An Indoor Football Game.
Year: 1894

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Indoor Football Game.
THEODORE THOMPSON 5 Smyrna Road West Hampstead London N.W.
Builders Clerk WILLIAM EDWARD CHALLIS 16 Belleville Road Wandsworth
Common London S.W. Builder do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to a new parlour game of football, to be played on a paper
board which represents a miniature football field and has for its objects to play such
game or games by means and with the aid of flags to represent the players small
ball, and dice or counters to be thrown or drawn.
Dated this 22nd day of October 1894.
THEODORE THOMPSON.
WM. E. CHALLIS.
THEODORE THOMPSON, 5 Smyrna Road West Hampstead in the County of
Middlesex Builders Clerk and WILLIAM EDWARD CHALLIS, 16 Bellville Road
Wandsworth Common, in the County of Surrey Builders Clerk 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 :-
Our invention has for its object a new indoor game of football, and which is very
amusing, interesting and playable.
The game is upon the principle of either games of football, Rugby or
Association and can be played by any number of persons representing opposing
teams.
In order that our invention may be more easily understood, we have appended
hereunto 1 sheet of drawing, upon which is shown the field of play position of
goals, all marked and ready to play-according to the following rules.
1. The game to be stipulated by time, dividing into equal halves, and the
competitor who scores the most number of goals during that period wins the
game.
2. The flags red and blue are to be placed as near as possible to represent the
proper positions of the players.
3. The winner of the toss shall have a place kick, commencing the game from a
mark O in the centre of the field, the kick off to be in the opposite direction of the
goal posts according to the number drawn or thrown.
4. If a number is drawn or thrown that just reaches the square on which a flag
is, the bail can be moved to the right or left, but cannot be placed on the same
square where a flag is, if the number be more it can pass a flag.
5. A goal must be won when the ball has passed between the goal posts by the
number required, not above the number, i.e. if 4 is required and 5 or 6 is thrown
or drawn the shot is lost and the player his shot, but has the option of moving the
ball to the right or left in the same line.

page_text: 6. This does not apply when the player is not shooting at goal.
7. If not shooting at a goal, and the ball goes behind, the player claims a free
kick and the ball must be restarted from the sides, marked *which represents
corner kicks.
8. Each player can re-arrange their flags so no player can be offside.
9. Flags can be moved before an opposing player draws or throws his dice,
counter or teetotum.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare what
we claim is
That the game is original and productive of playing football. And is a method
of dividing a board or other suitable plane into sections, and with two goal posts,
marked thereon, representing a miniature football field.
A set of rules whereby the game can be played on the board, following the
ball hither and thither in the same manner as in the actual game of football.
Dated this 23rd day July 1895.
THEODORE THOMPSON.
W. E. CHALLIS.