Football Urns for Ashes: A Guide to Soccer, AFL, Rugby and NFL Ball Urns
For someone who lived for their football, a traditional vase-shaped urn can feel like it belongs to a stranger. A football urn holds their ashes inside a real ball from the code and club they followed, so the memorial looks like them.
This guide covers how our football urns are made, which balls we work with, what they cost and how to order.
What is a football urn?
A football urn is a real, full-size ball converted into a sealed container for cremated remains. At Identity Urns we use a patented process that builds a hard, durable shell inside the ball. The ashes go inside the ball itself, not in a box underneath it, and the ball keeps its original look and feel.
Each urn is designed to hold a complete adult's ashes and sits on a handmade timber stand. You can add an engraved message to the stand and a perspex display case to protect the ball.
Which football codes can we make?
- Soccer (association football). English Premier League, Scottish and A-League club balls, plus plain match balls. See soccer football urns.
- AFL. Every AFL club, from the Adelaide Crows to the Western Bulldogs. See AFL football urns.
- Rugby league. NRL clubs in full-size and 11-inch mini balls. See rugby league urns.
- Rugby union. National team balls including the All Blacks, England and Scotland. See rugby ball urns.
- American football (NFL). See American football urns.
Can't see their team? We can turn almost any inflatable ball into an urn. The Your Own Ball urn lets you choose any club, code or country.
A new ball, or their own ball?
You can choose a new ball for their club, or send us a ball that belonged to them: a signed ball, a ball from their playing days, or the one that sat in the shed for years. Their own ball often means the most to a family.
We take great care with every urn. Very occasionally something goes wrong during the process, so if a ball truly can't be replaced, please talk to us before you send it.
How much does a football urn cost?
These are our Australian prices, in Australian dollars, and include the handmade timber stand. Ordering from the UK, the USA or elsewhere? Each product page shows the price in your local currency.
- Football urn, no engraving: from $455
- With an engraved message: from $499
- With a perspex display case: from $645, or from $689 engraved
A Your Own Ball urn starts from $435.
Delivery in Australia and overseas
Every urn is handmade by Greg in the Noosa Hinterland on Queensland's Sunshine Coast and posted with tracking. Within Australia, standard orders are usually despatched within 5 business days and express orders within 2.
We deliver to the UK, New Zealand, the USA, Canada and Europe. For international orders we pay all duties and taxes, so the price you see at checkout is the final price. See shipping and delivery for rates and timeframes.
Choosing the right football urn
- Pick the code and club they followed, or choose to send their own ball.
- Decide on engraving. A name, dates, a nickname or a line from the club song all work well.
- Consider a display case if the urn will sit somewhere busy or you want to keep dust off it.
- Talk to us if you need it by a certain date. Email Alison at info@identityurns.com and she will help.
Common questions
Does a football urn hold all of the ashes?
Yes. A full-size football urn is designed to hold a complete adult's ashes. If you plan to share the ashes between family members, ask us about our smaller balls.
Can the ashes be placed inside by the family?
Yes. Each urn is made so the ashes can be placed inside and sealed.
Do you make urns for other sports?
Yes. We also make basketball urns, and we can talk to you about other balls.