Development of Soccer
Boots
As the game
developed then the football boot emerged as an essential part
of the sport. Contemporary pictures of amateur teams (circa
1870) display a mixed bunch of rugged workboots. Not until the
last decade of the century do teams appear to wear the same
boots. Not surprisingly there were no regulation governing boots
other than they must no wear anything that may endanger their
opponents.
Rule
13#: No player shall be allowed to wear projecting
nails, iron plates, or gutta percha on the soles or heels of
his boots.
Newspaper
reports of early games indicated the weather in the winter of
1870/71 was severe and extreme. Heavy rain accompanied by high
winds with severe frosts and snow did not deter the new game
from being played. Flooding frequently arose followed by an
unusual hot summer which pioneering players took in their stride.
Clothing was restrictive and worn for protection from the elements
as much as decency. Hence early British football was very slow
and not yet a spectators' spectacle. Neither were the general
public was not actively encouraged to attend as the game was
considered more for participants. Despite this the popularity
of the game grew and clubs began to spring up across the UK.
Early photographs are testament to the availability of stout
footwear (Denvir, 1979). Players wore long laced boots, similar
to engineer's boots but with a strengthened toecap in iron hard
leather. In 1880 boots began to incorporate a strap, narrow
on the inside of the foot, which crossed over the bottom two
or three rows of eyelet's, winding to the outside of the foot.
This gave greater protection to the toes as players used the
dorsum of the foot to kick. Today, players use the side of their
foot to strike the ball, then the toe was used to catch the
ball and give it lift. To increase ground grip the soles incorporated
metal tacks but Rule 13 prevented these in official matches.
They were replaced form 1890 with new plugs made from layers
of leather, they idea came form hockey boots. Studs (sometimes
referred to as cleats) were positioned to avoid isolated pressure
points and unnecessary irritation of the foot. In the area of
the hindfoot they were located towards the outside of the sole
to avoid buckling. The common formation was six studs, two distal
and proximal to the metatarsal heads and two on the posterior
aspect of the heel. By 1900 the soccer boot was a recognisable
entity and not just modified footwear adopted from other sports.
The Shurekik Boota was made from russet calf with fluted toecap
and sold in 1901 for a cost 8/6d ($1.26A). To complete leg protection
shin guards cost between 1/6d (22c Aus) and 2/11d (45c Aus);
and football hose varied between 1/11d (30c Aus) and 4/11d (75c
Aus). Professional players received 2/6 (37c. Aus) per game
and some were paid special bonuses in addition depending on
their skill. The sum varied according to the size of the crowd
but even the best players seldom got bonuses was over 2/11 (45c
Aus). Boots cost three times that amount. According to Morris,
the 'baggy shorts and heavy boots" style remained the dominant
costume theme, right up to the Second World War. Most authorities
agree changes to football boots took place after the war when
there was a dramatic increase in international fixtures. This
was made possible by improved air travel and transcontinental
travel brought soccer players from the colder climes of Europe
into contact with their counter parts in the Mediterranean and
South America. Warmer climates meant players wore less and had
flexible boots more suited to the climate. The Latin game was
played faster and provided opportunity for athleticism rarely
seen in the traditional European game. Radio broadcasts then
televised sport meant more spectators could appreciate the novel
Latin styles and appreciation of their skills caused a revolution
in play and clothing. Boots became sports shoes allowing players
to become athletes capable of leaps and volleys never before
seen. The complete focus for design of the soccer boot was aimed
at kicking and controlling the ball on the ground. (Lees &
Nola,1998). Some might argue this has been at the expense of
preventing injury. As the ankle boot lowered to become a soccer
shoe alternative methods of providing ankle stability were necessary
(Lees and Nolan, 1998). Later with the introduction of artificial
playing surfaces the need for long studs became redundant. Deep
penetration was neither good for the surface nor advantageous
to the players, with many poor performances and injuries reported.
At the same time the popularity of indoor soccer necessitated
a change in boot design. The new challenges meant boot designers
needed to be cognisant of giving the player greatest stability
as their leg, anchored to the floor as well as combining this
with the need to cope with the rigours of sliding on the floor.
The new soccer shoe had bristle (or cleat) soles and gradually
these have been incorporated into the traditional soccer boot
design. Marketing rhetoric may infer a revolution in recent
years but the trend has been a steady evolution in design and
materials as manufacturers have sought to improve safety and
performance. Improvements in the last decade have covered a
broad range of design changes from the shape of the shoe to
new lacing systems (Martin, 1997). As womenÕs soccer
gains greater popularity, companies like Adidas now carry different
soccer shoes, developed on the shape and function of the female
foot. To improve comfort, midsole cushioning now incorporates
viscoelastic polymers. These are light in weight extremely resilient
and hardwearing materials which incorporate fluids and gas within
a solid mass. Not of this world these synthetics have come from
the aerospace industry. These in turn displaced the revolutionary
polyurethane which were originally used instead of natural rubber
foams and leather. Changes from split sole shoe design have
given greater support through the midfoot without loosing the
need for shoe flexibility in accerlerated movements. Changes
in lacing and eyelet mechanisms make the hitting surfaces flatter
against the foot. This has two benefits i.e. pressure is distributed
across the top of the foot and the flatter surface helps the
player control the ball. Side eyelet fixation is another design
innovation considered to contribute to the above. Better grip
is affected by the inclusion of neoprene sleeves around the
throat of the boot. A summary of the historic milestones is
given in the table, below.
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