Lee Johnson has managed to elevate himself from playing in the lower leagues to a standard where he is not only on the verge of Premier League football, but is also eyeing a call-up from the Scotland national team.
The creative midfielder struggled during his early career at both Watford and Brighton & Hove Albion, but soon found his feet at Yeovil Town. He not only helped the Somerset club climb from the Conference into League One, but also lifted the FA Trophy as part of the Glovers’ all-conquering 2002 side.
Having helped establish the Somerset club as League One regulars he crossed the border to sign for Scottish Premier League outfit Hearts, but he returned just seven months and five appearances, later to be reunited with his dad Gary at Bristol City.
Gary was also at the helm at Yeovil, and the family duo steered the Robins into the Championship in their first season together at Ashton Gate. A year later and a Dean Windass scorcher was all that separated City from realising their Premier League dreams in the play-off final at Wembley.
The 28-year-old spoke to Ransacker’s Chris Galea about which boots he will be hoping take him onto the next level – international football.
Q. What football boots do you wear at the moment?
A. I wear Puma King XL football boots, the white and red ones, with red studs.
Q. Have you always worn Puma King XL football boots?
A. Well, I’ve tried a few different football boots during my career. I had the Adidas Copa Mundials, which were very good boots and also a pair of Pantofola d’Oro, which not many people will have heard of, but they are hand-made real leather boots. The Puma King XL football boots are probably the comfiest boots I’ve ever worn because the leather they use is so supple. As for style and appearance though, there are probably better football boots around!
Q. How many pairs of football boots do you tend to go through in a season?
A. I use quite a few to be fair. I use them for both training and matches, so it takes its toll on them, plus there is a little bit of ego there which tells you it is the fault of the football boots when you’ve had a stinker, so you might find yourself voluntarily switching them! I think many footballers have been through this with football boots, but there is something to be said for playing better in a new pair, I reckon.
At the end of the day though, the football boots only help you to show what you can do. I’d say I go through around 10 pairs in a season.
Q. Who at the club has the naffest football boots?
A. It has got to be Ivan Sproule. He goes through all these mad colours to make him stand out. He likes to get the lightest boots possible because he thinks he has got twinkle-toes and that his feet should move that fast that he is doing a version of the Riverdance! For some weird reason his football boots don’t come in black, so he goes for luminous yellow or bright orange.
Ransacker Rated Puma King XL football boots
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About the author
It's a hard life but someone has to do it. I spend my whole life reporting on football. When I get the chance I ask the professional footballers about their boots for Boot Room Banter.
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