I love to play the beautiful game. Even at my own humble level (very humble according to some). As I entered my early thirties I noticed my recovery time after each game getting longer. Now, after a 60 minute 5-a-side game I have to steady myself down the stairs next morning. The knees are telling me to stop.
Now, most people in their twenties and older that I know play their football primarily at indoor sports halls, especially through the winter months. There just isn’t time to play on grass in the week and many opt out of Sunday league football (a.k.a. Sunday League Punch-up) as they need to walk the following week. So, a nice cosy sports halls it is. Permanent light. No need to fetch the ball (never goes out of play). For all intents and purposes this is non-stop football nirvana. Well, yes, except for the rock hard floor that is…
Now, one thing that helps prevent CKS (Crap Knees Syndrome), besides better genetics, is a good pair of cushioned football trainers. Yet, for reasons I can’t understand, the big sports companies just don’t seem to understand this…
The best ones I have used so far are the Nike Air Nine Zero Max (pictured). These sport a nice cushion of air underneath the sole that really takes the shock out of all the impact, making the knees feel noticeably better post match. However, just like when you find a top ready meal, Nike have stopped making them and rivals Adidas don’t make anything that even approaches a comfort cushioning football trainer.
Surely, the market, in Great Britain at least, for high end indoor football trainers perhaps outweighs traditional boots? I’d venture that more football is played in sports halls than on grass these days? Then again, one can only presume that Nike, Adidas et al have done the market research…
So, here, in essence is the problem; as you get older, you can actually afford some of the high end kit that sporting companies produce. The irony is that by the time you can afford it, the kit they make isn’t suitable for you! It’s geared to people in their prime (read, late teens, early twenties) and it makes no provision for those despertely getting in as many games as they possibly can before their knees give up completely. How long do you think we’ll have to wait until bionic knees are available?