The first football was discovered in the 1980s in the roof above Mary Queen of Scots’ bedroom at Stirling Castle. This football must have been kicked around 1540, as it lodged in the rafters of the Queen’s castle during James V’s reconstruction of the castle. The oldest football is about half the size of a modern day football. It was made from an animal bladder and a leather skin. Before rubber was invented, animal bladder was easy to get as it was round, light-weight, easily inflated and durable. The oldest football is still in existence and is on display at the Smith Art Gallery and Museum in Stirling. It has a diameter of between 14-16 centimetres and weighs 125 grams.
Where was the World’s First Football Found?
