GB2051590A - Football board game - Google Patents

Abstract

The board is divided into a starting frame and a plurality of individually priced football team player frames, bonus or penalty card-acquiring frames, advantage and handicap frames. Also provided are bonus and penalty cards, football player contract cards, football ground title deed cards, football stand pieces, game player pieces, game money and one or more random numerical indicators. The object is to assemble a team, buy or lease a ground and then win the 'league' within a specified time. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Football board game This invention relates to apparatus for playing a football board game.

According to this invention there is provided apparatus for playing a football game comprising a board divided into a starting frame and a plurality of individually priced football team player frames, bonus or penalty card acquiring frames, advantage and handicap frames, said board being in combination with bonus and penalty cards, football player contract cards, football ground title deed cards, football stand pieces, game player pieces, game money and one or more random numerical indicators.

A scoreboard in the form of a large crib-board with holes and pegs may be included in the apparatus for playing the game in order to keep score.

Preferably, the football player frames are classified as defence, mid-field and striker, one of each being provided to constitute each team designated on the board.

A total of eight teams may be provided such that there are 24 football team player frames labelled with a preselected price.

Preferably the bonus and penalty cards are combined within two separate packs, designated red and yellow cards and for each pack, a specific frame being provided on the board.

The red and yellow cards may contain such orders as described later in the specification.

Suitable advantage frames comprise 'Striker scores a hat trick' and 'Goal Square'.

Preferred handicap frames include 'Bank interest due', 'Rent on Ground Due', 'Penalty Box', 'Striker Injured', 'Move to penalty box', 'Offside Square'.

A 'Halftime' frame may be included in the board.

Player contract cards are preferably printed 'defence', 'mid-field' and 'attack', and carry the transfer free of the relevant player.

The football ground Title deed cards are preferably printed with the name of the appropriate ground and its costs. One side may be printed 'Freehold deeds', the other side 'leasehold'.

A die or dice may be used as random numerical indicators.

The preferred board layout is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view of one half of the board including the starting frame, and Figure 2 is a plan view of the other half of the board.

As shown in the drawings the board is divided into respective frames including a kick off square, team strikers, midfield and defence, advantage and handicap frames, red and yellow card acquiring frames and a half time frame. A separate frame is allotted for a pack of red and a pack of yellow cards.

Objects.

The object of the game is to assemble a team, buy or lease a ground, and then win the 'league', all within the ninety minutes (plus possible injury time) in which a normal game of football would be played. Whilst money and property are used in the game, they are only incidental, the winner being the 'manager' with the most points. These assets are important, however, since without adequate attention to the financial considerations the manager may be placed in a position where he is forced to sell his players.

Starting the game.

Each player starts with 2 million, divided as follows: 2 X 500,000 7 x 100,000 4X 50,000 10x 10,000 The players decide who will commence play by throwing dice, the highest scorer starting, then around the table in clockwise order. At the commencement of play all players symbols must be on the 'kick-off' square, the players moving the symbols in sympathy with the score thrown.

The game is suitable for any number of players from two to eight. Up to ten can participate if two of them take the part of match officials.

Match officials.

There are two 'match officials', the referee and the banker.

The banker is responsible for the issue of money at the commencement and throughout the game, and for the collection of monies due to the bank.

The referee is responsible for seeing that all points which are scored are entered on the scoreboard for the team concerned.

Match officials may or may not take an active part in the game.

Forming the team.

The manager forms his team by landing on the square that represents a part (strikers, midfield, or defence) of that team, and paying the transfer fee specified. The team is not formed until the manager has all three parts, but when he has the team complete he can proceed to obtain the ground (see below). Each manager can be manager of one team only, and once he has formed his team must dispose of any parts of other teams which he has acquired.

The ground.

Once the manager has a full team the ground may be purchased or leased, the choice being the manager's.

If the ground is purchased, the manager may be using up valuable capital which he may need later, and will be in a position where he may have to pay for ground improvements.

If the ground is leased, no capital payment is made, but if the manager subsequently lands on the 'Rent on Ground Due' square he must pay half of the capital cost of the ground, and he must do this on every ocassion that he lands on that square on the board.

Once the decision to buy or lease has been made the title deed to the ground is lodged with the bank, the appropriate side uppermost. A decision to lease may be reversed, and the ground subsequently bought, but only at the completion of the purchasing manager's turn, and only after any outstanding rent has been paid.

Borrowing from the bank.

In addition to the funds issued at the commencement of play, each club has an overdraft arrangement at the bank, which is directly related to the value of the team, The facility must be drawn in full if it is utilised, and a memorandum of borrowing lodged at the bank. No charge is made until the amount borrowed is repaid, or unless the manager lands on the 'Bank Interest Due' square, when he must pay the sum stated on the memorandum of borrowing. The amount borrowed may be repaid at any time, but only at the completion of the borrower's turn. If a player lands on the 'Bank Interest Due' square and immediately repays the bank loan he must pay two amounts of interest.

Borrowing on the security of the ground.

Should the manager have purchased his club's ground and subsequently require finance, the ground may be sold back to the bank for half its original cost, and immediately leased back. It should be remembered, however, that if in a few moves the player lands on the 'Rent on Ground Due' square he will have gained no capital and will have lost a capital asset.

Commencing scoring.

It must be carefully noted that before a manager can commence to score points he must have all three parts of his team, plus the ground, and must have disposed of any parts of other teams which he previously purchased.

Gaining points.

Points are collected in the following ways: 1. Passing the 'kick-off' square (2 points) 2. Landing on one of the team's own squares (some win: 2 points) 3. Drawing certain 'red' cards 4. Landing on the 'goal' square if the appropriate 'red' card is held.

Losing points.

Points can be lost in the following ways: 1. Landing on the 'off-side' square.

2. Drawing certain 'red' cards.

If no score has been accured when the penalty is incurred it shall be ignored, in other words, no player can have a 'minus' score.

Gaining money.

1. Selling players 2. Borrowing from the bank 3. Mortgaging from the bank 4. Drawing certain 'yellow'cards.

Losing money.

Money may be lost or spent in the following ways: 1. Purchasing assets: players or ground.

2. Repaying bank lending.

3. Landing on the 'Ground Rent' or 'Bank Interest' squares, if applicable.

4. Drawing certain 'yellow' cards.

Important.

Although no manager can commence to amass points until he has a complete team, in some circumstances it is possible for him to receive money (for example, by drawing an appropriate 'yellow' card), and it is necessary for him to spend money almost from the outset of the game.

The 'Red' and 'Yellow' Cards.

If a manager lands on the appropriate square he must draw either the 'red' or 'yellow' card.

The drawing of one of these cards often involves some penalty or benefit, which may be carried out if appropriate. If not appropriate at the time that the card is drawn, the penalty or benefit shall not be carried forward.

Extra time.

Among the 'red' cards are two which, when played, add on injury time. Each card may be retained when drawn and played by the player drawing if it is to his advantage to do so at the end of 'normal time', i.e. after ninety minutes. Each card has the effect of adding an additional five minutes to the game, so that one player may add a total of ten minutes to the game if he has both injury time cards. This can obviously have a significant effect on the game, especially if one team is borrowing heavily and the points totals are close.

Free kicks.

Certain 'red' cards give the player who draws them a 'free kick'. This means that he may have another turn after what would normally be the completion of his turn. The card must be played immediately it is drawn.

Penalties.

'Red' cards may be drawn which award penalties both for and against the player drawing the card. Instructions as to how to decide if the penalty is decisive (i.e. sufficient to earn one or two points) are contained on the appropriate cards.

'Off-side' Rule.

If a player lands on the 'off-side' square a decisive goal is disallowed, and his team loses a point. Among the 'red' cards, however, are three which when played negate this disadvantage, since the referee has decided that the player concerned, although off-side, was not interfering with play. The penalty is not, therefore, levied.

'Goal' Cards.

Among the 'red' cards are four 'Goal' cards. These should be retained if drawn, and played when the player drawing them lands on the 'goal' square on the board. This will have the effect of causing an equalising goal to be scored if one card is played, and the player will therefore score one point. If two cards are played a winning goal is scored, and the player will score two points.

'Cup Game' Cards.

Certain 'yellow' cards refer to advantages derived from the playing of Cup Games. It must be emphasised that any such advantages are of a financial nature only, and have no direct effect on the number of points scored.

Selling Players.

It has already been stated that before a manager can commence to score points he must dispose of any parts of other teams which he is holding. This may be done on the transfer market, by selling the unwanted players to the highest bidder. If no manager wants the players, or any managers who do want the players are unable to raise the necessary fee, the players must be sold back to the bank for half their original cost.

If the manager feels that he may derive a short-team financial advantage by holding the unwanted players he may do so, but: 1. He will not commence to gain points.

2. He will not be able to sell until it is his turn to throw the dice again.

3. If an offer is made by another manager it must be accepted if it is equal to the original cost of the players concerned.

Insolvency.

If a manager is unable to meet his debts as they fall due, and is unable to raise finance under the rules of the game. his Club shall be put into liquidation, and all its assets surrendered to the bank.

The player concerned must retire from the game, but his points total shall stand, and retirement from the game shall not preclude the retired player from being the winner of the game if that points total is the highest.

In addition to the board and the Rules, the following items are necessary: 1. Box to contain complete game.

2. Players contracts. Cards printed, for example, Liverpool defence, midfield, and attack, and having the transfer fee of the piece in question on the face.

3. Deeds to ground. Cards printed with the name of the appropriate ground, and the cost.

On one side is printed 'freehold deeds', indicating that the 'manager' concerned has purchased the freehold, and on the other 'leasehold', with a lower price, and a note of the amount payable in rent calls if the player lands on the appropriate square.

4. Stands. One for each 'team', which the 'manager' can purchase once he has the complete 'team', and therefore the ground.

5. Money. Notes in 500,000, 1 00,00, 50,000 and 10,000 denominations.

6. Scoreboard. This is a very large crib-board, with holes and pegs.

7. Players' symbols. To economise, coloured counters may be used, but symbols like a boot, a whistle, a corner flag, are preferable.

8. Red and Yellow Cards. As listed hereafter.

9. Dice.

NUMBER OF BONUS AND PENALTY (ORDERS) PRINTED ON RED CARDS CARDS. (TOTAL 34) 1 Penalty awarded against you. Throw dick lose one point unless you score a double.

1 You are awarded a penalty. Throw dice gain one point if you score seven or more.

1 Penalty awarded against you. Throw dice-lose two points unless you score seven or more.

1 You are awarded a penalty. Throw dice gain two points if you score a double; gain one point if you score eight or more. MAXIMUM SCORE TWO POINTS.

1 Captain injured-lose a point.

1 Goalkeeper injured-lose a point.

Midfield player requests transfer-lose a point.

1 Your sweeper collects twenty penalty points-lose a point.

2 EXTRA TIME-Retain this card until end of game when, if played, it will add five minutes to duration of game.

4 FREE KICK. Take another turn after what would normally be completion of your turn.

1 Transfer request-lose a point.

4 GOAL-Retain until you land on appropriate sqaure on board, then play to gain a point.

3 Player OFFISDE but not interfering with play. Retain card until you land on offside square, then play to negate penalty point.

1 Advance to kick-off square. Collect two points as you pass.

1 Advance to half-time square. Collect two points if you pass kick-off square.

1 Go back three spaces.

1 Advance to Liverpool midfield square. Collect two points if you pass kick-off square.

3 Striker injured: lose a point.

3 Striker scores a hat-trick. Gain a point.

1 Advance to Tottenham midfield square. Collect two points if you pass kick-off square.

1 Go back to Arsenal defence square.

NUMBER OF BONUS AND PENALTY (ORDERS) PRINTED ON YELLOW CARDS CARDS. (TOTAL 27) 1 You draw First Division side at home in the Cup-Collect 40,000.

1 You draw non-league side away in the Cup-Collect 10,000.

1 Ground closed due to crowd disturbance-lose 50,000.

1 Pay Insurance Premium of 20,000.

1 Receive proceeds of Season Ticket Sales: 50,000.

1 Receive European Cup proceeds of 1 00,000.

2 Receive transfer fees of 300,000.

1 Receive transfer fees of (200,000.

Pay transfer fees of 300,000.

1 Pay transfer fees of 200,000.

1 Stand damaged by gales, found to be under-insured. Lose 300,000.

1 Receive interest on short-term bank deposits: 20,000.

1 Pay ground staff salaries of 30,000.

1 Ground closed due to bad weather-lose 40,000.

1 You play postponed game in mid-weekgain 30,000.

1 Pay ground maintenance of 50,000.

1 Supporters' Club pays you 20,000.

1 Pay medical fees of 40,000.

1 Out-of-Court settlement made regarding former manager-You pay him 30,000.

1 Pay legal expenses of 20,000.

1 Insurance Claim settled-receive 200,000.

1 Pay printer for programmes-10,000.

1 Receive advertising revenue 200,000.

1 Receive advertising revenue 1 00,000.

2 Ground Improvements-If you own FREEHOLD of ground pay 200,000.

Claims (14)

1. Apparatus for playing a football board game comprising a board divided into a starting frame and a plurality of individually priced football team player frames, bonus or penalty card acquiring frames, advantage and handicap frames, said board being in combintation with bonus and penalty cards, football player contract cards, football ground title deed cards, football stand pieces, game player pieces, game money and one or more random numerical indicators.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a scoreboard in the form of a crib-board having hole and peg score indicating means.

3. Apparatus according to (either) preceding claim wherein the football player frames are classified as 'defence', 'mid-field' and 'striker'.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein a complete football team comprises one 'defence', one 'mid-field' and one 'striker' player.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the board is divided into eight football teams comprising a total of twenty four player frames.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the bonus and penalty cards are combined within two separate packs and designated 'red' and 'yellow' cards, a specific frame being provided on the board for each pack.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein 34 'red' cards are provided which carry the orders as defined in the specification.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 or 7 wherein 27 'yellow' cards are provided which carry the orders as defined in the specification.

9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the board includes two advantage frames on which a player gains extra points.

1 0. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the board includes eight handicap frames whereby a player loses points, money or moves.

11. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the board includes a half-time frame.

1 2. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the play contract cards are labelled 'defence', 'mid-field' and 'attack' and carry the transfer fee of the relevant player.

1 3. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the title deed cards are printed with the name of the appropriate ground, its price, on one side of each such card being endorsed 'freehold', the other side being endorsed 'leasehold'.

14. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein a die or dice are used as random numerical indicators.

1 5. Apparatus for playing a board game substantially as herein described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.