Push-Ball

Suzanne Foster, the College Archivist, reminds us of an unusual game that appeared at the College in the 1930s. 

In 1932, the rather bizarre sport of ‘Pushball’ was briefly trialled at Win Coll. The game was introduced by RLG Irving (Coll, 1890-96; Co Ro, 1900-44). We might never have known about this event were it not for the evidence of three photographs in a collection of memorabilia belonging to Geoff Hodges (B, 1922-27; CoRo, 1929-68) given to the College Archives by his son Harley (I, 1951-56) ten years ago.

The photographs (improved considerably by their handwritten captions) show a match on Meads between the dons and a group of boys. We know very little about this contest – Irving wrote a piece for The Wykehamist in November 1932 giving some hints on the game but telling us nothing as to the score. Irving writes: ‘The golden rule is “keep your eye on the ball”: you will then know when you are giving it a push in the right direction. There is only one thing more fatal than to lose sight of the ball, and that is to lose touch with it. Do not kick the ball: the joint of the big toe is very fragile. (This is a rule as well as a hint.) Try to avoid puncturing the ball, which only results in general concussion and the end of a perfect day. One last invaluable tip for beginners: do not get underneath the ball when it is on the ground, as this prevents others getting a place in the mud. You will find that goals are scored in Pushball, as in life, not by underhand methods but by overhead charges.’

Irving’s full article can be read here.  You might not be any the wiser after reading it, perhaps hinting at Pushball’s short appearance at Win Coll.

Research shows that Pushball was invented in 1891 by an American who wanted a soccer-like game where spectators could more easily see the ball – hence his idea to create a game using a ball measuring 6ft in diameter and weighing about 50lbs. One wonders if this American had very poor eye-sight.  He would certainly have had considerable patience to inflate the ball by hand.