The governing body for football in Australia, the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) has inked a sponsorship agreement with the UK sports equipment brand, Mitre.
As part of the deal, the brand will be the A-Leagues’ new official match ball partner for the next three seasons. The partnership, which will begin in the forthcoming A-League Men and A-League Women 2024–25 seasons, will add Mitre’s renowned quality and tradition, as well as custom designs, to the game.
Mitre, a renowned football brand with a rich history stretching back to 1817, has been at the epicentre of football innovation and quality. Mitre has almost 200 years of experience in the game and has regularly supplied robust footballs to major leagues and competitions throughout the world.
The company has also been the official ball provider for a number of popular tournaments, such as the English Football Association, the FA Cup, the Australia Cup, and the Australian National Football League.
Mitre and the A-League will work together on the official customised design 2024–25 match ball, as well as special edition official match balls for the season, which include unique A-Leagues Final Series match balls for both top leagues.
Mitre will unveil the Ultimax Pro as the official match ball of the A-Leagues for the 2024–2025 season. The legendary and beloved Ultimax Pro football from Mitre blends modern design with state-of-the-art football technology to provide outstanding performance.
The Ultimax Pro’s superior design provides resilience, precision, and constant flight, making it perfect for the A-League’s high-speed action. The unusual design, which has bold A-League colours, will make it stand out on the pitch and improve the watching experience.
Apart from the original match ball, Mitre will provide four Ultimax Pro-inspired replica versions that appeal to varying skill levels and budgets, ensuring that high-quality footballs are affordable for everyone.
A-Leagues Chief Commercial Officer, Ned Negus, said, “Mitre is such a historic brand with strong football credibility, so they’re the perfect partner to deliver our official Isuzu UTE A-League Men and Liberty A-League Women match balls. At a time when A-Leagues is putting football and fans first, Mitre is best placed to deliver a uniquely designed range of Ultimax Pro official match balls and a broad retail range offering more fans the opportunity to engage with A-Leagues and football.”
Mitre Australia’s, Gerrard Woods, said, “We are delighted to support the A-Leagues as they embark on their new season. Our footballs have been tested at the highest levels of the game, and we are confident that they will contribute to the dynamic and engaging football that the A-Leagues are known for.”
Simon Rowe, Brand Director, said, “We’re thrilled to kick off our partnership with the Australian Professional Leagues. Our top-level Mitre Ultimax Pro is the perfect ball for the A-League, built for elite players and delivering ultimate power, accuracy, and on-pitch performance. Globally, Mitre continues to lead the way in ball development and technology. We are excited to partner with the pinnacle of professional football in Australia and New Zealand. Core to our brand values is providing balls for all levels of the game so we’re delighted to offer the supporting replica and training range so all fans and players can play like pros.”