Trench Football Board Game
Date
Creator
Location
Rare Books & Special Collections, Hesburgh Libraries
British-made patriotic manual dexterity marble maze board game simulating trench warfare on the western front in World War One. The object of the game is to maneuver a small metal ball around a recessed playing board and avoid holes distributed around the course. Players win the game by navigating the ball around the course and into the goal which is guarded by a larger hole. Most of the holes on the course are accompanied by caricatures of German military commanders: "Little Willie" (outside right); "Von Terpitz" (centre forward); "Von Kluck" (outside left); "Von Bulow" (inside left); "Von Hindenburg" (inside right); "Von Der Goltz" (right half); "Von Moltke" (centre half); "Enver Pasha" (left half); "Count Zeppelin" (right back); "Von Sanders" (left back), and "The Kaiser" as the goal mouth. Two additional holes labeled "behind" on each side of the goal have no associated illustration. The top left and the top right flanking the goal are labeled "corner" but without holes or images. The top of the game board features the words "British Design" and "British Made." The bottom of the game board notes "Registration Applied For." The game board is encased in a wooden frame under glass.
Our collection information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. If you have spotted an error, please contact Rare Books & Special Collections, Hesburgh Libraries at rarebook@nd.edu.

