History of Soccer Shoes
Soccer shoes are commonly referred to as soccer cleats or football boots. Modern-era soccer shoes are technically advanced in many areas. Specific soccer shoes are designed to enhance running speed, an improve touch, or to help you put swerve and power on your crossing and shooting.
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The Early Years
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The first recorded football boots were in England and belonged to King Henry VIII, whose boots were listed in the Great Wardrobe of 1526, a shopping list of the day. King Henry VIII had the soccer shoes designed by his personal shoemaker, Cornelius Johnson, in 1525. The shoes were composed of strong leather, ankle high and were heavier than normal shoes.
Traction
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Changing direction quickly and gaining traction could become difficult particularly on wet, slippery fields. Some players nailed bits of leather to their soles to give them a better grip during games. Other players used different and more dangerous methods to gain traction. In 1863, the Football Association incorporated a rule stating that "no one wearing projecting nails, iron plates, or gutta percha on the soles of his boots is allowed to play." Leather studs that have since evolved into the soccer cleats we see today were introduced in 1886. In 1891, the Football Association incorporated the wearing of studs into the rulebook. The rule stated that studs must be "made of leather and not project more than half an inch, their fastenings must be driven in flush with leather." Studs evolved from leather to the plastic, screw-in type and were commonly used on football boots for centuries.
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Blades
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The 1990s brought a new shoe concept called blades. A bladed design made from plastic was featured on the sole of the shoe. The intention of the bladed design was to offer football boots more stable traction. Rubber-molded studs also became commonplace for use on harder surfaces that may not absorb the length of a screw-in stud.
Swerve and Power
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Former Liverpool and Middlesbrough player Craig Johnston revolutionized football boots during the 1990s with a shoe featuring hard rubber fins around the laces and side of the shoe. The rubber grips the ball and allows players to improve swerve on a pass. The hard material also enhanced the power of your shot.
Modern Times
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Soccer cleats have consistently evolved and are now available in a range of designs. Modern cleats are composed of lightweight leather. Traction has also evolved. Nike introduced another industry-changing concept during the 2010 World Cup, adaptive traction technology, that uses traction pegs to actively adjust to turf conditions.
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References
- Photo Credit soccer shoe closeup image by Daniel Gillies from Fotolia.com
