Sporty's warehouse carries a good range of basic grid iron balls up to match quality. Here's how it all started in Australia.
In 1983 the first fully organised gridiron teams in Australia were formed in Melbourne, Victoria. Further north, an ad was placed over a Sydney radio station advertising for American football enthusiasts to assemble in early 1984. The response was remarkable and several teams comprising enthusiastic amateurs who had been throwing the ball around on Sunday afternoons were formed. The first season saw all games being played at a disused rubbish tip.
There were no goal posts,no medical supervision and no insurance. The early pioneers did not wear helmets but found kick boxing protective headgear useful. 1984 saw the first interstate clash when a team from Melbourne travelled to Sydney to play. NSW won the match 30-7. American Football had arrived in Australia.