Football has been considered the world’s number one sport for a long time. Thanks to its simple rules, this sport can be played in almost every place. Aside from the football pitch, everyone can see the kids playing it on the streets, in parks, and even in sports classes at school. This sport has conquered the world also because of the equipment, which makes the players feel like they belong to a team. In England, the Manchester United kithas a deep signification. Let’s begin this article with a presentation of football’s history.
Football History: How Everything Started
As you might have already guessed, football has a long and complex history. It all started in England somewhere between the 1850s-1860s. That was the time when football (or soccer) was created in its present form, which we all know today. Earlier than that, somewhere in the middle of the 19th century, there were different versions of this game.
Football, which wasn’t called that back then, arose in the Mesoamerican cultures a long time ago. Usually, the ball consisted of a rock. There were some rituals where the ball would represent the sun, and the leader of the team that would lose the match was going to be offered up to the deities. Another culture that also adopted the ball game was the Asian culture, in the 3rd century before Christ. Usually, the game used to be played with a ball with plumes or fur inside.
Further, this game was almost everywhere around the world. A known fact is that the Romans were the ones who brought this sport to the British island. A lot of sources say that football appeared officially in the 12th century in England. In the 19th century, the game was introduced in schools. However, there were a lot of variants regarding the number of participants and how big or small the ball should be. As you can see, it took some time for this game to reach its current form.
The Equipment: Its Importance and Signification
Football consists of two teams of 11 players each. They aim to move the ball into the goal of the opposing team. The players are not allowed to use their hands in order to score a goal. The only one who can manoeuvre the ball inside the penalty area is the goalkeeper. In the end, the team that has the highest score wins. Because this sport includes so much running, you need proper equipment while playing this game. The equipment has only a few items, but each of them has a different signification and importance for this sport.
Basically, the purpose of the equipment is to protect the players and offer them safety by reducing the risk of injuries. High-quality equipment increases the player’s chances of reaching performance by helping him to perform better on the football pitch. Also, the equipment provides a sense of unity between a team and its supporters. There is a strong bond between the players and supporters thanks to the uniforms’ design and colours. The equipment consists of a shirt, shorts, socks, shin guards, and cleats or turfs.
The shirts have the role of differentiating both teams and players during the match by the different colours, logos, and the numbers of the players. The shorts are comfortable, offering flexibility. Next, the socks have the purpose of covering the shin guards, providing better protection to the legs. The shin guards are important because they protect the shin. Usually, the shin area is a sensitive one in this sport. The last item, the cleats or turfs, are special shoes created for football, providing stability and reducing the chances of slipping.
Manchester United Football Club: A Brief Introduction
As we dig more into this sports world, we will find out that there are many football clubs and players. A well-known club is represented by Manchester United, based in England. This club was founded back in 1878, gaining the nickname of Red Devils. In 1902, the name was changed to Manchester United. In 1948, Manchester United won the FA Cup. During that time, the team consisted of talented and young players, also known as the “Busby Babes.”
Later, in 1968, the club won the final of the European Cup. By winning this, it made the club the first English club with this title. The most successful period for this team was starting from 1990 up until this day. They won the FA Cup again, and since 1992, there has been many wins: 13 FA Cups, 6 League Cups, 21 FA Community Shields, 1 FIFA Club World Cup, and many more. These results make this football club one of the most successful in England.
Presenting The New Manchester United Kit
As presented above, the equipment is a crucial part of this sport, and like any other team, Manchester United has its own unique design. The new Manchester United Kit was revealed on July 1, 2024. Snapdragon is the main sponsor, along with Adidas. The design of the shirt was inspired by the ones that were worn by the Busby Babes. The materials are fluorescent, and based on how the light reflects on the shirt, there will be different shades of red. Moreover, this shirt trait helps players to see their teammates better on the field.
Starting from 1878, the patterns and the colours have changed a lot. The first design was a white shirt with a blue cord, and then they switched to a shirt that was half white and half red. This model was used for a long time, and another popular design was with stripes. Additionally, the red colour of this football club symbolizes their identity, passion, and the power they have.
