Kit and equipment

Ready to play

The basics

Football is played on various surfaces, and there’s not one type of boot that works on all of them. The most common types of boot are:

Astro trainers (sometimes listed as turf boots)

These are used for sand and water-based pitches, like the astroturf pitches at the Univeristy we use for training in the winter. They have rubber soles and are very flat with grooves, or often lots of small, raised bumps. Ask your manager what surface you’ll be training on and whether you’ll need astro trainers.

Firm ground boots

These have plastic studs and are made for reasonably firm surfaces. The studs are short, moulded and cannot be removed, coming in various shapes - hexagonal, conical, blades and triangular.

These are permitted on 3G surfaces as well as grass. which make them the most versatile all-round boot. Some players wear these all year round, altogether in the depths of winter, when the ground is really wet, they may lack grip.

Soft ground boots

These are great when pitches are wet and the ground is soft. The studs are usually aluminum based and are longer than firm ground boots, enabling the player to get a better grip in soggy conditions. Our advice would be to hold off buying these unless the player’s firm ground boots are really not doing the job in wet conditions.

The long studs will damage an artificial surface so these boots should never be worn on astro or 3G pitches.

Shinpads

All players must wear shinpads for training and matches. Failure to do so will result in the player not being able to participate. Shinpads are relatively cheap kit and can be purchased from sports shops for well under £10.

Playing kit

The club provides a full playing kit - green shirt, black shorts and black socks - for every player, as well as a purple training/change top. The purple top should be worn at training sessions or on occasions where there’s a kit clash with the home team.

While you are responsible for washing and taking care of the kit, it remains the property of the club, and must be returned to the manager if a player decides to leave. If a player is transferring to another club, they will not be released until the kit is returned.

Team kits are generally changed every two seasons. We endeavour to ensure the kit is a good fit, but if the kit becomes too small, or if it is lost or damaged, you can buy replacements from the online club shop. Please ensure you purchase shirts with the correct number on the back.

Coming prepared

Parents will be responsible to ensure their child is adequately clothed and prepared for the weather.

In warmer months, please ensure players arrive with adequate sun protection and plenty of water. In the winter, players may require gloves, warm hats and warm jackets. Please check out the club shop for Eagles branded options.

It is also vitally important that parents provide any medical devices that a player may require, such as an asthma inhaler.