In the centuries before football became organised, balls were kicked around at all ages and levels, but they were made from bundles of rags, sheep bladders and the like. Anything that could be rolled was kicked, including the decapitated heads of your enemies.
The oldest football in existence is on show in the Sterling Smith Museum in Scotland. It is 450 years old (approx!) and probably made from an outer casing of deer skin surrounding a pig's bladder. It is claimed it was owned by Mary Queen of Scots.
Leather was introduced in the 19th Century with a pig bladder inside and even with the forming of the FA in 1863, the ball was not legalised. so different sizes were used.
Rubber was invented of course and pig's bladders were exhausted. Below is the Charles Goodyear vulcanized football used in the USA in 1863 and on show in the Soccer hall of Fame, Oneonta New York State, a museum I have been to!
By 1872 the first playing of the FA Cup formalised matters, insisting on uniform dimensions, a leather outer and bladder for inflation and maintaining air. Size was stipulated to be 27-28 inches in circumference and the weight one pound or 16 ounces with an internal pressure of 0.6-1.1 atmospheres. Interesting innit?
Charles Buchan, of Boys' Football Annual fame, was presented with a signed match ball after his hat trick on 17th November 1923 when he scored three against Blackburn Rovers for Sunderland. This is the first reward recorded.
http://www.soccerballworld.com/History.htm
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