History of Football Boots

The history of the football boot

1526: The earliest football boot is recorded as belonging to King Henry VIII

1800’s: Players wore hard, leather work boots, which were long laced and steel toe capped as the first football boots

Late 1800’s: Football boots shifted to a slipper style shoe, which were made of thick, hard leather going up the ankle for increased protection and incorporated leather studs – they weighed 500g

1925: The first replaceable studs were featured, which could be changed according to weather conditions

1940’s: Football boot production shifted to producing a lighter football boot with the focus on kicking and controlling the ball rather than simply a piece of protective footwear

1950: Football boots are made with interchangeable screw in studs made of plastic or rubber for the first time

1950’s: Football boots were still over the ankle but now made of synthetic materials and leather, producing an even lighter shoe

1960’s: A momentous change in design saw the first below the ankle football boots introduced

1970’s: This decade is remembered for the way in which football boot sponsorship took off – players were paid to wear only one brand

1970’s: Technological developments allowed lighter boots to be produced and the first all – white football boot was made

1990’s: Conventional studs were replaced by some manufacturers with a bladed design, covering the sole, which gave a more stable base for the player

2000+: Football boot manufacturers continue to strive to produce the lightest football boot over a more protective one – some, like Concave boots, try to do both.