Football Boots We Have Loved: Valsport Era

Chris Wright

11th, December 2012

11 Comments

By Chris Wright

Back before it was considered run of the mill to peddle boots in every colour of the visible light spectrum, there was a certain thrill in flicking through Four Four Two magazine to see these exotic, ethereal, elusive beauties at the bottom of the boot ad pages at the back…

They were the Valsport Era. Look at them. Caress their metallic beauty with your eyes. Drink them in. Tastes like the future doesn’t it? Like mercury mixed with progress.

They came from Italy. Guaranteed no-one you knew had a pair or had even seen a pair in the wild – they were far too expensive for your average schoolboy and far too gaudy for your average pub player to wear without risking an obligatory ‘Flash Harry’ kicking – but everyone fantasised about them…

Excuse me, I need a private moment… and a tissue.

More in Pies’ beloved boots series…

Puma King
Original Nike Tiempo

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11 Comments

  1. Mr Sensible says:

    I remember ordering a catalogue from one of the shops selling stuff on those back pages when I was about 12, better than a jazz mag! I went through a Mizuno period and wore Mizuno head to toe, I even went to the Mizuno store in Tokyo when I was on holiday, 7 floors, all Mizuno, 1 floor just sold J-League kits, think I bought about 10 of them somehow, still got them somewhere.

  2. NOLU says:

    Greatest boots ever made. As long as you get the kick in first no one is going to touch you with these beauties on. I still wear my pair for the rare five-a-side run outs I get. The tongue on one boot is hanging off and there is a hole in the side of the other but I cant bring myself to throw them away.

  3. Chris says:

    I have to disagree with a comment in your article, I was a schoolboy and I had a pair of these, fantastic boots, absolutely loved them. However, once a sharp stud had ripped them open they were confined to the bin. A special place in my hear, however.

  4. eddie says:

    I actually owned that exact pair but in red..they looked amazing but the material was so thin if anyone touched the front of your boot u felt like ur toes were shot off…beautiful shows but not to practical on the pitch like these new boots

  5. Bear says:

    I remember watching Stefano Fiore strike his belter against Belgium in Euro 2000, sporting a pair of Valsports. From that point on, I wanted my own but never got them…

  6. Casino Ken says:

    I still have a grey pair that dont fit, must be worth a bit by now. I had a pair of the blues to play in and even some customised material ones!

  7. Joe says:

    I bought a pair of these whilst on holiday in Italy aged 15. They were half price – around £40 if I recall correctly. What a bargain, I thought! Yes, they looked the bollox, butnfortunately they were the worst fitting and most uncomfortable boot I’ve ever had. Can’t beat em for street cred though.

    Thinking of selling them on eBay UK soon… if anyones on the hunt for a pair. Watch this space.

  8. Matt Byrne says:

    Would be great if one of the big boys stole the design and made a modern homage, but with proper quality.

    I only saw one pair in person, in a Newquay sports shop of all places and they felt so fragile and slightly tacky to look at.

  9. Joe says:

    I’m selling my old pair of these right now (size UK11) via an app called ‘Depop’. Get ’em while you still can!

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