Chelsea using MICROWAVES to heat players’ boots – but other clubs using steam boxes and ‘ovens like you see in Greggs’
HEATING up football boots is becoming a big business.
As SunSport revealed on Saturday, Chelsea are using a microwave to warm footwear before games.
Yet despite the Blues’ low-budget approach, rivals are splashing out on more advanced methods.
Wolves, Arsenal, Manchester United and Southampton are just some of the clubs using cleatPRO.
It is a steam box for boots, while there is also a ‘light’ version for away games.
But one coach told me: “When I was a player, if I’d put my boots into a little box with boiling water to warm them up in the dressing room before a game, I’d have had my head kicked in!”
Another Prem club has trialled a product called FORMBASE that the players call ‘The Boot Oven’ and have placed an order.
Apparently, it looks like the ovens you see in a Greggs and, like their sausage rolls, you put them in for ten minutes and they come out ready.
However, Manchester City are the envy of all the other kitmen who are now urging their clubs to buy the latest must-have piece of machinery.
They have the ultimate dryer made by Austrian firm Wintersteiger — ski-boot specialists.
Drytech is a wall-mounted system with lots of little dryers poking out which you hang the boots upon.
And in these Covid times, it also includes a sterilising system.
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'MOSSY'
JON MOSS is not everyone’s cup of tea but the Premier League referee does get on well with some players.
This column spoke to one boss who was annoyed by him being called “Mossy” throughout a game.
A bit too familiar? Maybe, but he still gave dodgy decisions to both teams.
GOING SOUTH
GARETH SOUTHGATE is a regular visitor to Elland Road, which is the nearest Premier League ground to his Yorkshire home.
Yet the England boss, who watched Leeds’ 1-0 loss to Aston Villa on Saturday, might want to steer clear of the stadium to avoid any stress.
Southgate yesterday spoke of his injury problems ahead of three World Cup qualifiers this month.
And there is real concern about the Elland Road pitch, where players seem unable to keep their footing.
Leeds are yet to entertain Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham, so a fair chunk of Southgate’s squad still have to play on it.
A new pitch was laid in January but is no better thanks to poor foundations.
One player told me: “It is dangerous. You can very easily slip over. You are preparing your body to slip at any time and tensing different muscles, so the chance of injury is even greater.”
SIGN OF THE TIMES
FRANK LAMPARD has received an unexpected gift from Chelsea supporters.
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Blues fans took down a banner which hung behind the dugout and gave it to Lamps.
Readers of cfcuk fanzine paid £1 each to fund the sign that hailed their ‘PLAYER — MANAGER — LEGEND’. Sadly it did not stay up long.
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