Bootylicious colours reveal all about studs in studs
Tuesday August 05 2008
Coloured boots? Time was when wearing them was tantamount to wearing a sign saying "I am a Fancy Dan".
These days the pitch is a catwalk for top footballers and their desire to be studs in studs has led to the boot becoming a fashion accessory as well as a tool of the trade.
Green, orange, white, blue, even pink: apart from the sport embracing bling culture, and the manufacturers spotting sales opportunities, is there a deeper significance? And we don't mean David Beckham's claim that his adidas boots have been designed using the ethos of Chinese mysticism to "represent the idea of yin and yang".
In the same way that statistics suggest that drivers of red cars are more aggressive than those in, say, yellow vehicles -- red being associated with aggressive instincts -- are wearers of red boots more likely to get stuck in on the pitch?
Dr Martin Perry, a sports psychologist, thinks so. He was asked by the website footy-boots.com to analyse multicoloured footwear.
"I've got vivid memories of Alan Ball in white boots in the Seventies," he said. "In the last 10 years, things have changed. You don't have to be a class player to wear different-coloured boots.
"A player chooses the look he feels fits their personality.
"These days, commercial interest is the main driver. Players can change the colour of their boots from one week to the next."
A Nike spokesman said that the models and colours worn by icons tend to sell very strongly, especially after a player puts in an eye-catching performance.
In Niketown stores, the orange boots worn by Cristiano Ronaldo and a white pair worn by Joe Cole are popular.
"Still, I've seen journeyman defenders wearing white boots and it's just wrong," Perry said.
"But I'm not even sure that players would get ridiculed for outrageous footwear in the professional game any more. At park level, it's different -- you'd still get mocked if vanity overrules your common sense."
On the basis that there is a link between colour of footwear and style of play, Perry has produced a list.
Dependable in brown, but prone to hype in gold
"A safe colour suggesting certainty and authority. Always worn black and always will."
THE MAESTRO: WHITE
"White represents purity and light. He oozes talent and has everything except workrate."
THE HOT POTATO: RED
"An intense colour that generates emotions. For impetuous and rash firebrands."
THE VETERAN: BLUE
"Peace and tranquillity. He is convinced that his experience, coolness and nous make up for a lack of pace."
THE ENIGMA: GREEN
"One week, storming the barricades; next week, missing in action. Why? Who knows?"
THE ENTERTAINER: YELLOW
"Yellow brings good cheer and optimism. The life and soul of the team, with energy and enthusiasm."
THE ORGANISER:
BROWN
"A smartly turned-out defender, unyielding and dependable."
THE GOLDEN BOY: GOLD
"The colour of sun brings warmth and wisdom. Super-talented but may believe in his own publicity too much."
THE HEADLESS CHICKEN: SILVER
"It offers light and balance. He has speed and pace to burn, but passing can be erratic."
The Eccentric: Orange
"Orange offers freedom and emotional release. Desire to be different, but can be prone to impulsive decision-making and gaffes."
- Tom Dart
