balls have their name written on them