These boots are made for...
Oh! So long ago, it seems like another world. How we kids used to tease each other about Manchester United and Manchester City, supporters of both clubs would stand together on the terraces at the Maine Road ground.
Old Trafford had been victim to a German bomb which put the use of the ground dormant until well after 1945. So Manchester United rented the City ground playing fixtures there on alternate Saturdays.
It didn't matter which team you supported, we stood together and of course City fans shouted for visiting teams against United and United fans shouted for visiting teams playing City, all taken in good spirit.
But when City and United played against each other it was a different matter, there was plenty of name calling and ridicule, If City won the toss United fans invited them to do a lap of honour!
And City fans used to say, that the biggest cheer by United fans was when the meat pies arrived at half time, yet it only got as far as banter from both sets of fans. There was very little violence.
Players didn't hug and kiss a goal scorer, just a raised arm to salute the scorer. If a player got fouled he didn't fall to ground feigning injury. A glance at the culprit with a quiet warning that a response was imminent...
Footballers pay wasn't too big either, most footballers of yesteryear had a regular job too, it wasn't unusual to see a seasoned player catching a bus, or, tram to get to the match and after the final whistle it was a communal bath and no showers.
The football itself was made of leather with an inner bladder inflated with a pump, and a section stitched outer case with a set of holes to lace up the bladder inlet. The 'casey' was rubbed with Dubbin, which was waterproof leather protection.
A heavy ball called for strong boots with a hard toe cap, the toe cap in turn made it essential to put shin pads inside the front of your stockings, a kick on the shins was agony.