Football Boots

As fans delve into their pockets to buy their team's latest replica shirt, we find out that Manchester United have topped the table for selling the most club football shirts throughout the world, raking in over 1 million sales!


Manchester United football shirts and Liverpool football shirts sell more official replica, for Nike and adidas respectively, than any other teams in the English Premier League. Both are at or close to the top of the global merchandise sales tables according to multi-year research by a leading German consultancy, released to sportingintelligence for the first time.



These exclusive statistics, breaking down the figures for both Nike and adidas, are not just an insight into the fan bases for these clubs, but also re-open the debate over the commercial exploitation of fans. New football shirts seem to be a hot topic at the moment, with almost every club and national team releasing new football shirts every year at the expense of their loyal fans.



We remember a time when clubs were supposed to only release a new shirt every two seasons, but when you see these figures it makes you question whether as fans we are being exploited. If that is the case, then we're not just necessarily looking at the best supported clubs' in the world, but also the biggest culprits of exploitation. Let us know your thoughts...

Credit:Soccerbible.com

As English football heads into a new era, Umbro have unveiled the new England Home football shirt 10/12. A fresh kit for the start of the England team’s Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, building on the tailoring, style and performance elements of the previous home and current away kits. Check out the SoccerBible's exclusive images...



Inspired by an increasingly diverse England, iconic graphic designer, Peter Saville has created a pattern on the new England home shirt that is a reflection of his vision of modern England. Made up of different interpretations of the classic St George’s cross symbol, the pattern is displayed through the repetition of four different coloured crosses.

The traditional red cross is still present alongside blue and green ones, which are colours present in the official England team crest. These have been joined by a purple cross, a blend of all the three previous colours to accentuate diversity on the new England home football jersey.



The new England shirt was revealed in a ‘new fabric of England’ team line-up featuring some of the country’s most talented younger generation of players. Sitting alongside senior players Wayne Rooney, Theo Walcott, Adam Johnson and Joe Hart, are the likes of Jade Bailey, who at only 14 years old has represented England at Women’s U17 level; Eric Dier, the 16 year old promising centre-back currently in the youth system at Sporting Lisbon; and Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere, who was first called-up to the senior squad for the August friendly against Hungary.





Commenting on the new fabric design, Saville said: “Both the nation and the fans themselves are more diverse than ever before – whether that’s differences in politics, religion, ethnicity, fashions, music and art. The landscape of England has shifted dramatically over the past couple of decades and we are now one of the most culturally diverse nations in the world.

"Football is a language that everyone can relate to and the new England home kit provided the perfect canvas to reflect what England looks like today. The reality of modern England is expressed in this pattern as it reclaims the St George’s cross to positively represent our contemporary society.”







Alongside the new England home football shirt 10/12, will be the new England home goalkeeper’s shirt in black with a purple trim. Purple piping has been added to the kit after Saville was inspired by the cut-line on a formal shirt, feeling that this highlight made the kit look like a design sketch



England goalkeeper Joe Hart commented on the new England goalkeeper jersey: “The new England home kit is undoubtedly the best fitting England kit yet. I love the black and the subtle nature of the pattern blended into the shirt.”





The new 2010/12 England home football kit will be worn for the first time on September 3rd by the England men’s senior squad during the game against Bulgaria. Available to pre-order now, the new England home football shirt goes on sale from October 12th, and fans can expect to pay around £50 GBP to own the unique new England shirt.

Now you've seen it, we'd love to hear the fan's opinions on the new England home football jersey 10/12...



Credit:Soccerbible.com

New 10-11 Premier League Home Kits Overview (M-W)

We wrote about the first half of the new 10-11 Premier League Shirts (A-L) in alphabetical order, and now it’s time to give the overview of the 10-11 Premier League Shirts (M-W), from Manchester City to Watford. While you have seen some of these kits in action already in the league openers, we have a much better view for you to decide which is the best kit of the year in the English Premier League, and which are a complete design flop. All 20 clubs have re-designed their kits for the new season, while only 18 did so last year. While this gives people like me a lot to write about, it also gives you options if you hated last season’s kit for your club.

Here’s a preview of the English Premier League (M-W) kits:



1. Manchester City Home Kit


The new Manchester City 2010-2011 Home Kit is now available for sale from the club website and is a slightly improved version of last year’s kit, while not being very different from the kit the supporters really loved. It’s tailored in England by Umbro and will likely be a very memorable kit. Click the image above for order information, reviews, and more pictures.

Manchester United 10/11 Home Kit


The 2010-2011 Manchester United Home Kit is a debatable kit, making the most noise out of any kit redesign this season. It might all be spite due to the anger of fans with the owners, or it might just be a general dislike for the design. What do you think about it? Click the image above for order information, reviews, and more pictures.

Newcastle United 10-11 Home Kit


The new 2010-2011 Newcastle Home Kit is the first result from a new Newcastle and Puma partnership which has so far yielded a good kit for the new season for the geordies. What do you think about it? Click the image above for order information, reviews, and more pictures.

Stoke City 10-11 Home Kit


The 2010-2011 Stoke City Home Kit is designed by Adidas and looks a bit like the new Bayern Munchen Home kit. Adidas has done a good job with the design, even if Stoke supporters might feel that solid stripes would be more fitting. Click the image above for order information, reviews, and more pictures.

Sunderland 10-11 Home Kit


The all new Sunderland 10-11 Home Kit is designed and tailored by Umbro in England and is a kit that will make all supporters happy. It’s very traditional and classic, with a modern touch from Umbro. What do you think about it? Click the image above for order information, reviews, and more pictures.

Tottenham 10-11 Home Kit


The new 10/11 Tottenham Home Kit is one of the best re-designs of the season, but is ruined by a lousy sponsor that doesn’t fit the retro look at all. The club has also released 5 other kits and has separate sponsors for the European and Cup matches than it has for the EPL. Click the image for more info about this kit.

WBA Home kit 10-11


The all new West Brom 10-11 home kit is tailored by Umbro in England and features a very classic look for the club. The template is very similar to the Sunderland shirt and has the faded out stripes as well. What do you think about it? For more information about this kit, as well as reviews, click the image above.

West Ham 10-11 Home Kit



While some supporters are unhappy with the 10/11 West Ham Macron kit, I think it’s a very smart design that sticks to history and presents the club very well for home matches. I love the classic collar and the sleeves. What do you think? For more info and ordering information, click the image above.

Wigan 10-11 Home Kit


The 2010-2011 Wigan Home Kit is designed by MiFit and is a good change from the 09-10 Wigan home kit. I love the stripe on one side, and the lines along it, it fits better to the team crest. However it does look like it belongs in Ligue 1, as it’s very similar in style to French kits.

Wolves 10-11 Home Kit


The 2010-2011 Wolves Home Kit stays consistant to tradition and will surely please fans as they play in the Premier League. The noticeable features are the black sections of the kit, and especially the black classic collar. It looks fantastic. What do you think about it? Click the image above if you want more information on the new kit.

Which kit is the best from the second half of the table (alphabetically)? For me it has to be between Manchester City and Tottenham, with the two clubs having the most unique and popping designs that can become very memorable. Manchester United and West Ham come in quite close for me as well, one with a retro-chique design, another with a modern interpretation of classic kit design.

What do you think? Are you impressed or disappointed by this season’s new EPL kits?

Credit:soccerlens.com

New 10-11 Premier League Home Kits Overview (A-L)


The blogs are getting backed up with all of the 2010-2011 kit releases, especially since every Premier League club has made the executive decision to release new home and away kits this season. This season clubs got a makeover from the biggest brands in the world, with Nike, Adidas, Umbro, Puma, Reebok, Le Coq Sportif, and more being in action displaying some of the best kit design ever seen, and probably some of the worst ever seen (considering some of the away and third kits). It’s time to compare the new Premier League home kits and try to decide which is best, worst, and which is simply mediocre.



1. Arsenal 10/11 Home Kit


The new Arsenal 10/11 Home Shirt is inspired by a classic kit, which seems to be the story line for most of this season’s new kits. Click the image for more info and reviews.

2. Aston Villa 10/11 Home Kit


The new Aston Villa 10/11 Kit was designed by Nike to combine classic villa design with a modern checkered look for the new season. For the review, click the image above of the kit.

3. Birmingham 10/11 Home Kit


The new 10/11 Birmingham City Home Kit features a nice design, with the sponsor F&C Investments carrying a lot of weight on the front of the shirt. It’s a classic colour combination for the English club.

4. Blackburn 10/11 Home Kit


The new Blackburn 10/11 Home Shirt is designed by Umbro and tailored in England, featuring the classic Blackburn look and colours. A fantastic design from Umbro. To read more about it, click on the image.

5. Blackpool 10/11 Home Kit


A kit with a lot of controversy surrounding it due to its sponsor. The 10/11 Blackpool Home Shirt is a noticeable bright orange and represents the club very well as they try to get attention to a struggling city once more. Read more about the kit by clicking the image above!

6. Bolton 10/11 Home Kit


The new 10/11 Bolton Home Shirt is designed by Reebok, being the only EPL club to have their kit made by the brand. Click the image for order information and reviews of the new Bolton Home kit.

7. Chelsea 10/11 Home Kit


The all-new Chelsea 10/11 Home Shirt is a beautifully constructed shirt with a very modern spin on the classic all-blue Chelsea kit. Click the image above for more info about the kit, more photos, order info, and reviews.

8. Everton 10/11 Home Kit


One of my personal favorites this season, the new 10/11 Everton Home Kit is designed by French company Le Coq Sportif, and has a very classic look which works very very very well for the Liverpool club. Click the image for more reviews, pictures, and order info!

9. Fulham 10/11 Home Kit


The new 10/11 Fulham Home Kit made by Kappa is a design success and is very simple, but classic Kappa design. The new FxPro logo fits right in on the front of the kit, giving it an extra dimension with the bright red. For more pictures and information, click the image above!

10. Liverpool 10/11 Home Kit


The all new Liverpool 10/11 Home Shirt is one that really grew on me over time, at first keeping me very skeptical. Once looking at it in more detail, the Adidas design team have done a fantastic job with the Liverpool home kit. For close-ups, reviews, and order information, click the photo above.

Which kit is the best from the first half of the table (alphabetically)? For me it has to be between Everton and Liverpool, with the two clubs having the most unique and popping designs that can become very memorable. Arsenal and Chelsea come in quite close for me as well, one with a retro-chique design, another with a modern interpretation of classic kit design.

What do you think? Are you impressed or disappointed by this season’s new EPL kits?

Credit:soccerlens

The latest Nike Mercurial Superfly II Football Boots are a supercharged release, set to explode onto football pitches at the start of the new domestic seasons. Now on their (delayed) European launch, the SoccerBible shares the full and exclusive images!



OK, so we know you've probably already seen these as plenty of images have been floating around cyberspace for months now - but sometimes a cameraphone shot just can't do a boot justice! Here at the SoccerBible we like to get you up close and personal with the latest boots, so check out our full gallery of Vapor Superfly II photos for the latest colourway out of the Nike factory - Bright Cactus/White/Anthracite.




With all the peripheral-vision claims of the Nike Elite Series World Cup pack, these Superfly II boots go back to what Nike does best - bold, loud and eye-catching colours. The Bright Cactus and Anthracite (Grey) mix, coupled with those vibrant orange studs, is sure to make any Mercurial player stand out on pitch. You just have to decide whether that's a good or bad thing for your game.




Nike designers created a Mercurial football boot that provides new levels of performance with nearly four years of game analysis, biomechanical studies and player testing. The new Cactus coloured Elite Nike Vapor Superfly II football boots feature a stronger and tougher performance upper to improve on-field visibility and a re-engineered outsole to deliver lightweight performance for the world's Elite players.




The Nike Elite Mercurial Superfly II football boots maintain the desired close fit around the foot without compromising on durability or support. Next-generation Nike Flywire technology incorporated into the boot’s streamlined upper provides the unique lightweight, strong and more dynamic fit.




The major innovation for the Superfly II football boots was the development of the Nike Sense adaptive traction technology. Current in the Elite Superfly II football boots, designers created an adaptive stud that can extend and retract by up to 3mm, based on ground conditions and pressure exerted by the player.

This new release Superfly continues with the SenseStud design, even though the professional elite seem unconvinced of the studs advantages yet (see: Cristiano Ronaldo).





The explosive Nike Elite Mercurial Vapor Superfly II football boots are the fastest, most innovative and technologically advanced football boots to hit the pitch. Whilst they've already been available to pre-order in North America, now the European release of the Nike Elite football boots means we'll be able to start pre-ordering our pair now, for an expected early August release.

Of course, there is no let up in the pricing structure of the Elite editions and these boots continue to retail for around £275 GBP / $400 USD a pair when they hit selected stores and Nike stores.

Credit:Soccerbible

Introducing the new colour combination for the Puma v1.10 Super Light football boots. The first release since the Puma v1.10 SL soccer shoes were launched as the world's lightest football boot, weighing in at a mere 150 grams! Check out the SoccerBible's exclusive First Look gallery images of the Puma v1.10 SL Lightning...


The design is inspired by Usain Bolt and built for footballers such as Samuel Eto'o - athletes who constantly revolutionise their respective playing fields with speed and spontaneity.



The Puma v1.10 SL Lightning has a lightweight construction and is a great looking boot, designed in Usain Bolt's signature Jamaica colours of yellow and green. Bespoke features make this Puma football boot stand-out, with Swarovski crystals embedded in the heel, and Jamaica's national motto presented on the out-step: "Out of Many, One People".



Puma's v1.10 SL Lightning football boots have been engineered to revolutionise movement and increase player speed. But as the promotional campaign would suggest, they've also been created with a healthy dose of sentiment, and hail Usain Bolt's performances on the track and his love for football.




Puma have redefined lightweight footwear with the Puma v1.10 SL football boots, which to be honest now look more suited to the running track! Weighing a paltry 150 grams, the v1.10 SL has taken the v1.815 Ferrari concept boot to another level, displacing the adidas adiZero as the lightest football boot in the world.




The Puma v1.10 SL upper is made from a superlight microfibre synthetic material, which is extremely soft for comfort and ball feel, and provides slightly more padding than lightweight counterpart the adiZero. Like the rest of the v1.10 range, the SL features a central lacing system with a soft and lightweight tongue, constructed to provide breathability.




The outsole and external heel counter of the Puma v1.10 SL football boots has been engineered from a revolutionary Thermoplastic. The Pebax material offers outstanding mechanical, physical and chemical properties, by bridging the gap between thermoplastics and rubbers. In short, this means the v1.10 SL's outsole offers stability, durability and support at a fraction of the weight. And is further complimented by a Carbon Fibre insert in the outsole, enhancing player movement through reactivity, flexibility and midfoot stability.



The Puma v1.10 Lightning SL football boots are officially the lightest football boots on the market, and with this collaboration with Usain Bolt and Jamaica are certainly going to cause a lot of debate. The Lightning SL's are due to be released on the 19th August and as a special edition with their very own bling crystals will cost around £250 GBP / $360 USD.

So now you've seen them, lets hear YOUR opinions on the latest innovative lightweight football boot to hit the market...

Credit:Soccerbible