Burley-Sekem
Encyclopedia
Burley-Sekem Pty Ltd is an Australia
n sporting goods and apparel company. It was formed in 1985 from the merger of Burley Sports Pty Ltd, formerly JL Burley Pty Ltd, a Western Australian football manufacturer, and Sekem Pty Ltd, a sporting apparel and school uniform manufacturer.
, who was requested to make a ball that "kept its shape" for the Western Australian Football Association (WAFA). Previously, rugby balls had been used for the sport, but these were easily worn and prone to changing shape from a prolate spheroid
to a sphere
by the completion of matches. Burley's ball was first tried in a WAFA game between and in June 1906, and gained popularity amongst players, leading to it being exlusively used by the WAFL from 1921, a practice which continues to this day. The ball was introduced to the South Australian National Football League
(SANFL) in the 1920s, and is the official ball. Along with the Sherrin
, the Burley football was declared the official football of the Australian National Football Council (ANFC). The Burley was also used in interstate and carnival matches
featuring Western Australia
.
and the Second World War, expanding into sportswear, swimwear and school uniform
s, become Australia's largest manufacturer of school uniforms by the 1970s.
, the South Australian National Football League
, the Northern Territory Football League
, the United States Australian Football League
and AFL NSW/ACT
, as well as various other leagues and governing bodies. In Western Australia
, particularly, the ball is considered almost ubiquitous.
Burley-Sekem is responsible for the production of licensed AFL
, NRL
, WAFL, Wallabies, All Blacks
, Super Rugby, Socceroos and A-League
sporting apparel, and also produces Dukes Cricket Balls and Burley Indoor Cricket Balls.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n sporting goods and apparel company. It was formed in 1985 from the merger of Burley Sports Pty Ltd, formerly JL Burley Pty Ltd, a Western Australian football manufacturer, and Sekem Pty Ltd, a sporting apparel and school uniform manufacturer.
Burley
The Burley Football Company was started in 1906 by carpenter and former tanner's apprentice, Joe BurleyJoseph Leonard Burley
Joseph Leonard Burley was the founder of the Burley Football Company, which later became part of the Burley-Sekem group....
, who was requested to make a ball that "kept its shape" for the Western Australian Football Association (WAFA). Previously, rugby balls had been used for the sport, but these were easily worn and prone to changing shape from a prolate spheroid
Prolate spheroid
A prolate spheroid is a spheroid in which the polar axis is greater than the equatorial diameter. Prolate spheroids stand in contrast to oblate spheroids...
to a sphere
Sphere
A sphere is a perfectly round geometrical object in three-dimensional space, such as the shape of a round ball. Like a circle in two dimensions, a perfect sphere is completely symmetrical around its center, with all points on the surface lying the same distance r from the center point...
by the completion of matches. Burley's ball was first tried in a WAFA game between and in June 1906, and gained popularity amongst players, leading to it being exlusively used by the WAFL from 1921, a practice which continues to this day. The ball was introduced to the South Australian National Football League
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
(SANFL) in the 1920s, and is the official ball. Along with the Sherrin
Sherrin
Sherrin is a brand of football used in Australian rules football and is the official ball of the Australian Football League, designed to its official specifications...
, the Burley football was declared the official football of the Australian National Football Council (ANFC). The Burley was also used in interstate and carnival matches
Interstate matches in Australian rules football
Australian rules football matches between teams representing Australian colonies/states and territories have been held since 1879. For most of the 20th century, the absence of a national club competition and international matches meant that football games between state representative teams were...
featuring Western Australia
Western Australia Australian rules football team
The Sandgropers is the representative side of Western Australia in the sport of Australian rules football. The team is currently the representative team of the West Australian Football League and West Australian under-age footballers.-History:...
.
Sekem
Sekem commenced operations in 1923 as a sock manufacturing business. The business survived the Great DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
and the Second World War, expanding into sportswear, swimwear and school uniform
School uniform
A school uniform is an outfit—a set of standardized clothes—worn primarily for an educational institution. They are common in primary and secondary schools in various countries . When used, they form the basis of a school's dress code.Traditionally school uniforms have been largely subdued and...
s, become Australia's largest manufacturer of school uniforms by the 1970s.
Products
The company is most well-known for its manufacture of Burley footballs, which are used and endorsed by the West Australian Football LeagueWest Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
, the South Australian National Football League
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
, the Northern Territory Football League
Northern Territory Football League
The Northern Territory Football League is an 8 team Australian rules football semi-professional league operating in Darwin in the Northern Territory.The premier grade is the largest Australian rules football league in the Northern Territory...
, the United States Australian Football League
United States Australian Football League
The United States Australian Football League is the governing body for Australian rules football in the United States. It was conceived in 1996 and organized in 1997....
and AFL NSW/ACT
AFL NSW/ACT
AFL NSW/ACT is the governing body of Australian rules football in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.The body is officially affiliated with the Australian Football League.-External links:*...
, as well as various other leagues and governing bodies. In Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, particularly, the ball is considered almost ubiquitous.
Burley-Sekem is responsible for the production of licensed AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
, NRL
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
, WAFL, Wallabies, All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
, Super Rugby, Socceroos and A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
sporting apparel, and also produces Dukes Cricket Balls and Burley Indoor Cricket Balls.