Newfooty

The Newfooty Limited Company was established in Liverpool by Mr. William Lane Keeling (Born Sept. 1893, died 1976) in 1929,the year when the patent was officially registered at the patent office in Liverpool. The initial Newfooty Patent ran from 1929–1934, followed by a further five year period of 1934–1939.

Newfooty came up with the idea of flicking the figures with the fingers towards the ball and was the initial table football (soccer) game long before Subbuteo Table Soccer (Football). Newfooty can lay claim to being the original finger flicking table soccer game which many players enjoy today. First manufactured in 1929 by Mr William (Will) Lane Keeling in Liverpool, the original game has reached more fame than in the past, due to the internet years and information sharing. In 2029 it will then be the 100 Years anniversary of this table football (soccer) game. The first manufactured figures where flat from card (cardboard, paper) and later the plastic (celluloid) version followed.

After the Second World War, when the English economy started to recover, Newfooty had a rival on the market by 1947, when Peter Adolph started his Subbuteo Sports Games Ltd company. The Newfooty set contained 22 playing figures on a plastic base with lead at the bottom, goalkeepers, balls, wire made goals, fixture card and rule book. Corner kick flags came later. All fitted into very nicely designed cardboard boxes to attract the football fan.

Newfooty advertised itself as 'the Original Game' in printed media and was a bitter market rival to Subbuteo in the 1950s. Both companies manufactured sets (in Cardboard boxes) of games which looked rather similar with regards to the size of the figures and the methods of play. In 1953 Newfooty brought the first 3D plastic figurine into the market.

The manufactured products are not used in the modern game, but it is loved by many hobby players and collectors.

The 'Newfooty Players Association' (NPA) was founded in 1934 in England and people could become members to participate in Leagues and Cup competitions. It was the world's first "players association" and organised by Newfooty Ltd. There was also a Newfooty player of the Year Trophy. The Newfooty handbook "Libro Oficial" was also available in the Spanish language with "Instrucciones y Reglamentos" for "Futbol de Mesa".

Newfooty Limited company was taken over by its rival Subbuteo Sports Games Ltd from Tunbridge Wells in 1957.

The world governing body FISTF issues the modern Sports table football rules, based on the classic Subbuteo playing rules. Newfooty rules and regulations are not well known, except the way to flick the figure towards the ball by flicking the finger.

References

• Upton, Peter. "1929-1953". Newfooty Tribute Website. Retrieved 7 August 2017.

Genealogy: geni.com William Lane Keeling (Born around Sept. 1893, died 1976)