Dunlop

Goodyear’s influence on the ‘WORLD GAME’

THIS MONTH THE FOOTBALL WORLD CUP FINALS HAVE KICKED OFF IN SOUTH AFRICA WITH THE AUSTRALIAN SOCCEROOS QUALIFYING FOR A SECOND SUCCESSIVE TOURNAMENT. AT THEIR FEET, AND THE FEET OF EVERY PLAYER IN THE TOURNAMENT, IS TECHNOLOGY WITH TIES FAR CLOSER TO GOODYEAR’S TYRES THAN MANY PEOPLE ARE AWARE.

In 1839, American Charles Goodyear (whom the Goodyear tyre company was named in honour of) discovered how to vulcanise rubber, a breakthrough that revolutionised rubber production and its application – although it was another 49 years until John Dunlop (founder of the Dunlop tyre company) invented the first pneumatic tyre using the material.

Goodyear was experimenting with inflatable rubber products much sooner though. In 1855 he put an end to the medieval legacy of using an inflated pig’s bladder as a football when he designed and manufactured the first vulcanised rubber ball. His innovation not only improved performance but allowed for a standardisation of size and shape, marking the beginning of the modern history of the official match ball.

Tags: FOOTBALL WORLD CUP, SOCCEROOS, vulcanised rubber