So, you been coerced into your first kickaround. No one has bailed out with the usual “I’m playing Sudoku with my mum” excuses Frodo, and its game on!
A question that pops up frequently, is what do I wear? If you fancy a night in the drink tank, you could wear nothing. And there’s nothing stopping you from wearing a bog-standard cotton t-shirt, shorts, socks and normal trainers.
But there’s a lot of good gear available so that you can get the most out of your first game. They can range from dirt cheap, the price of a pint down your local to very expensive, so it’s up to you to find your affordable price range. Come on you don't want to be "that" 1 player.
Wearing a cotton t-shirt will work, but after 2 minutes, you’ll find out quickly how unfit you really are and will probably be sweating like a pig (I heard they don’t, and this is a myth?).
The sweat will make your gear stick to you like that person at a nightclub that doesn’t get the message.
What’s more is that the sweat will really get into your t-shirt. Leave it lying around for more than a few hours after your game and you’ll find the armpit area solidifying and ruining the shirt for good how ever many times you wash it.
Let’s give you a rundown on some of the stuff that should be in your kitbag, so you’ll be ready for your first ever game.
T-Shirts, Shorts and Socks
Nowadays, you can get all sorts of training wear. Commonly available from all sports shops physical and online, direct from Adidas, Nike, Puma etc. I’ll list out a few links at the end (which I’m not getting paid for, haven’t figured that out yet). Most training gear will be made specifically for footy and sports in general, from special material which will be sweat resistant, light to wear, stylish and make you feel you’re ready to stop Messi firmly in his tracks.
Nike do their “Dri-Fit” range, Adidas “Clima-cool”. Made of the best materials on offer. The first time you put them on, you’ll notice straight away how light they are. After a game, with all the sweat, you’ll see first-hand, how little the sweat weights the shirt down. Some if not all, are partly mesh, so you can breath easy and mobility is easy.
Quick note, if you go to an online store, you will find these shirts in the training or teamwear sections. Often if you click on the t-shirt section, you will get a whole load of replica team kits from the cheap (Man Utd) to the expensive (West Ham Utd), ha only kidding.
At this point its worth chatting quickly about replica shirts. These are becoming increasingly frequent (the norm these days is 1 every season) and expensive. Add to that, clubs have to have an away shirt, and now 3rd or 4th shirts plus goalie kits, and it can hit the wallet hard. Jumbo actually asked me what the difference between a “Match” and “Stadium” shirt was. Match shirts are exact replica’s of what the players wear, so tend to be tighter fit and have the best tech sewn into them. Personally, I don’t see the point in shelling out extra for these.
Stadium shirts actually have a better fit, and I feel they last longer. If you insist on having the latest kit, you will have to pay top dollar. Wait a season or two and around May (clubs release new kits from May onwards) and you’ll see the prices drop as quickly Cosby’s shoulders when he skins a defender. Wait too long however, and they may be out of stock.... any longer still and the kit prices rise again as they enter retro territory!
When it comes to shorts, again, you whack on your summer holiday Bermuda shorts, but why? Training shorts are made for a game. They are shorter (hence why they are called shorts) and you will find that they will give you the freedom to burst into a full sprint. Non-footy shorts will restrict your movement, could give you rashes and the sweat issues so glamorously mentioned above, all apply here. You can even go full Cosby, and wear rugby shorts. Yep, I just mentioned Egg chasing. Don’t get me wrong, I hate the sport but there are some ups. The shorts you find in the rugby section do tend to be on the short style……. who wears short shorts? Cosby does, Cosby does. But the material they are made of is sturdier than normal sports shorts. Useful to know if you’re on a tight budget and want them to last.
Moving onto socks, again, football specific socks, are made for a reason. They are longer, often reaching over your knees, for those winter games. Again, it seems odd, but the strides made in the tech, has come far over the years. I remember it being standard in the 80’s to have to size up your boots because the socks for sooooo thick. Thick like our friend Frodo.
SIDE NOTE: I do need to give old Frodo a break. He’s one of the reliable members of FC7, always up for a game and a pretty decent player in the middle of the park, a box to box powerhouse, defying his wiry frame. He’s the brains off the pitch so we do appreciate him.
We’d all be in the thrall of Sauron if it wasn’t for his endeavours. Notable shout out to Marty (Samwise), Frodo’s ever reliable partner and part time lover (I’m joking, Frodo’s a laydeez man……when he’s not early morning topless dog walking).
Samwise isn’t a full-on baller (some would disagree, just not in this context) but when we’ve been desperate, he’s stood up to the plate, like that ever-consistent pull at the end of the night, when all options have been exhausted……
The other important thing to remember is that the socks serve multiple purpose, probably more important than your shirt n shorts. Some of the more expensive socks, provide grip on the soles. They work in unison with your TF trainers or boots. Helping to reduce the boot movement and preventing potential blisters and instability.
Again, on the pricier side, you can get socks for £30 which provide extra tension in the calf and ankle regions, which give you more support. The most common injuries in football tend to be ankle and or muscle related, so any extra benefits are more than welcome.
This dovetails nicely into Shin Pads…
Shin pads are a hotly debated topic. Sometimes for a light kickaround a lot of people say they aren’t needed. But I don’t think there’s any loss in wearing them. Ignore the people who think you are being too competitive, anything that gives you more protection and keeps you safer, is a must in my opinion. I’d rather swallow the dirty looks and play for weeks on end, than receive a nasty knock.
There’s a couple of different types of shin pad available, again, ranging in price. Most are literally padding, that you slip into your socks and they provide ample protection to your shins only. They vary in size, so it’s personal preference. The other variety of the shin pad is the strap on (alright Jumbo, get the laughter out now, we’ll allow this). These look like the standard pads, but they have Velcro straps which you fasten around your upper and lower calf. Some also have a sock like part, which you slip on. Around the ankles they have 2 small heavy plastic plates which add extra support and protection.
Personally, I’m a big fan of these. I’ve mentioned the damage I’ve done to my ankles, so these really do provide me with peace of mind. Slightly bulkier, again it really is personal preference, but for me I don’t find them restrictive in any way, and I can really feel the difference in support.
Here's a gallery of the above kit
Is that it? No. Shirt, shorts, socks and shin pads along with a pair of TF trainers/boots are the minimum. The must haves, that are required for a kick around. Let’s finally cover a few peripheries that you may or may not find useful.
Compression pants: These are essentially ultra-tight lycra shorts. You can wear them under your shorts or straight after the game when you’re celebrating “that” goal, with a G&T or well earnt pint. They help with the muscles in the thigh area post-physical activity. Everyone will have aches and pain the next day, don’t worry, it’s just a signal that your body has had a good workout. But if after a few days, your muscles are still a bit painful then these pants are a useful addition to your kit bag.
Wristbands: Not for everyone, I got a few raised eyebrows. For me I find them useful for catching sweat and they can cover bracelets/watches if they are difficult to take off.
Water Bottle: A must for hydration! Though there will be plenty of time to top up at the pub for post-game drinks, during the game its important to be taking on water, especially on a hot summer day. Add some energy snacks if you want, I personally can survive without a snickers.
Ball and Pump: You’ll find if you join in a random game that’s all pre-setup, then you may not need one. But how embarrassing would it be if you all turn up for your 1st game……. but you’ve forgotten a ball. Having a spare one could be useful. Some pitches don’t have covers, so the ball can be booted into space (Persian Maestro John, we’re all looking at you here). You can leave the spare ball deflated to save space in your bag, most ball pumps are small, and it will literally take you 2 minutes to pump a ball up fully. If you’re in the market for a ball, it’s worth mentioning the sizing here.
See below, for a quick explanation. Again, pricing can range from £10 which will be more than enough to suit your needs to full on World Cup replicas which cost a £100. Up to you again…
Bibs: Again, not always necessary. Small-sided soccer players know all too well the “Dark/Light t-shirt” comments which always accompany the final invite send out. Try having a 7-a-side game when everyone is wearing red. Passing to the right player is hard enough for Cosby, let alone making everyone identical. So bibs are a nice why of getting everyone on 1 team looking uniform. At FC7 we have a set of red and yellow one. But we’re also planning on getting our own kit too, all black for home, we’re undecided on an away one, but probably white, to help us on those hot days!
Sun cream: Yes, I’m the brown Beckham, but I’ve seen a lot of people get a bit carried away and play in the burning heat for a bit too long. Have a quick spray, can prevent days of painful sun burn!
Gloves: It’s so easy to forget the goalie. An important, if not the most important player in the squad! As you start to organise games, you’ll find keepers at a premium. Signing one up to your team, is a bumper signing deserving of a drinks sesh. Often, you’ll find teams taking turns in goal. So, having a couple of pairs of goalie gloves is a must. You can go barehanded, but you’ll be in for a stinging time and occasionally your fingers could suffer a minor injury. The price ranges from £10-50 but cheap gloves really do tick the box. If you’re a goalkeeper solely, you can price up, as you’ll be the one wearing them most of the time.
We’ll mention just normal sports gloves too. I myself, Brown Tom Hardy, have no need for these, but some people might want the extra warmth during a winters match.
Any other business? – There’s probably loads of things you can think about adding. You could go on for years to be honest. I’ll quickly skirt over a few bits.
Towels and a spare set of clothes, if you’re lucky to have changing and shower facilities at your venue. Most people aren’t lucky enough to have a referee, but if you do have an odd number of players, rather than sitting out, you could take turns on reffing.
A whistle and maybe some comedy red and yellow cards. Playing footy isn’t just about the game, but the enjoyment you all get out of it, having a bit of banter and comedy just adds value. We’ll be doing a post solely on “Adding Value to your Games” later, so keep an eye out for this. In this strange new world dictated by Covid19, you can get electric whistles now, which means u can all share one without hygiene concerns. A cheap stopwatch could add value, if you don’t want to risk dropping your phone or watch.
You’ll also hear the words “sock tape” used a lot. Again, a luxury for most people, but having a set in your collection can be useful. We mentioned before that some shin pads were literally just a plate (ranging from cheap plastic ones to ridiculously priced ultra-lite graphite ones. The cheaper ones may not grip your shin or socks as well as the pricier ones, so using tape above and below the pads, can keep them in place. Ever wondered why the pro’s have tape round their socks? Now you do ManBaby!
Finally, where are you gonna put this stuff???
A good bag is useful. Sometimes you’ll want a lot of space. If you don’t know what surface, you are on (see our previous post on pitch surfaces and our boot guide) it might be prudent to have a couple of pair of boots/trainers. If your planning to wear AG/FG boots then, you’ll want room for them, as you’ll travel to the pitch in your normal trainers.
Please don’t try to wear your studs when travelling!
We’ve got our 1st game in the calendar, and now you have your bag packed……let’s get this game on.
Our next article will be detailing on how you can add value to your kickarounds. Adding some humour to the games, making a social event of it, drinks, awards ceremonies, Xmas bashes, charity events, leagues etc. Playing a game is one thing, making it something people want to regularly be a part of is something else entirely.
Until then…..get packing!
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