Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 17th May, 1887
Complete Left, 30th Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 16th Mar., 1888
I, FRANCIS HENRY BANKS of 85 Constitution Hill Birmingham in the County of
Warwick Pearl Button Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My improved Field Game is designed to be played out of doors, upon a grass field
suitable for the purpose, an inflated ball similar to the ball in use by football players,
is employed, but is driven by specially constructed clubs, to be used by the players
for that purpose. The field of play is also divided into divisions by a marker as
employed in setting out a lawn tennis court. I propose to divide the said field of play
into 6 divisions, having also a circle, called the centre, at each end of the Field of play,
is set out the Goal crease within which is fixed the Goal posts in a similar manner
and for the same purpose as those used in the game of football.
The players are also to be placed and named after the manner of football players,
the ball is to be played from division to division by the respective players, by means
of the clubs before mentioned, the players remaining in their respective divisions,
until the time allowed for change of ends, or for interval of rest, or cessation of play.
Having now briefly explained the nature of my improved field game, I will proceed
to describe more particularly the arrangement of the Field, and disposition of the
players, and the manner or method of playing the before mentioned game.
The size of the field of play may range from 110 yards in length, and 75 yards in
breadth to 90 yards in length and 50 yards in breadth, but I do not confine myself
strictly to these dimensions. The length and breadth may be marked off with flags,
and marked off with touch lines in the usual manner. The Goal posts are fixed at each
end of the field thus set out, and are about 8 yards apart and have a bar fixed across
them at about 8 feet from the ground or field. The Goal crease before mentioned is
marked off 3 yards in advance of the before mentioned Goal posts and extends
3 yards on either side of the said Goal posts and drawn to the Goal line, I may also
provide intermediary goals in each division the passing of the ball through said
intermediary Goals, counting as points in the play.
The field is also divided longitudinally in the centre by a mark line from Goal crease
to Goal crease, I also divide the Field transversely by 2 mark lines into 3 equal

page_text: divisions, these in conjunction with the centre line which runs up the field longitu-
dinally form 6 divisions, I may also by a mark or touch line describe a circle in the
centre of the field about 20 yards in diameter for the purpose of restricting the players
to a certain distance from the ball, when being struck off at the commencement of
each game or after each goal is obtained and the ball is re-started into play.
The 6 divisions before mentioned are numbered from 1 to 6.
The players are styled as in ordinary football terms and each full set or side numbers
11 players, (a half set numbers 7 players only) who are named as follows and play in
the respective divisions indicated.
Right forward to play in No. 6 division.
Centre forward to play in No. 5 and 6 division.
Left forward to play in No. 5 division.
Left half back to play in No. 3 division.
Centre to play in No. 3, 4, 5, and 6 divisions.
Centre half back to play in No. 3 and 4 divisions.
Right half back to play in No. 4 division.
Left back to play in No. 1 division.
Full back to play in No. 1 and 2 divisions.
Right back to play in No. 2 divisions.
Goal keeper to play in goal crease before mentioned.
The ball to be played is an ordinary inflated leather ball similar to the ball used in
the game of football, and may be from 20 inches to 22 inches in circumference, but I
wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not confine myself strictly to these dimen-
sions, as they may be varied as desired by the players.
The ball played or driven by the players by means of a club of special design,
which I propose to be constructed as follows, the length of the club to be about 3 feet,
and to have a padded end for striking the ball, and an handle similar to that of an
ordinary cricket bat, the padded end is rounded to a semi circle on the edge, and the
sides are padded in semi spherical form by leather or other suitable material and
covered in a leather case, or other suitable material which may be laced on or sewn
together or it may be attached by nails or other suitable means, a portion of the club
enclosed in the leather case immediatley beyond the semi spherical portion before
mentioned, is made flatt for several inches upon which the ball can be received when
playing, the remaining portion of the club which I term the handle or shank or haft,
is made similar to a cricket bat the body of the club may be constructed of lance wood,
or hickory, cane or ash, as may be desired in one piece or built up as preferred.
In playing my improved field game scud each player is provided with a club before
mentioned and occupy positions upon the field of play as before indicated the ball is
driven from the centre, and it is the endeavour of the players to drive the ball into
their respective goals, by means of the club from division to division until the ball
enters the goal, the players remaining in their respective divisions whilst the ball
traverses the Field. My improved Field Game Scud can be played in summertime by
ladies or gentlemen, who are not athletes, and is not productive of excessive exhaustion
like the game of football.
1007

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Field Game and Apparatus for Playing the same.
I, FRANCIS HENRY BANKS of 85 Constitution Hill Birmingham in the County of
Warwick Pearl Button Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My Improved Field Game is designed to be played out of doors, upon a field suitable
for the purpose, an inflated ball similar to the ball in use by football players is
employed, but is driven by specially constructed clubs to be used by the players for
that purpose.
The Field of play is also divided into divisions by a marker, as employed in setting
out a lawn tennis court.
1 propose to divide the Field of play into 6 divisions, having also a circle called the
centre, at each end of the field of play is set out the goal crease within which is
fixed the goal posts in a similar manner and for the same purpose as those used in the
game of football.
The players are also to be placed and named after the manner of football players.
The ball is be played from division to division by the respective players by
means of the clubs before mentioned, the players remaining in their respective divi-
sions until the time allowed for change of ends, or for interval of rest, or cessation
of play.
In order that my invention may be more clearly understood, as also the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I will now proceed to more particularly describe
the same having reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 represents a plan of the field of play shewing the respective divisions herein-
after described with reference to the letters therein.
Fig. 2, represents an elevation shewing the divisional flags and goal posts.
Fig. 3 and 4 represents the club or bat for playing the ball before mentioned.
The arrangement and division of the field of play wherein my improved field game
is to be played, is illustrated in the drawings figs. 1 and figs. 2 and is as follows. In the
plan fig. 1, a is the centre about 20 yards diameter, bis the Goal Crease marked off
6 yards from and in front of the Goal posts c and extending 5 yards on either side of
said Goal posts, which have a bar from post to post upon the top of same as shewn c
in Fig. 2, represents the terminals of lines of divisions which are marked with flags d
as shewn in fig. 2.
The six divisions are named as follows,
a represents the centre.
analamanca

page_text: Fig. 3 represents the apparatus for playing the ball which is a novel form of club
or bat.
Fig. 4 is an elevation of Fig. 3. n is a portion covered with leather or other
suitable material, padded or packed with any kind of light fibrous material to prevent
injury to the ball before mentioned when struck with the club, the part n is rounded
on face or of semi spherical form as shewn, the body of the club or bat may be
constructed of cane, hickory, ash or willow, or any suitable wood as may be desired.
1 will now proceed to describe the method of playing my improved field game.
Each player is provided with a club as before described, and are named and occupy
similar positions in the field of play to those used or employed in the well known
game of football, but the players in my improved Field Game are restricted to their
respective divisions and drive the ball from division to division by means of my
improved apparatus before mentioned, until it passes through the Goal c as before
described, after which the ball is again placed in the centre d and struck into play by
the losers of the Goal just before obtained. A full set of players for one side numbers
eleven players who are named and play in divisions as follows,
plays in g, h, and, divisions.
Centre d