I admit I am a traditionalist.  I have never worn cycling shorts, gloves or dare I say it, a “snood”.  To me football should be played in short-sleeves, socks rolled down and no “fancy-dan” accessories, irrespective wind, rain, sleet and snow.  Football boots, now don’t get me started on those.  I was brought up on Puma Kings since I was knee-high to a grasshopper.  People who saw me wear those bad boys knew I was taking the game serious.

I was winding down my career, slowing moving from that fast, pacy wide-man to a no-nonsense centre-back as these young whippersnappers started taking the field in red, white, blue and yellow boots.  Wearing those types of boots ten years ago marked you out for some special attention.

With the re-negotiation of the TV contracts around the world, and the huge influx of sponsorship money, little things in the game became more important. Out went the steak and chips, with a pint of heavy as a pre-match meal, replaced by lean grilled chicken and lentils, whilst boot manufacturers started to innovate in a way they’d never done so before. The football boot revolution had become.  Screw-in studs were being replaced by “blades”, new ultra-light materials were being used making the boots feel like slippers rather than soggy lead weights in the inclement conditions.

Today, it is the exception rather than the rule to see old-fashioned boots on the pitch.  In fact a few weeks ago in Germany at one of my weekend outings, 21 out of 22 starting players wore non-black boots.  I had resisted the urge to upgrade my footwear for my occasional outing, until I tried the new Warrior Skreamer boot.  Warrior are a new brand in the UK market, best known for their presence in the US but this year have become the official kit supplier to Liverpool FC.  And now they are breaking into the football boot market. Continue reading →