Foosball 101 > History
The Deep History of Foosball
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Origin of the Name "Foosball"
Foosball is the American term for fussball (pronounced the same), but derived from the German word for soccer (foot) plus ball. While the sport has the more formal name of table soccer, to the American players who love it, it's foosball, or just foos. Our website name is dedicated to serve both origin names for the game. The Early Days: Europe There were patents filed for foosball-like soccer games and issued as far back as the 1880s. By the 1890s, a very basic version of rods holding soccer men that turned emerged into some bars to keep people engaged as they enjoyed their drinks. A well-known French inventor named Lucein Rosengart owned many patents in the early 1900s by some is known as the grandfather of foosball. While others believe that Alexandre de Finisterre may have invented the game while he recovered from the Spanish Civil War. |
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The first official foosball table patent that can be identified 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.
Transition Into America
Harold's uncle, Louis P. Thornton took the game to America intending to make it a mainstream success. He patented it there in the year 1927. However, Louis had little success with foosball and the game died in obscurity during this time. This was largely due to the fact that soccer was not popular as a sport in the US at that time to carry the table version of the game. However, after American servicemen went to Europe and were stationed in Germany after World War II, it began to grow in popularity. After being stationed in Germany during the Berlin Crisis in 1960, the game was again taken from Europe to the US in 1962 by Larry Patterson from Cincinnati, Ohio. Patterson arranged for the rights from a German factory to sell tables in the US. He is now recognized as the founding father of coin-operated table soccer in America as well as coining the term "foosball" based on the name for his first table "Foosball Match". Ironically, the game that started on a box of matches was truly coming full circle in the name he chose.
Patterson's tables were made in Bavaria, Germany using his designs. 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 and he published the first FOOSNEWS magazine. 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."
By 1971, the amount of other European table soccer imported tables coming in and the American Youth Marketing becoming unprofitable, Patterson eventually had to close the business. The legend of foosball lives on with other manufacturers in the US.
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.
Transition Into America
Harold's uncle, Louis P. Thornton took the game to America intending to make it a mainstream success. He patented it there in the year 1927. However, Louis had little success with foosball and the game died in obscurity during this time. This was largely due to the fact that soccer was not popular as a sport in the US at that time to carry the table version of the game. However, after American servicemen went to Europe and were stationed in Germany after World War II, it began to grow in popularity. After being stationed in Germany during the Berlin Crisis in 1960, the game was again taken from Europe to the US in 1962 by Larry Patterson from Cincinnati, Ohio. Patterson arranged for the rights from a German factory to sell tables in the US. He is now recognized as the founding father of coin-operated table soccer in America as well as coining the term "foosball" based on the name for his first table "Foosball Match". Ironically, the game that started on a box of matches was truly coming full circle in the name he chose.
Patterson's tables were made in Bavaria, Germany using his designs. 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 and he published the first FOOSNEWS magazine. 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."
By 1971, the amount of other European table soccer imported tables coming in and the American Youth Marketing becoming unprofitable, Patterson eventually had to close the business. The legend of foosball lives on with other manufacturers in the US.
Competition From European Imports
Other US companies saw the potential and began importing European tables in the mid-60s. German tables Deutscher Meister and Leonhart came to the eastern US in 1965. The Italian-made Garlando table was first imported to the US in 1969 by Empire Distributing of Chicago. The first Rene Pierre table was imported from France in 1970 by Peabody's Inc. of Virginia Beach, Virginia.
In the late 1960s, the first coin-operated soccer tables were manufactured in the US. They were the Vulcan Fussball Table made by EBSCO Amusements in New Jersey, and the Super Soccer table, which evolved into the Hurricane table, made by Irving Kaye Sales Corp. of New York, in 1969. Arizona Automation, which had been importing a German-made table since 1969, merged with Mirco Games in 1971 and began manufacturing their line of Champion Soccer tables.
Other US companies saw the potential and began importing European tables in the mid-60s. German tables Deutscher Meister and Leonhart came to the eastern US in 1965. The Italian-made Garlando table was first imported to the US in 1969 by Empire Distributing of Chicago. The first Rene Pierre table was imported from France in 1970 by Peabody's Inc. of Virginia Beach, Virginia.
In the late 1960s, the first coin-operated soccer tables were manufactured in the US. They were the Vulcan Fussball Table made by EBSCO Amusements in New Jersey, and the Super Soccer table, which evolved into the Hurricane table, made by Irving Kaye Sales Corp. of New York, in 1969. Arizona Automation, which had been importing a German-made table since 1969, merged with Mirco Games in 1971 and began manufacturing their line of Champion Soccer tables.
The Rise of Tornado and Tournament Soccer Brands
Dallas, Texas Tavern owner Bob Hayes orders a Patterson "Foosball Match" from an advertisement in Esquire Magazine. Texas law at the time prohibited bar owners from being coin game operators, so Hayes decided there was a larger opportunity to sell his tavern and go into the business as a franchise for Foosball Match and German Deutscher Meister tables.
As Patterson starts to close his doors in 1971, Bob Hayes realizes he needs to pivot the business he started and recruits talented engineer Bob Furr. Together, they design the and create the Tornado brand from Dallas, Texas. Their "Texas-style" have its own truly unique history that contributes to the evolution of the sport. Their initial goal was to be the first ever manufacturers of the game in the United States as opposed to importing them from Germany. Hayes then solicits and receives permission from multi-millionaire Lamar Hunt, owner of the Dallas Tornado pro soccer team and Texans NFL team, to use the Dallas Tornado logo and name. In the early days they made 400 and started placing them at local bars, pool halls and arcade rooms. Even though their design was newer, sleeker and sturdier than those that came before them, little did they know they would become the best table ever made.
However, a bump in the road would soon come in the form of the Tournament Soccer brand and its success in promoting tournaments across the country. In May 1972, Lee Peppard, an owner of a tavern in Missoula, Montana, ran his first big table soccer tournament on German-made tables and offered prize money of $1,500. In May of 1973, he introduced his very own table called Tournament Soccer that was manufactured in Taiwan at a $5,000 tournament.
The success of his Montana tournaments convinced Peppard that the best way to market his table was through tournament promotions. One year later, in May 1974, he organized the Tournament Soccer $50,000 International Championships in Denver, Colorado at Elitch Gardens. Due to the incredible purse for those days, the best players from all over the US attended and the winners established themselves as table soccer legends.
From their new headquarters in Seattle, Peppard and his staff launched the first US professional table soccer tour, the 1975 Tournament Soccer Quarter Million Dollar Tour. Each year for the next five years, the Tournament Soccer tour increased in prize money, with a million dollars in cash and prizes total during the tour being awarded in 1978-1979. Tournaments took place from west coast to east coast of the US in luxurious ballrooms of first-class hotels. An elite group of professionals toured the country making their living by playing the game. In a classic case of working in the business versus on the business, the glamorous years of the Tournament Soccer tours ended abruptly in 1981 when the company declared bankruptcy.
Dallas, Texas Tavern owner Bob Hayes orders a Patterson "Foosball Match" from an advertisement in Esquire Magazine. Texas law at the time prohibited bar owners from being coin game operators, so Hayes decided there was a larger opportunity to sell his tavern and go into the business as a franchise for Foosball Match and German Deutscher Meister tables.
As Patterson starts to close his doors in 1971, Bob Hayes realizes he needs to pivot the business he started and recruits talented engineer Bob Furr. Together, they design the and create the Tornado brand from Dallas, Texas. Their "Texas-style" have its own truly unique history that contributes to the evolution of the sport. Their initial goal was to be the first ever manufacturers of the game in the United States as opposed to importing them from Germany. Hayes then solicits and receives permission from multi-millionaire Lamar Hunt, owner of the Dallas Tornado pro soccer team and Texans NFL team, to use the Dallas Tornado logo and name. In the early days they made 400 and started placing them at local bars, pool halls and arcade rooms. Even though their design was newer, sleeker and sturdier than those that came before them, little did they know they would become the best table ever made.
However, a bump in the road would soon come in the form of the Tournament Soccer brand and its success in promoting tournaments across the country. In May 1972, Lee Peppard, an owner of a tavern in Missoula, Montana, ran his first big table soccer tournament on German-made tables and offered prize money of $1,500. In May of 1973, he introduced his very own table called Tournament Soccer that was manufactured in Taiwan at a $5,000 tournament.
The success of his Montana tournaments convinced Peppard that the best way to market his table was through tournament promotions. One year later, in May 1974, he organized the Tournament Soccer $50,000 International Championships in Denver, Colorado at Elitch Gardens. Due to the incredible purse for those days, the best players from all over the US attended and the winners established themselves as table soccer legends.
From their new headquarters in Seattle, Peppard and his staff launched the first US professional table soccer tour, the 1975 Tournament Soccer Quarter Million Dollar Tour. Each year for the next five years, the Tournament Soccer tour increased in prize money, with a million dollars in cash and prizes total during the tour being awarded in 1978-1979. Tournaments took place from west coast to east coast of the US in luxurious ballrooms of first-class hotels. An elite group of professionals toured the country making their living by playing the game. In a classic case of working in the business versus on the business, the glamorous years of the Tournament Soccer tours ended abruptly in 1981 when the company declared bankruptcy.
Rise of the Video Games
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, arcade games became more varied and interactive. Pac-Man, Frogger and Donkey Kong came on the scene and Atari came into homes which made it more accessible than ever. This led to a downfall in popularity of the game over the next couple decades.
In spite of the huge nationwide success of Tournament Soccer in the 1970's, the players in the southern US had remained loyal to the Texas-style table. Two leading manufacturers, Tornado Corp. and Dynamo Corp., both based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, maintained their shares of the market in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Alabama and Georgia. In 1982, Dynamo modified their table to incorporate some of the Tournament Soccer playing characteristics and set out to gain the favor of the former Tournament Soccer players. Dynamo ran modest national tours during 1983 to 1986. In the same time, Tornado also stepped up their tournament promotions. Player associations for both tables merged in 1985 to form the USTSA, running joint world championships on both Dynamo and Tornado tables in 1985, 1986 and 1987. Dynamo then withdrew from tournament promotions and Tornado accepted the challenge of running the national pro tour from 1987 and continuing today, increasing prize money and bringing stability to the sport of professional table soccer. Tornado was sold to Dynamo-Valley Recreational Products in 1993 where the brand currently sits today.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, arcade games became more varied and interactive. Pac-Man, Frogger and Donkey Kong came on the scene and Atari came into homes which made it more accessible than ever. This led to a downfall in popularity of the game over the next couple decades.
In spite of the huge nationwide success of Tournament Soccer in the 1970's, the players in the southern US had remained loyal to the Texas-style table. Two leading manufacturers, Tornado Corp. and Dynamo Corp., both based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, maintained their shares of the market in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Alabama and Georgia. In 1982, Dynamo modified their table to incorporate some of the Tournament Soccer playing characteristics and set out to gain the favor of the former Tournament Soccer players. Dynamo ran modest national tours during 1983 to 1986. In the same time, Tornado also stepped up their tournament promotions. Player associations for both tables merged in 1985 to form the USTSA, running joint world championships on both Dynamo and Tornado tables in 1985, 1986 and 1987. Dynamo then withdrew from tournament promotions and Tornado accepted the challenge of running the national pro tour from 1987 and continuing today, increasing prize money and bringing stability to the sport of professional table soccer. Tornado was sold to Dynamo-Valley Recreational Products in 1993 where the brand currently sits today.
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 professional tables that meet the requirements and specs that official tournaments can be played on as well as the overall rule book. The US is proud to have the Tornado Tournament 3000 table from Tornado represented as the one of only five ITSF approved tables that are internationally sanctioned for all professional tournaments.
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 US that can be found at https://foosball.com/schedule/2023 and http://www.ifptour.com/tournaments.html. 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 professional tables that meet the requirements and specs that official tournaments can be played on as well as the overall rule book. The US is proud to have the Tornado Tournament 3000 table from Tornado represented as the one of only five ITSF approved tables that are internationally sanctioned for all professional tournaments.
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 US that can be found at https://foosball.com/schedule/2023 and http://www.ifptour.com/tournaments.html. 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.
