In this cemetery in Horbury lies an unusual gravestone that tells a story of the life of one of the town’s most celebrated businesses. William Oates Sykes was born into the Sykes sports manufacturers family, after his father William moved to Horbury and bought a saddlery business in 1874. Moving into the football business, the family’s Zig-Zag branded footballs were used in many leading events, including the FA Cup finals of 1936, 1937, 1939, and 1946. Skyes expanded the business into cricket where he was known as a master bat…
