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The History of Soccer Shoes
Cameron Kippen, Curtin University of Technology, Perth WA

Although player's costumes have changed unrecognisably since early days of the game (Morris,1981), according to McDowell (1994), football boots have undergone surprisingly few design changes in the last seventy years. The evolution of boot development has been a conflict between protection from the climate and injury; against the freedom of limb movement to perform better. Improved fitness of players combined with greater glittering prizes has undoubtedly had a positive spin on boot development but these changes surprisingly appear to be stylistic as the football codes have become more glamorous rather than forged by any desire to play better or decrease the rates of injury. As if by irony it appears from the published literature there have been more injuries caused by boot innovations than appear to be resolved by new designs. This includes the adaptation and incorporation of new synthetic polymers. The incidence of football related injuries are now the focus of much concern. Paradoxically safety changes to soccer footwear are less likely to come from the professionals themselves, as boot sponsorship has become a major source of income. Instead the genuine concern of Soccer Mums, especially in North America, where the game has become so popular with young children, will forge greater safety awareness likely to change the modern game and soccer boot forever. As would appear from the dearth of literature, the history of soccer boots has been a much-neglected subject. In the interests of information exchange and to correspond with the World's Greatest Sporting Event, the FIFA World Cup TM 2002, the author attempts to address this void by compiling the following history. The absence of written details about the boots worn by the early players has meant much of the evidence was derived from photographic materials which only presents, one-dimensional data. The author welcomes contribution from the reader should there be any serious omission. This page is dedicated to the memory of the late James Curran Baxter , Slim Jim to his many fans. There is a new companion to this chapter, History of Footwear: Olympic Shoes . If you enjoy reading about sneakers, then try History of Footwear: Sport Shoes .


History of Ball Games Asics
The English Game Mitre
Association Rules (Soccer) New Balance
All Round the World Nike
International Football Puma
The Olympics Reebok
Fifa World Cup Umbro, Diadora, and Lotto
Evolution of the Soccer Ball Patricks
Development of Soccer Boots Player Endoresements
History of Studs and Cleats History of Shin Guards
Football Boots to Soccer Slippers Referee's Whistle
Injury and Soccer Boots Goal Keeper
Footwear Suppliers Discussion
Adidas Bibliography

History of Soccer Boots

History of Ball Games
Ancient civilisations had many ball games requiring great skill. There were many variations of football (ie. propelled by the head and feet) which were played from China (Tsu Chu), Japan - Kemari to Mexico. Goals took several forms including bamboo shoots, curtain holes to rings on a wall. William Fitzstephen gave an account of a rough football game played on Shrove Tuesday in 1175. In Medieval England, football was more of a tussle across open countryside where team members fought out a no holes contest to kick or carry the ball across a boundary mark. Death and injury were common and from time to time state and church banned these revelries. Despite this the lawless game continued to be popular in Britain from Orkney to England. According to Manley (1992), a Scotsman described in verse a game of street football he witnessed in Lincoln (England) in 1450.
    Four and twenty bony boys
    Were playing at the ba'
    And by it came sweet Sir Hugh
    And he played o'er them a'
    He kicked the ba' with his right foot
    He catched it wi' his knee
    And through -and-thro the jews' window
    He gard the bony ba' flee.

By the late fifteenth century the Medici family had become great supporters of Calcio and promoted the game among the nobility. It was during this time that football costume came into use (Manley, 1992). By the 16th century Giovanni Bardi (1580) had published the rules of an Italian game now called giuoco del calcio fiorentino. Both teams consisted of twenty-seven players and the format of the game was similar to other forms found in England.

Oliver Cromwell whilst a student at Cambridge University in 1600 was an acknowledged football player and the game was played in all the better schools and universities. During the Industrial Revolution the elementary game of football lost popularity because workers had to work long hours. Instead it thrived in public schools and Harrow was thought to be the first to introduce the idea of an eleven-aside game. In Winchester they played without goal posts and instead kicked the ball over the line. Eton College in the nineteenth century produced the earliest known set of rules for football (1815). Public schools in both UK and US played similar types of ball games. The games looked nothing like the football codes of today and were played to individual sets of rules, which reflected the institution. This made it difficult to find fixtures with outer teams. By the middle of the nineteenth century all major English public schools had developed their own rules and a meeting was held in Trinity College, Cambridge to standardise them. Hands were outlawed for carrying the ball but players could use them to stop the ball in mid flight. Goals were scored by kicking the ball between two flag posts and under a piece of string stretched between them. It was deemed a foul play to grab, trip or kick an opponent. When Sheffield accepted the Cambridge Rules in 1855, the first football club was founded in England. Later in 1863, fourteen basic laws of the game were identified when the Football Association (London) was formed. A serious debate broke out concerning the merits of players being allowed to hold opponents and hack them at the same time. The meeting broke up in disagreement. This split forged the foundation for Rugby Union. Ironically the eight rules of the early Association resemble today's rules which govern rugby union. Players then could handle the ball and hitting the ball at any height provided it fell between the goal posts constituted a goal. A try ie. touching the ball behind the opponents goal entitled the player to convert. By 1891 these rules were increased to 17, including the introduction of the penalty kick. In 1937/38 Stanley Rous, Secretary of the Football Association, redrafted the rules into their modern form. These were reviewed in 1997. The origins of the name soccer are thought to have came from an Oxford footballer by the name of Charles Wreford Brown (1863). He borrowed 'socc' from Association and added 'er' to give the term "socc'er'". Such lexiconic bastardisation was common at the time and gave counter speak to the other football code rugby or "rugger". By ironic coincidence the Latin word for slipper is soccus and in Antiquity the soccus was worn by entertainers, women and effeminate young, men. It described a simple slipper or calceoli and laterally became a sock that fitted loosely so they could be removed quickly. Soccus were commonly dyed yellow from the seed of the pomegranate. Fashion dictates have meant changes to the original soccer boot means we now have a soccer slipper which if worn by the entertainers in bright colours is still to this day likely to cause suspicion in the faithful (ie. fans) as to the sexual orientation of the wearer. Black boots remain overal popular among today's players.

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The English Game

The Factory Act 1847 prohibited the employment of women and young people on Saturday afternoons. What the law governed for women and children gradually became applied to the men also. Soon there arose an enormous public demand to be amused on Saturday afternoons. The popularity of soccer among working class men grew with the pursuit of leisure. One of the main attractions of soccer to the youth of the time was the absence of special clothing. The game could be played in any clothes and shoes. According to James Laver (1950, cited in Maple), sporting garments originated in ordinary masculine wear. Once established as the working class pastime British colonists took their rough and tumble game around the world. Railway workers, clerks and business owners were responsible for the spread of the game to Europe, South America and the Commonwealth (Oliver, 1995). Although football remained a sport much more associated with the British merchant class than its ruling aristocracy did. It coincided with the British Empire's commitment to Civilising Mission and Muscular Christianity. Victorians were dedicated to spread Christianity throughout the Commonwealth and soccer provided an ideal medium for healthy pastimes for people of India, Africa and Asia. Playing the game also meant to the British an opportunity of celebrating the British culture left so far behind. Along with the game came the uniform although the majority of indigenous peoples played the game barefoot. Even when later boots were available the barefoot had already become established. In the 1850s, the Irish introduced Gaelic football to Melbourne, Australia. Local cricketers were looking to exercise off-season and when the game was combined with an indigenous Aboriginal game and took on a distinct Australian nature. This became Australian Rules Football. In the US a meeting at Princeton, in 1867 proved seminal for US College Football. They adopted the English rugby code but insisted on soccer's eleven asides. Later these rules were refined and by 1880, US College Football was launched. The Rugby Union devised a 15 a side amateur game played with an oval ball. In 1922 a dispute over players arose in the north of England and the rugby code split to form Rugby League with thirteen a side.

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Association Rules

Popularity in organised sports followed changes to conditions of employment condition in the UK. The working class had more recreation time and the search for leisurable pastimes was thought to account for the meteoric rise in organised sport. In 1862, Notts County became the first professional team. The oldest soccer club in the world started by an impromptu kick abouts by a group of young men of the professional class. In 1867 Queens Park became the first Scottish Club. At first the Scots' game was associated with delicate ball control and short passing known as the combination game. The English preferred individual players who could dribble passed their opposition. As the early years passed regional variations began to arise and some players perfected the screw shot or bending the ball in flight. These strategies necessitated precise control of the ball the combination of physical ability and boot became critical if the ball was to be mastered. It took more than a decade after the rules of the game were formulated for the artisan classes to become interested in playing association football. Rugby was by far the more popular game with the cloth cap fraternity but gradually this was to change. The phenomenon of the newly perfected electrical illumination also caught the imagination and football promoters help floodlight matches. The standard of play improved with the establishment of the English Football League (1888). Organised competition with spectators meant a greater emphasis on entertainment and the game began to speed up. The need to free up movement in the players meant restrictive clothing needed to be modified or go. Costumes became gradually lighter in weight and the cumbersome leg pads or shinguards were reduced in size and tucked inside the socks. The only exception to this was boots, which became more robust and heavier. At first the Football Association was against professionalism but eventually 1885 it had to accept the inevitable and sanction professionalism. Transfer of professional players meant a marriage of football styles, which was to lead to formation play, which engaged the crowds.

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All Round the World

During the American Civil War (1861-1865), a form of soccer was adopted by both sides to relax the combatants (Madden, 2000). The games were played with audible jocularity by the men and encouraged by commanders because they rehearsed the skills of combat. In Germany, prior to the First World War, the English game was despised because of its origins as well as the attire was considered indecent. In South America, the building of the railways brought British workman who played the game. This English influence was reflected in the names Argentina's two most famous clubs, River Plate and Newell's Old Boys. Once established touring English Football sides like Southampton, Nottingham Forest and Swindon Town were early visitors to Argentina (Liniker & Hey, 1998). Later when mass emigration from Italy occurred the continental style of the game became established. Soccer in Brazil had modest start when Brazilian born Englishman, Charles Miller went to play for Southampton, on his return he brought shirts, balls and boots to start thee first teams and by 1898, several small football clubs had been founded. The game was associated with the upper middle classes and such a gentleman's game it was common place when a team were awarded a penalty, player would pass the ball to the opposition to avoid an indirect accusation of ungentlemanly conduct being aimed at the player who had conceded the kick. (Liniker & Hey, 1998). A team of former Oxford and Cambridge university graduates visited Brazil in 1910 they made such an impact a Sao Paulo club adopted the same name. By 1914 the game was endemic and two years later the South American Championship was established. In India the game came with the troops but as Muscular Christianity spread more Indians were encouraged to play the game and eventually an Indian team beat the East Yorkshire Regimental Team (2-1). The Indian players played barefooted. Football in Eastern Europe was directly related to the spread of Communism after the Second World War The Hungarian Football Association was founded in 1901 (Scottish exile Jimmy Hogan expanded their football base in the years immediately after the First World War). Czechoslovakian football started in the late 19th century helped by Scotsman John Dick Celtic played in Prague in 1906.

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International Football

The first international game was between Scotland v England (1872). Inclement weather caused the first fixture to be cancelled but a rescheduled game took place on November 30th 1872. The meeting of the Auld Enemy took place at the West of Scotland, Cricket Ground in Patrick, Glasgow. Newspaper reports described the players wearing heavy boots with thick woollen socks. Contemporary adverts indicate the boots were made from heavy calf leather and worn above the ankle similar to engineer's boots. Metal studs on the sole gave greater traction but the design patterns were serendipitous. The boot's toecaps were reinforced and fluted in shape. Two years later, shin guards were worn for the first time and these were adapted from cricket. The pads were worn against the lower leg and strapped to the top of the stockings but left to hang outside. Movement was severely restricted but the game then was played in a more leisurely manner. Physical restriction prevented athleticism in the manner common to the modern game. Official international matches started on the continent at the beginning of the twentieth century. The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) was founded in 1904 and the first tournament took place in London as part of the 1908 Olympics. The new sport was regarded somewhat suspiciously and considered, by many, as an exhibition rather than competition. Between 1909 and 1913 many non-European countries joined forces with FIFA. Despite disruption caused by the First World War, FIFA continued to promote international soccer competitions through the Olympic movement until 1930 when the first World Cup was help in Montevideo, Uruguay. The 1932 World Cup final between Italy and Czechoslovakia was broadcast on the radio for the first time. This brought millions of armchair fans to the international game.

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The Olympics

At first the World's championship of football was the Olympics and the winners were considered the World Champions. After the First World War more and more players turned professional, which meant the better teams, could not complete. Many countries fielded professionals under the guise of being amateurs, which caused much concern at the time. At first soccer was viewed as a demonstration sport but later accepted as part of the official Olympics. A summary of the men's Olympic Championship winners is given below.

Unofficial Tournaments
Demonstration Sport
1896
Denmark
1900
England
1904
Canada
1906
Denmark

World Championship
Official Olympic Event
1908
England
1912
England
1916
No Event
1920
Belgium
1924
Uruguay
1928
Uruguay
Professionalism was rapidly spreading
1932
No Event
1936
Italy
Many nations sent under strength teams to compete
1940
No Even
1944
No event
1948
Sweden

World Championship
Official Olympic Event
1952
Hungary
1956
Soviet Union
1960
Yugoslavia
1964
Hungary
1968
Hungary
1972
Poland
1976
East Germany
Open to professional players not involved in the World Cup
1980
Czechoslovakia
1984
France
1988
Soviet Union
Open to Under 23 national teams World Championship
1992
Spain
1996
France
2000
Cameroon

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FIFA World Cup™

With increasing acceptance of professional soccer around the globe the Olympics became less attractive as the premier soccer event and according to Oliver (1995), when Jules Rimer, the President of FIFA moved a motion FIFE organise a quadrennial championship, the World Cup was established. French sculptor, Albert Lafleur, designed the first trophy for the World Champions which was presented to Uruguay in 1930. The first goal to be scored in the championship was netted by Lucien Laurent of France. New atleticism became an estabished norm in the game as the styles of international soccer blended. Spectators were held spellbound with the antics of the skilled athletes like Leonidas da Silva, The Black Diamond who demonstrated, for the first time, the eye catching overhead bicycle kick in the 1938 World Cup. A summary of World Cup winners including the Golden Boot Award is given below. The Golden Boot is a coveted award given to the leading goal scorer(s) of each championship.

Year
Winners
Golden Boot Award
1930
Uruguay
Guillermo Stabile (Argentina) 8 goals
1934
Italy
Oldrich Nejedly (Czechoslovakia) 5 goals
1938
Italy
Leonidas da Silva (Brazil) 8 goals
1942
No Event
-
1946
No Event
-
1950
Uruguay
Ademir (Brazil) 7 goals
1954
W Germany
Sandor Kocsis (Hungary) 11 goals
1958
Brazil
Just Fontaine. (France) 13 goals
1960
Brazil
Drazan Jerkovic. (Yugoslavia) 4. goals

Florian Albert (Hungary) 4 goals

Garrincha (Brazil) 4 goals

Leonel Sanchez (Chile) 4 goals

Valentin Ivanov (Russia) 4 goals

Vava (Brazil) 4 goals

1966
England
Eusebio (Portugal) 9 goals
1970
Brazil
Gerd Muller (West Germany) 10 goals
1974
W Germany
Gregorz Lato (Poland) 7 goals
1978
Argentina
Mario Kempes (Argentina). 6 golas
1982
Italy
Paolo Rossi (Italy) 6 goals
1986
Argentina
Gary Liniker (England) 6 goals
1990
W Germany
Toto Schillaci (Italy) 6 goals
1994
Brazil
Hristo Stoichkov (Bulgaria) 6 goals

Oleg Salenko (Russia) 6 goals

1998
France
Davor Suker (Croatia) 6 goals
2002
Brazil
Ronaldo (Brazil) 8 goals

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Evolution of the Soccer Ball

One plausable explanation why soccer in the northern hemisphere became a winter sport was described by Manley (1992). The Medieval custom was to kill live stock in November in preparation for winter sustenance. This gave an excess of pig's bladders. Alexander Barclay described this in 1508:

    They get the bladder and blowe it great and then
    With many beans or peasons put within
    It ratleth, soundeth, and sineth cleare and fayre
    With foot and with hande the bladder for to smite
    If it falls to the grounde they lifte it up agayne
    The sturdy plowmen, lustie, stronge and bolde.

Many historians accept the reason for the late edition soccer to sport was because technology to make an uniformed shaped ball, suitable for kicking, could only take place after the introduction of rubber to Europe. South American Indians were known to play a ball game with a lighter more elasticised ball, but it took from the fifteenth century to the nineteenth century before Europeans were able to manufacture stable rubber products. Charles Goodyear patented vulcanised rubber in 1836. Prior to this footballs were never a standard shape or size. All was dependent on the size and shape of the pig's bladder. The more irregular the bladder, the more unpredictable behaviour came from the ball once kicked. Before air inflators, pig¹s bladders were blown up by mouth and a clay pipe was used to blow into the bladder. Often a shoemaker would cover the gap with stiches to make the ball feel harder and more durable. In 1851 at the Great Exhibition, Crystal Palace, London, a bootmaker by the name of William Gilbert, from Rugby had two exhibits ie. a round leather covered ball suitable for dribbling; and an ovoid ball for a game of carrying and handling. Gilbert had previously made his reputation as supplier of rugby balls to Rugby School. His balls were considered superior and harder than his rivals. One of his competitors was H.J Lindon who tragically lost his wife when she contracted a lung disease from blowing up many hundreds of pig's bladders. Whether this inspired him or not remains unknown but Lindon did develop the first inflatable rubber bladder in 1862. This ensured the ball remained hard and oval. He claimed to have invented the rugby ball but sadly did not patent the idea. The round ball was preferred because it was easier to kick and the oval ball was easier to handle. By the nineteenth century strong rubber bladders were available which could withstand intense heavy pressure. Balls made from inner tubes and covered with heavy brown leather were light enough to bounce yet could be kicked. The leather outer was made by stitching 18 sections of tanned leather arranged in six panels of three strips each. The sections were stitched together by hand with five-ply hemp, leaving a small lace up slit on one side. This was done with the ball was turned inside out and once completed the whole sphere was reversed to turn inside out. A collapsed rubber bladder was inserted through the open slit and then inflated to the approved pressure. The slit was then laced tight. The ball was ideal for kicking but proved painful when using the head due to the heavy stitching. Soccer balls were made from cowhide which presented two major problems. Balls made from natural hide varied in quality depending upon which part of the cow had been used to make the ball. Footballs varied in thickness and quality and the leather often degraded during play. A second problem related to the ability for cowhide to absorb water and became heavier as the game progressed. This slowed the game down and made heading difficult and painful. Later when a new type of inflatable valve was invented this improved the ball surface and footballs were made completely laceless. Heading the ball and dribbling became easier and when waterproofing the ball became possible this completed the revolution. In 1951 the white ball was permitted for the first time with the idea it would help spectators. Ball developments have continued with the most obvious relating to the panelling patterns of the leather. All these have accumulated to make the ball surface smother and more easily controlled by expert feet. In the earlier days of international soccer different countries favoured different types of ball and many disputes arose. The introduction of International Board set up by FIFA standardised all aspects of the game including size weight and type of ball.

FIFA Law 2 - The Ball
"The ball shall be spherical; the outer casing shall be of leather or other approved materials. No material shall be used in its construction which might prove dangerous to the players. The circumference of the ball shall not be more than 28 inches and not less than 27 inches (70-68 cm) . The weight of the ball at the start of the game shall not be more than 16 ounces nor less than 14 ounces (410 -450 gms). The pressure shall be equal to 0.6 - 1.1 atmosphere (600 - 1100 gr/cm2) at sea level. The ball shall not be changed during the game unless authorized by the referee.

According to Brown (2002) the first official FIFA ball was introduced at the 1970 Mexico World Cup, and all Official World Cup Balls since then have been made by Adidas. Since 1970 there have been nine official balls, all slightly different from their predecessor.

Telstar, Mexico. 1970

Adidas started to make soccer balls in 1963 but made the first official FIFA World Cup ball in 1970.

 

Chile Durlast R ,West Germany, 1974

 

Tango Riverplate, Argentina, 1978

 

Tango Espana, Spain , 1982

Adidas introduced a new ball which had rubber inlaid over the seams to prevent water from seeping through. General wear from kicking however meant the rubber began to wear after a short time and needed to be replaced during the game.

Azteca, Mexico, 1986

The FIFA World Cup Mexico, saw the introduction of the first polyurethane coated ball which was rain-resistant.

 

Etrusco, Italy, 1990

Questra, USA, 1994

FIFA World Cup USA, 1994, had an official ball which was enveloped in a layer of polystyrene foam.This not only made it more waterproof but allowed the ball greater acceleration when kicked. The new game ball felt softer to the touch.

Tricolore, France, 1998

By 1998, FIFA World Cop France was played with a ball which now sported the French red-white-blue tricolour. A complete departure from the now traditional black and white pattern.

Fevernova TM, Korea Japan, 2002

For FIFA World Cup Korea Japan, 2002 ,Adidas created a new ball made up of thicker inner layers to increase the accuracy of the ball in flight.

Fevernova TM, Korea Japan, 2002

Adidas have produced a competition ball, which is now three millimetres thick (11 layers including a foam layer made up of tiny gas filled balloons which have elastic properties), and constructed from a syntactic foam based on an abrasion resistant polyurethane made by Bayer called Impranil® polyurethane. The outer cover of the ball consists of a combination of special synthetic polystyrenes (polyurethane) and natural rubber. Cleverly embedded within the layers are equal sized, highly elastic, exceptionally resistant gas-filled microcells. tightly woven in a network of knitted, synthetic Raschel fabric. The sponge has high modulus of compression, with a good elastic memory. These gives the Fevernova TM improved rebound characteristics, which convert foot strike into ball acceleration.. The outer layer of the ball is made of a particularly so that the ball can withstand exceptionally tough treatment. All of this combines to give the ball greater durability. Now the surface of the new ball converts applied energy evenly at every point thus damping properties to the kicker. Technically at the feet of experts this might, as the manufacturers claim, give a more calculable, flight path. The adidas Fevernova TM is made to meet the lower end of FIFA regulations governing circumference and the upper limit of weight , a smaller and heavier sphere has a more accurate trajectory. (Murphy, 2002)

The mesh layer provides strength that limits deformation when the ball is kicked and helps the ball remain spherical in flight. Distortion of the round shape leads to an uneven airflow around the ball making it veer off course. The ball can travel at speeds of 130km/h (81 mph). The ability of players to swerve the ball will not effect as this is done by imparting spin. The foot is the key to transferring the foot's force . The presence of gas filled surface means the applied force is transferred to the ball. The bubbles allow the ability to kick the ball without too much resistance and the ball does not absorb the energy which converts to acceleration. In any event the plastic covered ball will spin and challenge many competent goalkeepers, particularly in wet and humid conditions. The new, FIFA World Cup 2002 ball, the Fevernova TM weights 435g,

"a ridiculous kiddie's bouncing ball " Gianluigi Buffon Goal Keeper, Italy

Not without controversy, the new, Official Ball appears to exhibit the same properties as plastic inflatable balls have had. These have long since been used by amateurs but to date have not been accepted in professional play. Whether evolution of the football is the quest for more spectacular play (and goals), or reduction in injuries related to kicking and heading the ball, is not clear. However the evolution of the soccer ball has come a long way from pig's bladders covered with cow hide.

Anthropologist, Desmond Morris has some interesting theories why footballs were kicked and not handled. He described the origins of the early Aztec game, and considered the ball represented a symbol of the sun and players were forbidden to touch it during the game. The goals were stone rings set high on the side of walls of the playing field. The flight of the ball was taken to represent the cycle of the sun through the heavens with the rings the sunrise and sun set. After the match the ball was ceremoniously burnt. In other parts of the world, the ball was thought to represent the severed head of an animal, indeed sometimes it was teams competed to carry off the prize and bury it in their territory, all for good luck. Another variation on this theme was the ball was the head of a vanquished foe and kicking it played out the final humiliation. In the medieval game the ball represented a prize to be fought for and won. In the modern game according to Morris, the ball is the missile to knock out the opposition. The new Adidas Fevernova TM does continue the tradition set in the last World Cup where the French Tri Colours were incorporated into the ball design. By good fortune the polyurethane coating allows scope to include intricate designs. The golden (champagne) orb sports red flames in the motive of a shuriken which was chosen to symbolise the mammoth efforts and the energy, which South Korea and Japan invested into the FIFA World Cup 2002. The red flames represent driving tenacity with the Ninja's star, a symbol of the technical achievements of the two industrial nations in the recent past. The Fevernova TM is available in two types, the Tri Lance is designed to be used on all types of surfaces and the Terrain, specially designed for hard surfaces. In conjunction with FIFA, Adidas will make 100,000 footballs available for distribution worldwide to help promote the FIFA GOAL program. This is intended to promote the game across the globe.

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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 women¹s 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.

A Summary of the Historical Developments


1830
1830
Football was played in all the major English public schools. Boots were made by local bootmakers to suit the players'feet. These extended above the ankle, to support and give limited protection. Early forms of the game were ill defined and rough physical contact, including hard tackles, was encouraged. The boot was 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)

1896
1896
By now Association Rules were established and the once popular game of football with the Upper Class had become the pre-occupation of the working classes. Turn of the century, English Internationalists is seen sporting Football Boots of similar design to those above.

1909
1909
As the English game gained popularity and spread across the World. Acceptance of team outfits became part of the organised game. Adjustments to climatic conditions however necessitated minor modifications. Rule 13 meant dangerous metal studs could no longer be worn and players sported leather cleats instead.

1912
1912
Depicted here is a successful West Australian team (circa 1912), sporting the latest fashions in soccer kit. The outfits ore more streamline than the previous decade, which may indicate a faster game, but players still are wearing standard soccer boots (circa 1900).

1922
1922
Players were now able to wear screw in studs, principally through the innovation of Adi Dassler (co-founder of Adidas). This allowed them to select studs appropriate to the weather conditions. Whilst there was some variation in the arrangement of stud patterns on the sole of the boot, most professionals preferred the 4:2 or 4:3 ratio.

1937
1937
English and Continental styles of soccer had developed to such a degree as to have distinctive qualities which supporters were eager to see incorporated with their domestic games. Improved travel had extended competitions to incorporate international fixtures, which meant crowds were entertained by more athletic moves such as the overhead kick. Players were keen emulate these thrills as ball control became the major focus. Boots were worn very tight to the foot to allow the player to feel greater control of the ball.

1954
1954
Although the soccer boot was still worn above the ankle and tightly bound to the foot by laces, it was recognised the pattern of studs could cause injury. In 1951, new regulations were enforced, reducing the length of stud players could wear. Gradually there was incorporation of synthetic materials used to replace natural leathers and moulded stud surfaces were beginning to become available. In 1954 the winners of the FIFA World Cup in Switzerland was West Germany and they were sporting the new adidas soccer boots with screw in studs. By 1958 at the FIFA World Cup, Sweden, the majority of players wore adidas boots.

1966
1966
By now players had accepted the lower soccer shoe in preference to the traditional soccer boot. Boots were moderately lighter in weight, which may have given some players an advantage but the main reason for the change was the game was less physical and the rules of play now protected them from undue roughness. Improved soccer balls also meant players needed the freedom to control the faster ball. Incorpration of synthetics gave durability and strength both essential to a faster running game. Improved elasticised vigours allowed external ankle support, which had previously been afforded by the higher boot. 75% of the players at the 1966 FIFA World Cup in England wore adidas boots.

1970
1970
Greater glittering prizes meant more focused attempts to maximise performances. Soccer shoe manufacturers began incorporating greater efforts at research and development keen to ustilise new technologies and materials to capitalise profit. Endorsement and sponsorships of clubs and players became established at this time. The main focus was to produce attractive fashionable boots often incorporating novelties, which appeared to ignore the risk of injury to the player.

1988
1988
Soccer boots and football paraphernalia were now big business. Soccer shoes encapsulated all the conventional wisdom of making sport shoes into a robust slipper. Yet the number of injuries to players increased causing major concerns to all and considerable interest within the scientific community to analyse the biomechanics of the player and boots.

2000
2000
New cleat systems were devised to help distribute pressure across the boot. Incorporation of new polymer materials further strengthened the sports shoe as well as providing lightwieght footwear. New upper surfaces were developed to assist in ball control. All these now make up the modern soccer slipper. Many professional players still prefer the soccer shoe with traditonal stud arrangement which provide no more protection to the player than the boots of yesteryear. Changes to boot dsign are not forged by professional players but instead appear to be in response to demand from parents keen to reduce the number of injuries associated with the modern game.
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History of Studs & Cleats

The ability to play on different surfaces was recognised early on and hence the sole of the boot needed to offer resistance or ground traction. At first the metal tacks on engineer's boots were used, but Rule 13 meant greater care needed to be taken. Eventually leather cleats (or studs) replaced these. By the twenties Adi Dassler had developed replaceable studs which firmly established his credentials as soccer boot specialist in Germany. The length of studs was goverend for in 1951 and with the availability of new polymers natural materials were replaced by synthetics. The idea for moulded studs had been tried on hockey boots and when they were transferred to soccer boots a new revolution took place. Today plugs and cleats of variable length are used. Soccer boots should afford confident contact with playing surfaces as well as adapt optimally to all types of surfaces and weather conditions. On hard surfaces, including hard natural turf, cleats of different configuration are recommended. On softer turf or wet ground surfaces shoes with detachable studs with varying length provide the best anchoring to the ground. On snowy surfaces other configurations are necessary and rubber studs preferred. Icy surfaces again demand a different sole configuration. Traditionally, Bootmen were retained by professional clubs and oversaw the maintenance of the football boots, usually via the apprentices. One of the most famous soccer apprentices and bootboy was Rod Stewart (Bentford FC). Using their previous experiences as players with a command for the game Bootmen advised the young players on the type of boot for the weather conditions. The Boot Room a place where the game strategy was worked out and the most famous Boot Room was at Liverpool FC under the direction of Bill Shankly. Today tread patterns have changed and now incorporate curved cleats set into circular arrangements. The circular arrangement facilitates better grip in all directions and faster acceleration from the playing surfaces. Greater emphasis is given to the base area across the ball of the supporting foot, which reduces peak pressures on the soles of the feet over a long game. Cleat designs now allow the foot carrying the player's weight to pivot when the player twists or is struck by another player. This helps reduce injury form direct trauma. Further the anti-torque property offered by the circular configuration of compressible teeth (cleats) is thought by the designers to reduce rotational injuries to the knee and ankle. As the game has improved and the demands of professionalism become a primary focus the number and types of injury recorded have increased. These in no short measure have been associated with boot design (Masson & Hess, 1989). Traditional conical cleats have been cited as the main cause of such injuries and lock into the turf. It was recognised as far back as 1948 that heel cleats was responsible for foot fixation and this contributed to knee damage in soccer players. The principle functions of cleats was to offer resistance next to the ground by holding the foot stable as the body's centre of mass passed over it. One major disadvantage is if the cleat fixed too firmly to the ground then damage to