Crown Soccer Special

Crown Soccer Special, manufactured by Taito Trading Co., Ltd. of Japan in July 1967, is a rare electro-mechanical head-to-head pinball machine built around a soccer theme. Two players compete simultaneously from opposite ends of the playfield, with the ball entering play from a center push-up.

The head-to-head design is distinctive: each player's flipper buttons control only the flippers facing their opponent, so players are effectively defending against each other's shots rather than only their own. Each side also has a constantly moving Goal Keeper, adding an element of timing and unpredictability. The machine features four pop bumpers and two kick-out holes.

Crown Soccer Special is an example of Taito's early forays into competitive, simultaneous-play pinball design. Its electro-mechanical construction reflects the technology typical of Japanese amusement machines of the late 1960s, and its rarity today makes it a notable find for collectors interested in unusual head-to-head formats.