Pro-Football

The Pro-Football pinball machine, manufactured by Maresa (Maquinas Recreativas Sociedad Anonima) of Madrid, Spain in 1974, is a near copy of Gottlieb's 1973 'Pro-Football' and, reportedly, was built from particle board. It offers a look at how American pinball designs were adapted and reproduced by European manufacturers during the 1970s.

The gameplay features on the Pro-Football are typical of mid-1970s EM machines, with two flippers, two pop bumpers, four slingshots, four standup targets, two vari-targets, a spinning target, and a star rollover. The ball enters the playfield from between the flippers when the right flipper button is pressed, and an extra pair of score reels on the backglass tally the point score. The machine has a wedge-head backbox, a drop-down cabinet, and sound provided by three chimes.

The Pro-Football's design and artwork are straightforward and football-themed, evoking the spirit of the sport. While little is known about the game's specific production history beyond its close resemblance to the Gottlieb original, its rarity as a Spanish-made adaptation makes it an interesting addition to any pinball collection, offering enthusiasts a glimpse into how licensed and unlicensed clones circulated in different pinball markets during the 1970s.