Adebayo Akinfenwa has made a habit of adopting a challenging career path, having progressed up through the non-league system as well as embarked on short spells outside of the English game with Lithuanian outfit FK Atlantas and Welsh side Barry Town. He has played the game far and wide, from Boston United, Leyton Orient and Rushden & Diamonds, to Doncaster Rovers.
At the Yorkshire club, he burst onto the scene with four goals in nine games before moving on to Torquay United in 2004. His sole season at Plainmoor saw him net 16 goals and earn a move to Swansea City, where he quickly became a fans’ favourite for his committed and bustling displays.
He scored 15 goals in his first season at the Liberty Stadium as the Swans tasted defeat in the League One Play-Off Final on penalties to Barnsley at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. After serious injury and a dispute over new contract terms saw him fall out of favour with the South Wales club and then manager Roberto Martinez, he joined Millwall in 2007, making nine appearances for the Londoners before moving to Northampton Town.
Last season almost saw him back to his best, despite Northampton dropping into League Two, as he struck 15 goals along the way, and with eight in 14 games this term he could be on his way to a big move in January.
The powerful striker spoke to Ransacker’s Chris Galea about the boots which have helped him make the grade.
Q. What football boots do you wear?
A. I wear Nike Air Tiempo Legend III football boots.
Q. Have you always worn Nike Air Tiempo Legend III football boots?
A. More on and off to be honest. I’ve had some injuries along the way, and any footballer will consider changing boots after a spell on sidelines because generally you’re looking for as much protection as possible to ensure that it doesn’t happen again. So I did tinker around a bit and took my time in finding exactly the right boots, something that I’d always recommend to footballers of any standard. For me, it was a close run thing between Nike, Adidas and Asics, but I decided quite some time ago that Nike were the best boots for me and I’ve stuck to it ever since. The Nike Air Tiempo Legend III football boots suit me best in terms of comfort, which I think is probably the most important thing.
Q. How many pairs of football boots do you tend to go through during the course of a season?
A. I’d say around three, which is quite low compared to a lot of players, but I use my boots right to the end. I’m a powerful bustling forward so maybe I concentrate on the physical side of my game rather than obsessing over the boots that I wear, unlike some players. The boots I have got at the moment are pretty much finished, but I won’t change them yet because I am scoring goals in them. I will continue to use them until they practically fall apart because when you’ve got that scoring touch you don’t want to change anything.
Q. Who at the club has got the naffest pair of football boots?
A. It would probably be between Abdul Osman or Dean Beckwith. I don’t really know what is wrong with their boots, but they just look strange on their feet! Maybe it is their feet that are the problem?!
Q. What advice would you give to young players uncertain over which football boots to choose?
A. I’d say you need to listen to those players of your level and see what boots they are choosing. It’s not sensible to compare the boots that someone at Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge wears, because you’re talking about completely different levels of the game, styles of football and, most importantly, playing surfaces. See what boots really work and don’t be afraid to choose something outside of what is normally considered the usual choices.
