Improvements in or relating to Games, in which Football is Imitated.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 13th Mar., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Games, in which Football is
Imitated.
I, GEORGE WILLIAM MERRILLS of 189 Princess Street, Attercliffe Road
Sheffield, in the County of York, Iron Founder, 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 invention relates to improvements in games, to be played by two persons,
upon a board or other suitable material, in imitation of football, in which the men
are represented by fixed pegs, which may be made of wood, bone, ivory, or other
suitable material, and which may be also coloured to represent any of the various
opposing teams in actual football matches.
The surface of the board or other material may also be made to represent an
actual football field, with its boundry lines and flags, goal posts of suitable widths
apart and heights, and kick off lines.
The football is represented by a small disc of wood, bone, ivory or other suitable
material.
At the commencement of a game the pegs are arranged on the board in
every respect similar to the 11 men in each opposing team at an actual football
match.
The ball being placed in the centre of the board.
The ball or disc is now alternately propelled in opposite directions (by each of
the two parties playing the game) by a propeller which may be made of wood,
bone, ivory or other suitable material, and made of suitable length and width for
handling with ease.
In order that my said invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to
describe the drawing hereunto annexed. Fig. 1, is a plan of the board on which
the game is to be played. L. L. L. L are the boundry lines of the field, with flags
at each corner, K. K. represent the opposite kick off lines, G. G. the opposite goal
posts, B represents the football or disc. The opposing teams or pegs are arranged
in three lines across the board, on each side of the ball or disc with the goal tenter
behind.
P. represents the propeller.
The following is the mode of playing the game, and the rules which shall govern
each player.
RULES OF THE GAME.
1. The ball or disc is to be placed in the centre of the board or field, and
propelled alternately by each of the two players in opposite directions.
2. The object of the players is to score goals, a goal being scored when the disc
or ball passes completely through and between the goal posts.
3. Neither player shall kick or propel the ball or disc bhind his own goal
line.
4. Neither player shall touch the ball or disc while it is in motion.
5. When the ball or disc passes over the boundry line at either end of the field
or board, it shall be placed on the kick off line in front of the goal at that end, and
shall be kicked or propelled off again by the defender of that goal, but a goal

page_text: cannot be scored by this particular kick unless the ball or disc touches one of the
pegs in its course down the board.
6. When the ball or disc goes out at the sides of the field or board, the opponent
of the player shall kick or propel it in again, but a goal cannot be scored in this
case unless it touches one of the pegs on the board or field.
7. When a goal is scored the ball is then brought to the centre of the board or
field and is kicked or propelled off by the opponent.
8. The players may play any length of time for one game, or they may arrange
for a given number of goals up.
Having now particulary described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manuer the same is or may be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,
1st. In games in which football is imitated, the combination of a board or other
suitable material, with fixed pegs to represent the opposing teames, and a disc to
represent a football, with a propeller, made and arranged and played, substantially
as herein before described, with reference to the rules, and as illustrated by the
drawing Fig. 1.
Dated this 25th day of January 1897.
GEORGE WILLIAM MERRILLS,
Applicaut.