Football Boots We Have Loved: Valsport Era
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
Remembering Ivan Turina – A Football Report
Moyes Has Done Sod All To Deserve United Job – Johnny Nic For F365
Anfield: The Victims, The Anger And The Shameful Truth – Guardian
The A-Z Of Football Boot Brands – The Boot Room
Man Utd Coach Delivers Opinion On Rooney's Form – Off The Post
19 Rules Of Playing Football When You're A Kid – BuzzFeed
Chiles, Keane, Dixon & Southgate Preview Madrid vs Dortmund – The False Nine
Brilliant 'Punk Aesthetic' West Ham Artwork – Is Saitch Yer Daddy?
Very American, Not Very Good: The 1971 St Louis Stars – IBWM
Paolo Di Canio Sings The Hits – Fitba Thatba
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.
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.
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.
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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
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…