In Stock Magazine

Henry VIII
The story of football boots begins almost 500 years ago with King Henry VIII. In 1526, the king asked his shoemaker to make 45 pairs of shoes from velvet and one pair of boots from leather. He wanted these leather boots for playing football.

We have no idea of what these boots looked like. Nor do we have a record of their use. But Henry VIII was certainly a monarch keen on sport and it’s clear that he liked to have the right kit to match the game.

A 300-year gap
Despite the interest of King Henry VIII, football never caught on with the general population for almost 300 years. It was only in the early nineteenth century that the first regular references to football appear.

During this time, there weren’t football boots as such. Instead players wore work boots that covered their ankles and had steel toecaps. Some of the more dedicated players, however, hammered metal studs into the soles of the boots to provide more grip on the damp grass fields that served as pitches.

But it wasn’t until the middle of the 1800s that cobblers began making purpose-built boots for football. These were leather and extended over the ankles. One of their main drawbacks, though, was their absorption of water. On a wet pitch, the boots could become twice as heavy.

Twentieth century
In the first half of the twentieth century, the design of football boots followed the style set during the mid 1800s. After the Second World War, however, businesspeople saw the potential for more modern styles. They set up companies such as Gola and Hummel to produce boots for professionals and amateurs alike.

The general result was a boot that was lighter than before and that did away with ankle covering. In the 1960s, manufacturers cut back the boots still further and gave players greater freedom to move their feet and ankles.

From the 1970s onwards, sportswear became the subject of technology and boots for football were at the forefront of change. Boots became lighter; different materials appeared; and players could choose studs to match the condition of the pitch.

Within the last few years, thanks to precision lasers, professional players have boots built specifically for them. Great football boots are now the product of science and not just shoemaking skills.

Football Boots at Lovell Soccer