During your playing days what boots did you wear?
I wore Puma Kings for most of my career and loved them. I had a contract with Puma while I was at Liverpool, but there was no money involved, it was only for gear and boots. Money contracts only started in the early 90′s, my first was with a company called High-Tec. Not the greatest boots at the time, but they did the job.

How many pairs would you go through in a season?
About 3-4 pairs during the season. Now a days players have more options and more pairs available to wear so you will see them change more frequently.

What are your ideal pair of boots?
Something simple with old school metal studs! Nowadays the fields are a lot harder so players are less likely to be able to wear them.

Anything you are not a fan of?
As I said, I am a big fan of studs rather than blades, which I think don’t give players enough grip on surfaces. I don’t like the flashy boots released nowadays but I guess that’s what sells, I prefer the old school boots – keep it simple.

Have you ever wanted to tell a player to change the boots he was wearing?
No not really. It is up to the player and whatever they feel best wearing. As long as they are comfortable that’s the main thing.

What about Shalrie Joseph?
Yeah, Shalrie likes to wear those turf shoes on all surfaces. I understand on turf but he ends up wearing them on grass. I don’t agree but its what he likes best and he always performs in them.

Any advice for players?
Go for comfort first, its the most important thing. Once you have a pair you feel comfortable about it is one thing less to have to worry about on the field.

Finally, you are the king of “soccer horse shoe” (stopping the ball beside a water bottle). Whats your secret?
Haha, practice through the years and a little bit of psychology. All you need to do is get in their heads!

Thanks to the Steve for taking the time to chat and share some information. If you want to learn a little more about the Gaffer, check out the video below where other players describe what he was like on and off the field. It also illustrates his goalscoring prowess – 36 Liverpool career goals as a right back (including a memorable hat-trick against Newcastle) is not a bad return!

1. First up, the article that actually drew my attention – Original Boot Game. Below is just an excerpt from the article, where Bean’s gives his thoughts on the development of boots over time, in particular the color (pointing out the fact that players in the 70′s wore white boots quiet often). Great article!

“Writing this post has made me think about my own preferences towards boots and whether I prefer the classics from my childhood, or the new technologically advanced boots of today. For me, the answer is a bit more gray than it is black and white.

In many ways, classic boots are like classic cars. They have some great styling and they are not over thought. If you pop the hood on a muscle car from the 1960’s, you’ll notice how little is actually under there. But what is there gets the job done remarkably well. Older boots are like that to me. Soft leather, some stitching, fold down tongue, molded or removable studs. That was pretty much it. Not a lot to them, but they did the job ever so well. If you need any examples of this, look no further than the adidas Copa Mundial and the adidas World Cup.

As boots continue to become more technical, the claims continue to be made that they can enhance the attributes of players. If this is the case, I’m all for that. Technology has played a huge role in the development of athletes in all sports. Players are stronger, faster and arguably better than their predecessors. If soccer boots can contribute to the continuation of better players, then I’m all for it. And if they can even help me in my game, then they are certainly doing something right.”

2. A second article that caught my eye highlighted a bunch of really cool old school boots. Check out the selection of images at Inspired By – Throw Back Boots.
3. The final post is called Stomping Grounds. This is less of an actual boot post, and more one built on memories of where you have played growing up. It appealed to me because I thought back to the boots I wore as a kid, boots that included Puma Kings(a preferred choice) and many pairs of blue Lotto’s. I actually never owned a pair of Adidas Predators until I came to college, even though ever other player I grew up playing with had a pair at one stage or another. It also got me thinking about my team growing up – Castle Villa!

Johnny, thanks for taking time out to talk to us about your trip to Australia, tell us what you have planned.
No problem. So, I take off tonight (May 26th) and I will report to training camp with Newcastle Jets of the Hyundai A-league on May 31 for a trial.

What have your preparations been like?
I have spent the last two months training at Elite Athletics in Westlake, Ca. It’s a performance training center where a lot of top NFL and NBA players such as Reggie Bush, Drew Brees, Kobe Bryant to name a few have done their off season preparations. I did a three times a week program where the goal was injury prevention, improve my reaction time and build size, building more size to be able to run faster. I haven’t felt this good in a long time so I feel real good about the work I have been putting in to prepare myself for this opportunity.

What soccer cleats will you have in your bag?
I just purchased a new pair of Nike Mercurial Miracles, I love them!

Why are these your preferred choice?
Ronaldo from Brazil was my favorite player growing up so when Nike first came out with the Vapors, Ronaldo wore them so I started wearing them from then on. Plus, I have a narrow high arched foot and the vapors caters very well to the type of foot I have. I also love how light they are, I feel as though I’m always alert and on my toes ready to play.

What cleats have you worn throughout your career?
Nike Vapors. The only time that I didn’t wear vapors was when I was in College at UCSB. I wore Copas because we had Adidas uniforms but they stretched out too fast and soon after they didn’t fit. In the end I went back and got myself a fresh pair of vapors.

In MLS you are required to wear Adidas, how did you feel about this?
I was real nervous at first because I was so used to wearing Vapors, but as it turned out I never had to wear adidas as I got licensed to wear Nike.

Thanks for taking the time to talk to us, and keep us updated on how things are going in Australia!
I will, keep up the good work with SoccerCleats101!

What cleats you were wearing before you left?
Adidas Adipure’s

What cleats you are currently wearing?
I changed to wearing Puma King XL

What types of surfaces are you currently training on?
We have grass and artificial turf fields.

What differences have you encountered in games in terms of what you have worn?
The durability of the Pumas are better, but the Adipures are a lot softer.

I assume you are playing in wet and muddy conditions, what steps are you taking to keep your boots in good shape?
I wash my own boots after each training session and i try to once a week and put some leather food on of some sort. But the key thing is to get rid of the mud as fast as possible with as little water damaging the boot’s integrity.

How have games been going, and how is life on Merseyside?
One of the recent games we played was against Sunderland’s reserve team and we tied 1-1. The pitch was completely drenched from the rain and as a result I had to wear studs. They performed very well. I am playing in the middle of the park in more of a holding role as a bruiser. Life in the UK is definitely different than the states, with having to acclimatize to the lingo and manners of people and players alike, but it is definitely a very good experience. In addition, getting used to massive amounts of rain is an interesting transition coming from sunny California.

Thanks for the update buddy and keep us posted on future developments!

Last week, Anton had a solid game against the Man Utd reserves and even had the ball in the United net at one stage:

When United finally broke the deadlock, it came amid Everton’s most fruitful attacking period. Moments after Anton Peterlin’s header had been disallowed for offside, Adam Forshaw nodded against Ben Foster’s post.

Everton Reserves play Burnley on Thursday 03/04, we will have an update on how the game goes.

, I had an opportunity to talk with Chris Pontius about MLS rookie life.

“My rookie year was amazing and I am so blessed to have been given this opportunity to play professional soccer. Being a rookie is not easy, it is like being a freshman in college all over again except you have guys 10 years older than you on your team. They experience and knowledge of the game is amazing and I found myself taking tips from them every practice and game. I am pumped to have the opportunity to head to South Africa, there are a few guys I played college with at UCSB going (Avila, O’Brien) and it is sure to be a life experience aswell as an opportunity to see where the World Cup will take place next year.

I currently wear the F50 tunits from adidas in white. I really like the cleats because they fit my foot well and are comfortable. For me, the right cleat is always the one that fits the best and allows you to play your best soccer. We played on a number of different surfaces this season, and in different environments, which means I am constantly changing from hard grounds to soft grounds. The weather is the biggest factor for this along with the condition of the field. 95% of the time when its raining, I am wearing soft grounds.”

Personally, I think Pontius should have won Rookie of the year for his goals alone! Thanks Chris for taking the time to talk to us and hopefully the trip to South Africa is an opportunity for you to prepare for a USMT call up between now and the World Cup! There is another Q&A available over on the official D.C United Blog (Behind the Badge) that is well worth checking out: Q&A: Pontius and Wallace on South Africa trip.

Recently, I received a pretty nice email from Taylor, who I had spoke to on a previous occasion using our ‘Olark’ instant messenger, located on our website.

Name: Taylor B
Age: 29
Location: Arlington Virginia
Soccer Position: Winger/Striker
Teams:Flirting with Sobriety (CCSL – Rockville Indoor)

A few months ago, I suffered a fracture to the top of my foot and was sidelined for months. As soon as it healed, and I was cleared to play by my orthopedist, I needed to find some cleats that would not only protect the top of my foot, but that were also comfortable. The fracture in my foot also brought on a minor arthritic joint on the top of my foot, so it was even more important to me to find something that would provide comfort, stability, and protection. I used Google to get reviews of soccer cleats, and came upon SoccerCleats101 through my searches. Very fortunate.

My main concern was finding out what cleat would provide the best comfort. Also, what would protect the top of my foot because I was very hesitant to start playing again because I did not want to get the same injury and sideline myself even more. Things that helped me were knowing whether SoccerCleats101 knew anyone that had played with the cleats. Durability, Protection to the top of the foot (most important to me), and how good they would be in regards to playing a certain position were all vital information I needed to know.

After being given some very in depth recommendations, we narrowed it down to two pairs. The Concaves, and theUnder Armours. After digging down a little more, and based wholly on the recommendation of Bryan, I chose to go with the Under Armour Dominate Pro FG – Black/White Firm Ground Soccer Shoes. They offered the right protection, were a decent price, and seemed to have the comfort I was looking for.

Were they the right ones for you?
I’m averaging about 2 goals per game at this point, and I couldn’t be happier with the cleats. They are comfortable, strong, lightweight, provide great touch on the ball, and offer the protection I was looking for. It was the perfect recommendation.

Can you give a brief review on the cleats (your opinion of them)?
Lightweight, great touch. Offer great protection up top for people who have suffered foot injuries. Very comfortable not only on the top, but also with the studs from the bottom. Offer great balance. Traction is ideal and easy to jump off from a standing start. Seem to mold to your feet, and provide a lot of precision. I’ve worn adidas and Pumas for years, but this is looking like one of the best pairs of cleats I’ve bought in a long time. Outclasses my other boots.

It is rare that you find great customer service and expert advice anymore, and I was pumped to find this site and receive both. I have been spreading the word to all of my friends regarding the site, because I was so impressed. Keep up the great work, and thanks for the great recommendation.

Thanks Taylor, your input is greatly appreciated and I hope you stay injury free! If you need some information or advice on cleats feel free to ping us using the Olark box on the bottom right hand side of the screen, we are always interested in helping where we can!

Full Name: ‘The Fan’s Attic’, contributor to UnprofessionalFoul.com

Tell us a little about the Fan’s Attic?
By day, I am a regular professional and by night I blog about the beautiful game at UnprofessionalFoul.com.  Actually, I blog during the day as well to escape the monotony of work.  I just hope my employer does not know that I am being so unproductive.  Unprofessionalfoul.com is a blog dedicated to all aspects of the soccer world from analysis to zany stories only professional footballers could produce.

When it comes to soccer, what position do you play?
I primarily play defender or outside back.  My playing career has consisted of high school  and adult recreation leagues, I have been a main staple with my teams!

As a kid growing up, what types of soccer cleats did you wear?
Growing up, I generally received the bargain bin cleats.  Not necessarily off-brand shoes like Nikey or Humbro, but certainly the sale items.  While the boots I received as a child certainly did not help me ascend the social ladder, the bargain boots made sense when I was outgrowing shoes every six months and my athletic ability was nowhere near the level that I could actually tell a difference between the $100 Copa Mundials or $60 Kaisers.  Frankly, I never got anywhere near either of the shoes until I was a teenager.

How often do you play now, and what cleats are in your bag?
I play twice a week–a weekly early Saturday morning pickup game and a weekly team match.  I wish I could play more, but soccer does not pay the bills and my body is not what it used to be.  The recovery time is slower, my time is limited, my body aches a bit more.  I always carry three types of boots–turf, moldeds and replaceable.  The screw-ins don’t get used much anymore because the blade boots work quite well in the soft ground.  In fact, the replaceable are 10-year-old Puma Kings that are great but certainly could be retired.  Thanks to a good hook-up I have mostly Nike equipment these days and my other boots are the Total 90 Laser II.  I just got the Nike Zoom 5 T-7 turf shoes but  I haven’t played in them yet.

Do you have any memories of specific cleats you wore?
I remember most of the cleats I have worn since high school.  I love to try out different cleats and one pair I had in 11th grade I really liked.  They were Kronos brand I found at a soccer shop in a town an hour away from me.  I have never seen them in a soccer shop before or after.  They had full kangaroo uppers, molded studs that were a little longer than normal and fit like a glove.  I absolutely loved those boots.  The only problem was that the studs weren’t affixed as well they could have been and after 9 months or so the studs started to break off.  A damn shame.

What cleats on the market do you like/not like?
I do not have any list of cleats I do not like but I have really come around on the Nike boots.  When they first came on the market the shoes were not as good as other brands, but in the past three to five years the shoes have really improved.  The Total 90 Laser II is the best shoe I have ever worn.  The touch, the grip, everything is great.  As it should be for a $200 pair of boots!

From your experience, what is the most important feature of a good cleat?
The most important feature of a cleat depends on the player.  Whether you need light shoes for speed, shoes designed for touch, or shoes with great traction, it just depends on your needs.  However, the most important thing you need in a shoe is comfort.  The shoe has to feel good on your foot.  No pressure points from the studs.  Minimal rubbing to lessen chances of blisters.  If the comfort is right then you can worry about the rest of the shoe.

Thanks for taking the time to chat to us the Fans Attic, we appreciate you taking the time and giving us some great info!

Also Check Out:
Cleatology: The Original Winger
Cleatology: The Fullback Files

Brian, as a kid growing up, what types of soccer cleats did you wear?
I always rocked Copa’s…Couldn’t ever go wrong with them and at the time, they were by far the most affordable for the quality. They cost $77 back then and Moms would never drop more than $50 twice a year. So, I’d have to come up with the rest (or all if they tore before Xmas or summer).

How often do you play now, and what cleats are in your bag?
I try to get out as often as possible, but the television travel schedule makes that a little difficult. Every Tuesday it’s indoor and I’ve got on the black Adi Nova’s. For outdoor on Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings, the white Adi Nova TRX’s or dark grey Adi Predators.

When I say ‘soccer cleats’ whats the first thing that comes to mind?
Boots.

Do you have any memories of specific cleats you wore?
Other than the Copa’s, I can remember picking up a pair of Perla Negra’s that ripped after two weeks, some Lanzera’s that were soft as can be but warped after one game in the rain and a pair of Lotto’s with the big logo on the side that were pretty good to me.

Dunny, wearing Copa's, getting stuck in!

During your pro playing days, were there any players that you specifically remember for funky cleats?
Back then you had to be damn good to be able to rock any boots that weren’t black. But the young Nike kids started showing up with some boots that the older vets used to just tape together (when they’re back was turned) and throw them in the freezer.

From your experience, what is the most important feature of a good cleat?
Comfort. I love a new pair of boots straight out of the box because they’re nice and tight. I would train in the same boots (2 or 3 different pairs) over the course of the year, but game day were boots I’d only worn once or twice (just to make sure I wouldn’t get blisters) that would never make more than a three game appearance.

What tips/advice can you give to young players in terms of taking care of their cleats?
Make sure you go to the shop and test out EVERY pair to see which boot feels the most comfortable with your game socks on to replicate how they’ll feel when you’re on the field. There were certain brands that I couldn’t wear because they were either too narrow or I felt like I wasn’t getting enough support in my heel.

Thanks for taking the time to talk with us Brian. Also of note, you should check out the amazing Bump Pitch clothing line. This is a clothing range put together by Dunny and fellow soccer enthusiasts Ben Hooper and Ace Harrison. In the past few months, I have seen pics of celebs like Steve Nash and Ryan Seacrest sporting Bumpy Pitch t-shirts, so they definitely have huge appeal! To finish out, you can also find the team on Twitter at http://twitter.com/bp_tow

Michael, as a kid growing up, what types of soccer cleats did you wear?
Ah, the 80′s. Adidas, Adidas, everywhere, and not just the cleats. My standard school shoes were always Adidas flats that saw double duty for indoor soccer in the winter as well. Not being a fancy-pants attacking sort (my blog is called the Fullback Files for a reason!), pretty much the only thing I looked for in a shoe in those early years was “the blacker the better.” And while that generally ended up being Adidas, I do have fond memories of a couple pairs of Diadoras as well.

Do you have any memories of specific cleats you wore?
Oh, those Diadoras! There was one pair I remember loving so much that I wore them well beyond the point where my feet had outgrown them. The blisters were unbelievable! The backs of both heels were rubbed raw. Most of my toes were a mess. The ball of my left (plant) foot was a bloody, puss-filled ruin. But they were worth it. The last time I scored more than once in a game during a competitive match was in those shoes. Of course, that might have been due more to the coach yanking me off the back line and sticking me in attacking midfield for some reason, but I’ll always attribute that final brace to those fantastic Diadoras.

What cleats on the market do you not like?
Nike. They weren’t making soccer cleats during my glory days in the 80′s, but I’ve never been a fan of Nike shoes in general. Why? Because they’re too narrow for my wide German-Irish peasant trotters! So you can imagine my complete lack of surprise when I got a pair of Nike’s to review recently and found that the problem persists. It wasn’t that they were so completely uncomfortable that my feet couldn’t take the pain (I think I established in the Diadora anecdote above that they can take a fair amount of abuse), but I was constantly worried about turning an ankle–the narrow base had me feeling like I was on ice skates sometimes!

From your experience, what is the most important feature of a good cleat?
While I’ve not yet outgrown my youthful obsession with having footwear be as black as possible, my priorities have shifted a bit as I enter my fourth decade of playing the game. Not having the youthful energy I once possessed, a light shoe has become increasingly important. But far and away, the thing that I now value most in a cleat is grip. These days, if my footing goes, I count my lucky stars if I haven’t pulled something in the bargain. The road back to fitness from a tweaked groin is much longer now than it was as a teenager.

If you enjoyed Michael’s humorous approach to all things soccer cleats then hop on over to The Fullback Files, and get the latest on the world of MLS as the playoffs quickly approach! We will continue the series with more interviews later this week. Make sure to sign up to our email updates and get all the latest stories from Soccer Cleats 101!

Hearing what professional players think about the cleats that they are wearing is always interesting!

Q. What soccer cleats do you currently wear?
A. I am wearing the Nike Tiempo Legend III at the moment.

Q. What’s the story behind you choosing the Nike Tiempo Legend III?
A. I’ve actually not long come back to them. Wearing the Nike Tiempo Legend III coincided with my best ever run of form, and maybe mistakenly I switched to Lotto Zhero Evolution boots instead. I think as a footballer it’s good to try new things, but ultimately you’re dealing with very fine margins of success and failure, so I’d always recommend that if you find the boot that you believe is the right one for you, why not stick with it?

Q. Why did you change to and from the Lotto Zhero Evolution boots?
A. When they first came out I just thought they were really comfortable. I also had a go in the lighter Nike Mercurial Vapors for a bit. As footballers there is often a lot of influence over club sponsorship deals, and obviously with the likes of Flavio Briatore at Rangers there is a strong Italian voice. That’s where the Lotto link came from and, to be fair to the boots, they ticked all the right boxes when I tried them on. However, I felt like a change a couple of week backs, so I went back to the Nike Tiempo Legend III.

Q. There are a range of different colours and styles available in soccer cleats now, but are there any horror shows in the QPR dressing room when it comes to footwear?
A. That’s a tough one really because they all stand out these days. The black boots are pretty rare, it seems, with white, blue, yellow and even pink available now. So, it’s a pretty colourful mix and there isn’t really one in particular that I can pick out as a bad egg.

Q. You came through the ranks at Portsmouth; were you a boot- boy there, and if so, whose boots did you clean?
A. Yes I was a boot boy at Portsmouth and I was quite fortunate in that while I was a YTS because I was looking after another young pro, Luke Nightingale’s, boots. He didn’t complain too much because he knew how hard the job could be when you got a player who liked to make a fuss. However, I did Russell Hoult’s boots and he wasn’t very nice some times when he couldn’t kick the ball straight in them, so I got a bit of grief off him occasionally. To this day he’ll still say it was my fault but I think we both know different!

Thanks to our friends over at Ransacker for sharing this article with us! The interview was conducted by Chris Galea.