2. Prior to the 19th century in all probability smaller side
games of football were played according to locally agreed rules.
These went largely unrecorded. King Henry VIII (1491 1547) did pay
four shillings in 1525 to have football boots made by the Royal
boot maker. Although they did not survive the boots were thought to
be ankle high and made from strong leather making them heavier than
the normal shoes of the day. 3. Ball games were played in all the
major English sublic schools and local boot makers customised
engineers boots to the individual players feet. Early football
boots extended above the ankle, to give support and limited
protection in the rough and tumble games . Ball games were ill
defined with robust physical contact, including hard tackles,
encouraged as a form of character building. Boots were tightly
laced with long laces, which wrapped around the ankle and often
across the ball of the foot. To increase ground traction; boots
incorporated studs (usually in the ratio of 4:2) 4. Once
Association Rules were Established the exclusive Upper Class game
of football became the pre occupation of the leisured working
class. Rule 13 meant dangerous metal studs could no longer be worn
and players sported leather cleats instead. 5. Outfits became more
streamline than the previous decade, which may indicate a faster
game but players still wore standard soccer boots (circa 1900).
This is a successful West Australian team (circa 1912) sporting the
latest fashions in soccer kit. 6. The English game spread quickly
across the world. Acceptance of team outfits became the norm and
adjustments for climatic conditions necessitated minor
modifications. 7. In the UK Bozeat Boot Company Later Gola, (1905)
; in Italy Valsport (1920); and the German football boot maker
Hummel (1923) which later relocated to Denmark all competed to
produce boots. Adolf and Rudolf Dassler formed the Gebruder Dassler
Schuhfabrik in Herzogenaurach in 1924 and began producing football
boots in 1925. Adi Dassler is credited with introducing replaceable
studs. 8. Players could wear screw-in studs principally through the
innovation of Adi Dassler (co founder of Adidas). Studs were
selected to suit weather conditions. Whilst there was some
variation in the arrangement of stud patterns on the sole most
professionals preferred the 4:2 or 4:3 ratio. 9. Continental soccer
developed to such a degree domestic supporters demanded their
players incorporated the same skills into local play. Improved
travel extended competitions to include international fixtures.
Crowds Were now entertained by more athletic moves, such as the
bicycle (overhead) kick. Individual ball control became the major
Focus and boots were worn very tight to the foot to allow players
to feel greater control of the ball. 10. Adidas company was formed
in 1948 by Adolf (Adi) Dassler after a falling out with his brother
Rudolf. His younger sibling founded the Puma in the same year
producing the Puma Atom football boot. Both companies incorporated
interchangeable screw in studs Made of plastic or rubber for the
first time. 11. Soccer boots were still worn above the Ankle and
tightly bound to the foot by laces but when it became apparent long
studs caused injury new regulations were enforced in 1951.
Progressively synthetic materials replaced natural leathers and
molded studs became available. Winners of the 1954 FIFA World Cup,
West Germany all sported the new adidas soccer boots with screw-in
studs. By 1958 at the FIFA World Cup, Sweden, the majority of
players wore adidas boots. 12. Several more football boot makers
joined the market with new brands and styling. These included:
Mitre (1960), Joma (1965) and Asics (1964). Adidas remained brand
leaders but rivals Puma scored a winner with Puma Kings and the
personal endorsement of Bazils Edson Arantes Do Nascimento (Pele)
in the 1962 World Cup Finals. 13. By now players had accepted the
lower Soccer shoe and new boots were moderately lighter in weight
which may have given some players an advantage. A much less
physical game which was Better regulated was played with new soccer
balls which speeded up play. New synthetic materials prevented
water uptake and both ball and boots remained the same weight
throughout even in the wildest weather conditions. 75% of the
players at the 1966 FIFA World Cup in England wore adidas boots.
14. Club sponsorships and personal endorsements became the norm
with the photo opportunity a critically important marketing ploy.
Companies concentrated on more attractive fashionable boots, often
incorporating novelties, which sometimes appeared to ignore the
risk of injury. Black boots were essential 15. Adidas continued to
dominate Supplies and in 1979 released the Copa Mundial made from
kangaroo leather. It would become the world's top-selling soccer
boot. Several other football boot makers joined the competitive
market including Italian football boot maker Diadora (1977). The
next decade saw more companies join the competition with Lotto
(Italy), Kelme (Spain) in 1982; and Umbro in 1985. 16. Soccer shoes
encapsulated all the conventional wisdom of shoe making into a
robust slipper. Yet the number of injuries to players increased
causing major concern. Now the scientific community were engaged to
analyse the biomechanics of players and their boots. 17. Craig
Johnston (Liverpool) designed the Predator boot with specific
intention to improve the sweet spot and give better ball control to
the player. Eventually adidas released the first generation in 1994
. The new range incorporated polymer technologies and boot was
design to allow a more flexible sole. More companies like Reebok
(1992), Uhlsport (1993), and Mizuno (1997) began trading but it was
Nike, the worlds biggest sportswear producer that made another
significant impact with the light weight Nike Mercurial soccer boot
in 1998. 18. Australian Football Rules was the only football code
to meticulously record injury data . Data analysis revealed many
knee injuries were caused by jumping and landing. Asics produced
new blades patterns and the fashion caught on Adidas blades 19.
Smaller companies continue to Make boots using new technologies
offering novel properties. Emphasis is always on durability and
weight. Nomis Sticky Boot Mizuno Wave Lotto Zhero Gravity 20. Puma,
Nike and Adidas (incorporating Reebok) remain brand leaders but
boots of the future will involve laser technologies with emphasis
on customized footwear. There seems little to suggest however major
manufacturers will give up their quest for novelty with protection
from injury a lesser priority. 21. WARNING This material has been
copied and communicated to you by or on behalf of The Footman
pursuant to Part VB of the Copyright Act 1968 (the Act). The
material in this communication may be subject to copyright under
the Act. Any further copying or communication of this material by
you may be the subject of copyright protection under the Act. Do
not remove this notice Copyright Regulations 1969
