Play, fun and uniqueness
Equip the kids without breaking the bank in the affordable Gamemode FG football boots from adidas.de. At home on grass and artificial grass, an all-round shoe that outperforms many expensive alternatives. Let them practice with smythstoys.com’s Smart Ball Skills Ball, which features a sensor that controls instructions to guide young players through practice drills. Bigger kids will love sportsdirect.com’s 1966 World Cup Final Ball replica by Slazenger, a nostalgic treat in orange leather. There’s old-school fun going on with the Women’s European Football Champions Edition from Top Trumps celebrating the victory of Amazon’s Lionesses.
Treat yourself to thechocolateworkshop.co.uk’s Football Fan Collection. A set of beautifully crafted, delicious miniatures that are almost too good to eat. Nearly. Mark a special game with Clive Tyldesley’s commentary prints on commentarycharts.com. Beautiful reproductions of the veteran commentator’s pre-match notes, his collection is so popular he now uses it for games where he wasn’t on the mic.
The imaginative and eye-catching Tour de Vision print from tinyriot.com takes Joy Division’s iconic Unknown Pleasures album cover and reimagines the radio wave image with depictions of mountain stages from the Tour de France, a brilliant idea executed with style. As are the creations of circuitsigns.co.uk. The British company has lovingly recreated classic street signs from racetracks around the world. Realistically reproduced on lightweight aluminium, they are eye-catching and irresistible to any petrolhead.
Circuit signs.
End the day with a dram of Loch Lomond whiskey and celebrate this year’s 150th Open at St Andrews with a bottle of limited edition single malt. A treat for the discerning palate, available from Royal Mile Whiskys.
Gadgets and Gear
For cyclists looking for the ultimate cap, Rapha.cc delivers a mighty helmet in the Poc Ventral Lite. Sturdy to UK safety standards and with a comfortable fit, every gram has been reduced to under 200g, feather light, functional and good looking too. They also make a good commuting jacket for cyclists, well tailored, lightweight, compact and waterproof, it has a reflective print on the back for visibility.
Water sports enthusiasts are well served with the Revolution Parka from red-equipment.co.uk. A beautifully crafted drying coat with a removable inner panel for changing wet clothes. Designed to look as good on the go as it does on the water, it works as a cozy yet stylish coat. A perfect combination of form and function.
The sophisticated Manchester United fan should look no further than Remington’s United line. Branded with the Club badge in bright red, the range is excellent, from graphite grooming sets to hair dryers and straighteners.
Set out with thenorthface.co.uk Base Camp duffel bag to follow each team. It is well made, sturdy but lightweight, water resistant and can be worn or carried on your back, perfect for travel or karting.
North Face Basecamp duffel bag.
If you’re heading out on windswept patios this winter, it’s best to be prepared. Stay cozy with a set of the great Icebreaker Bodyfit base layers for men and women. Crafted from the warmest Merino wool, yet lightweight and luxuriously comfortable, they’re part of the excellent range of outdoor and sportswear at baselayer.co.uk.
Wear base layers indoors and outdoors and in light of the energy crisis, these are an investment that pays dividends in reducing heating bills. Team them with regatta.com’s heated jackets to brave the worst of the weather. The range covers both men and women, with the heated Voltera Jacket IV being a standout. Beautifully styled but robust, extremely warm and well made, they are currently very affordable at half the price (battery sold separately).
With Akus Rocket DFS GTX hiking shoe, watching is child’s play. A treat for the feet, sturdy and supportive but also lightweight. Great for a proper walk or when standing on the sidelines is as much as possible.
Aku Rocket DFS GTX hiking shoe.
style and substance
Stand out this Christmas with a unique sporty sweater. Fans of a certain age will love nostalgia.co.uk’s Ceefax-Wooly. A mockup of the mighty Page 302, each page can be personalized to display a specific match in gorgeous retro block pixel style.
There’s an equally lovely nostalgic buzz in the charming t-shirts from copafootball.com’s Panini World Cup sticker collection, while Bootandballprints.com offer a pleasantly different take on rugby union and cricket t-shirts with their stylized painted depictions of great players . With the Ryder Cup in Rome next year, the hybrid golf midlayer from glenmuir.com is a great addition to any round for both playing and watching. Lined for warmth and water-repellent, it allows for great freedom of movement while swinging.
Jimmy Anderson Cricket T Shirt.
New clothes ready, settle in with a good book. England Football: The Biography: 1872-2022 by Paul Hayward brings the team’s fascinating history to life, while for tennis fans Simon Camber’s and Simon Graf’s biography The Roger Federer Effect is a vivid and entertaining account of what made him one of the greatest of them all made time. Steve Thompson’s Unforgettable: Rugby, Dementia and the Battle of My Life is a powerful, moving account of his career and how it transformed his life.
fit and shape
Set the best foot first by putting in the miles. Saucony.com stands out with the Triumph 20. A lightweight, springy running shoe for runners looking for a well-cushioned ride. They’re lightweight but snug, and the sole makes for a tremendously lively stride, one of the best for the average runner or anyone who’s leaning back to get back on the road. A similarly excellent value for money are the new Novablast 3 from Asics.com. With a big stack of cushioning, they’re lighter and have better energy return in the stride than previous versions, making for a good light or long run. A versatile running shoe that caters to casual runners across the board.
For any sporting activity, make sure the basics are right with the men’s Saxx Kinetic Boxers and women’s Odlo Performance Light Sports Briefs, also from baselayer.co.uk. Both are built for activity, lightweight and with a contoured fit that makes them barely noticeable when worn.
Team them with Bam’s Lydford Bamboo Active Joggers from bambooclothing.co.uk. Made predominantly from bamboo for an incredibly soft fabric from an eco-friendly material, they also make a similarly sumptuous set of seamless leggings. Equally well made and at a very affordable price, beaybl.com has a wide range including the stylish aspire shorts ideal for sport or training. They pair well with the Balance V2 seamless crop top, well tailored, close fitting and supportive. It’s excellent value for a quality product.
For the water, davyj.com offers a fine selection of innovative and eye-catching swimwear. Their long sleeve top is made from recycled nylon yarn and is slightly thicker than regular swimsuits for added warmth but without the weight of a wetsuit, ideal for cold swims or long days sailing.
Dagsmejan Recovery Pajama Gift Set.
Finally, to end a day of competition or training, enjoy bedtime with the recovery sleepwear from dagsmejan.de. These are top-of-the-line pajamas, ultra-soft and comfortable that aid recovery by directing body heat back into the muscles to aid recovery. Currently used by two Premier League teams, an extremely pleasant way to capitalize on the land of the nod.
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