T.W Sherrin
Sherrin was founded in 1880 by Thomas William Sherrin, the "T.W. Sherrin" whose name still appears on every official Sherrin football today. Born into a close-knit family as one of nine children, Thomas William Sherrin chose a different career path from his father, who worked as a carpenter. Instead, he became a saddler, specialising in the repair and manufacture of horse saddles and other leather goods.
Through his work with leather, Tom developed exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail. His skills soon led him to become involved with a local football club known as Britannia FC, where players regularly brought their rugby-style footballs to him for repair.
While repairing these footballs, Tom recognised an opportunity to improve their design. The balls used at the time were often inconsistent in shape, making them difficult to kick accurately and unpredictable when they bounced. Drawing on his experience as a leather craftsman, he began experimenting with new football designs.
The result was a breakthrough that would help shape the future of Australian Rules Football. Tom developed a football with rounder ends and a more balanced shape, allowing it to bounce more evenly and travel more predictably when kicked. These improvements made the ball easier for players to control and better suited to the fast-paced style of Australian football.
His innovative design quickly gained popularity and became synonymous with the game. More than 140 years later, the Sherrin football remains one of Australia's most recognised sporting icons and continues to be the official match ball used in AFL competitions. The craftsmanship, quality, and innovation introduced by Thomas William Sherrin in 1880 still form the foundation of every Sherrin football produced today.
For football fans, players, and collectors alike, the name T.W. Sherrin represents a rich history of Australian sporting excellence and the evolution of the game itself.