Foosball History
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The Early Days: Europe
The first official foosball table patent was issued in 1921 by Harold Searles Thorton from the United Kingdom. While there were similar games that have patents dating back to the 1800's, this was the first game that represents the same core playing features of the tables in modern times. He invented the game due to the popularity of football in Europe (known as soccer in the US). The popularity of the football spread so rapidly that he decided to create a miniature version of the game that even spectators could play in their homes or bars. Much like people joke about creating some of the best inventions on the back of a napkin, Harold designed the game using a box of matches. The matches were on the top of the box and extended past the edge, which gave him the idea for how he could skewer different men on rods to suspend them out over the field. |
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Transition Into America
The game was taken from Europe to the US in 1962 by Larry Patterson from Cincinnati, Ohio. He is recognized as the founding father of coin-operated table soccer in America.
Patterson's tables were manufactured in Bavaria, Germany using his design specifications. Patterson sold the tables under the firm; name L.T. Patterson Distributors. He incorporated in 1965 as Patterson International Inc. In 1969. they conducted business under a new corporation name called American Youth Marketing Corp.
The game was taken from Europe to the US in 1962 by Larry Patterson from Cincinnati, Ohio. He is recognized as the founding father of coin-operated table soccer in America.
Patterson's tables were manufactured in Bavaria, Germany using his design specifications. Patterson sold the tables under the firm; name L.T. Patterson Distributors. He incorporated in 1965 as Patterson International Inc. In 1969. they conducted business under a new corporation name called American Youth Marketing Corp.
Patterson sold 4,000 tables between 1962 through 1965 but was not satisfied with this amount. He decided to franchise the product in 1967 and shipped another 10,000 tables between 1967 and 1973. In 1968, some of Patterson's licensees held the first soccer tournaments. He stated, ''They did not reach the level of popularity that we had hoped for and we dropped the idea in 1970. We were looking for tens of thousands of people to take part in them but that just did not happen."
American Youth Marketing became unprofitable in 1971, and Patterson eventually had to close the business, but the legend of foosball lives on with other manufacturers in the US.
American Youth Marketing became unprofitable in 1971, and Patterson eventually had to close the business, but the legend of foosball lives on with other manufacturers in the US.
Foosball Today
In 2002, the International Table Soccer Federation (ITSF) was established in France with the mission of promoting and regulating the rules of table soccer. They now regulate certain tables that meet the requirements and specs that official tournaments can be played on as well as the overall rule book.
The problem is video games have taken the attention away from the game in recent years. There are many communities where the game still thrives today and there are still tournaments around the country. Players have begun to perfect the game to a point where it has reached a new peak performance. Watching professionals will give you a whole new respect for the game and what they are able to do with rods that only move forward and back. Today, expert players have been known to move balls at speeds up to 35 mph in competition.
In 2002, the International Table Soccer Federation (ITSF) was established in France with the mission of promoting and regulating the rules of table soccer. They now regulate certain tables that meet the requirements and specs that official tournaments can be played on as well as the overall rule book.
The problem is video games have taken the attention away from the game in recent years. There are many communities where the game still thrives today and there are still tournaments around the country. Players have begun to perfect the game to a point where it has reached a new peak performance. Watching professionals will give you a whole new respect for the game and what they are able to do with rods that only move forward and back. Today, expert players have been known to move balls at speeds up to 35 mph in competition.