Sherrin
Encyclopedia
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. It was the first ball designed specifically for the sport.
Sherrin footballs are manufactured by Spalding
, owned by Russell Corp Aus P/L, in Melbourne
, Victoria
, Australia
from cow hide lined and machine-stitched, but other sized models are often made in India
or China
, using synthetic rubber.
ball to fix.
He designed the Sherrin with indented rather than pointy ends to give the ball a better bounce.
Sherrin began production in 1897 in a workshop in Collingwood
, which had produced sporting goods since the 1880s.
The sport known as football, or "footy", was rapidly increasing in popularity, and Sherrin footballs soon became the icon for being the first ball made for Australian rules football.
Despite Sherrins competition with the also-popular football brand Burley
, Sherrin footballs still remain the most popular among leagues, players, and football fans.
The VFL/AFL has used the Sherrin ball since the 1880's. The other major brand of Australian rules football is Burley-Sekem
which is used in several state and minor leagues including the SANFL and WAFL
.
Football (ball)
A football is an inflated ball used to play one of the various sports known as football.The first balls were made of natural materials, such as an inflated pig bladder, sometimes inside a leather cover...
used in Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
and is the official ball of the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
, designed to its official specifications. It was the first ball designed specifically for the sport.
Sherrin footballs are manufactured by Spalding
Spalding (sports equipment)
Spalding is a sporting goods company founded by Albert Spalding in Chicago, Illinois, in 1876 and now headquartered in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The company specializes in the production of balls for many sports, but is most-known for its basketballs...
, owned by Russell Corp Aus P/L, in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
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...
from cow hide lined and machine-stitched, but other sized models are often made in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
or China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, using synthetic rubber.
History
The first Australian rules football was invented by T.W. Sherrin in 1880, when he was given a misshapen rugbyRugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
ball to fix.
He designed the Sherrin with indented rather than pointy ends to give the ball a better bounce.
Sherrin began production in 1897 in a workshop in Collingwood
Collingwood, Victoria
Collingwood is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Yarra...
, which had produced sporting goods since the 1880s.
The sport known as football, or "footy", was rapidly increasing in popularity, and Sherrin footballs soon became the icon for being the first ball made for Australian rules football.
Despite Sherrins competition with the also-popular football brand Burley
Burley-Sekem
Burley-Sekem Pty Ltd is an Australian 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...
, Sherrin footballs still remain the most popular among leagues, players, and football fans.
Awards
-
- Awarded Prize Medal and First Order of Merit, Adelaide International Exhibition, 1881
- First Order of Merit Melbourne Industrial Exhibition, 1879-80
- Diploma of Merit, Centennial Exhibition, 1888-89
- Certification for use in the VFL
- Certification for use in the AFL
Sizes, models and colours
Models of the Sherrin football include:-
- KB (Kangaroo Brand): The full and correct playing size for adult men's competition, made to AFL and most other league specifications.
- Size 4.5 (women's): Slightly smaller than a full-sized ball, made to women's league specifications.
- Size 4: Smaller than the KB model, popular among players aged 10-13. Usually made from rubber synthetic
- Size 3: Smaller again, and popular among players aged 6-10. Usually made from rubber synthetic
- Lyrebird: Made by Sherrin but slightly different in comparison with other Sherrin models and sizes, with a slightly pointier angle for easier kicking and marking. The Lyrebird model is around $40 cheaper than the KB Sherrin, because of the lower quality and durability. Made from Indian imported leather
- "Soft-Touch": These are made in all sizes, but are made with a soft-dense rubber rather than leather or rubber synthetic, to give the ball a "soft-touch" (also making the ball easier to kick and mark)
- Colours, rubber or leather, different sizes: These are factors for the player/consumer to decide. Sizes 3 and 4 are popular among children aged 6-13, while genuine leather, full-sized KB models (the red coloured KB used for day AFL matches, and the yellow coloured KB used for night-time AFL matches) are popular among players aged 14+, beginners, intermediate, or advanced players. AFL club colours, mascots and logos printed on various sizes of the Sherrin are also popular with fans of the club and players.
The Meaning of "Kangaroo Brand"
The term "Kangaroo Brand" ("KB") refers to a type of Sherrin football. When T.W. Sherrin started manufacturing footballs, several models were produced (such as the "MATCH III" Sherrin), but the "Kangaroo Brand" was Sherrins best-selling, highest-quality, and most favoured and traditional football.Endorsements
High profile leagues that endorse Sherrin as the official ball include:- Australia
- VAFAVictorian Amateur Football AssociationThe Victorian Amateur Football Association is an Australian rules football league in Victoria, Australia consisting purely of amateur players. Unlike the Victorian Football League and the VFL/AFL, the VAFA has always been strictly a purely amateur league and has affiliations with both AFL Victoria...
- VFLVictorian Football LeagueThe Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
- Queensland State League
- VAFA
The VFL/AFL has used the Sherrin ball since the 1880's. The other major brand of Australian rules football is Burley-Sekem
Burley-Sekem
Burley-Sekem Pty Ltd is an Australian 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...
which is used in several state and minor leagues including the SANFL and WAFL
West 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...
.