The Science Behind the Football Boot
The Science Behind the Football Boot - Part One
Craig Johnston, inventor of the Adidas Predator, opens the lecture by discussing how he became a professional soccer player with Ger Gilroy, host of NewsTalk’s Breakfast Show. Rejected by Jack Charlton as a trialist at Middlesbrough, Johnston honed his skills in a car park each day. Little did he know that the training skills that he developed would eventually culminate in the creation of the world’s most iconic soccer boot.
The Science Behind the Football Boot - Part Two
Johnston discusses the Predator boot and the science behind it. He outlines how the design of a soccer boot can be improved to enhance a player’s control of the ball. Listing the various factors that influence how a ball is controlled such as the stitching and the size of the goals, the science behind soccer is revealed.
The Science Behind the Football Boot - Part Three
Ger Gilroy discusses Craig Johnston’s career with Liverpool when he formed part of one of the greatest teams that the world has ever seen. Johnston describes the intense training that was involved and how the team’s spirit acted as a twelfth man on the pitch.
The Science Behind the Football Boot - Part Four
The lecture is opened to the floor for questions and a variety of topics are discussed such as whether modern boots are to blame for the high profile metatarsal injuries suffered by players like David Beckham and Wayne Rooney.