Wider Reading: Soccer Boots Blog

Every two weeks, I'll be introducing a different blog I've been reading.

Well, that's what the blogosphere is about - individual growing networks of knowledge.

I wouldn't want people to read my blog and only my blog, and I'm a keen reader of blogs elsewhere.

So in the true spirit of blogatry, here is the first post in the Wider Reading series, and my first official TFT approved blog.

Better get the guilty pleasure out of the way first, I think. It's just like Alcoholics Anonymous: my name is Chris, and I read about football boots.

Soccer Boots Blog

Football, as any other subject, has levels of interest. There's the casual follower, the dedicated follower and the obsessive (it's simplistic, granted, by you get the point). Somewhere in the obsessive group is 'geek', and, sadly, that's where I reside. I watch games, but I also like to read about things like...gulp...boots.

Fortunately, Soccer Boots Blog caters for people like me (and probably relevant professionals, too). It's much better than it sounds, and more accessible too. It carries all the latest boot-related news, as you might expect, but also relates it back to players.

It is very technical, and fascinating as a result. These boot manufacturers do all sorts of cool things with their kit, y'see. Some fans see them as unnecessary (sweet spots, blades, different leathers etc), but they're interesting none the less.

Personally, it's an interest which dates back to watching a video about Craig Johnston developing Adidas Predator by lashing a ball at a wall and modifying the shape of the boot to improve the accuracy of movement of the ball.

Importantly, Soccer Boots Blog doesn't just PR the crap out of a bunch of boots as they're launched. It also looks at technique, and that is so very, very central to injury prevention and a young player's technical development. We all know that's topical right now, what with England not developing its kids properly and all. The blog even throws in a bit of footy news for good measure every now and again. Lovely stuff.

Well worth a read if you're interested in football equipment, technique development, science etc. Enjoy.