In Cheltenham, we are very used to spectators pouring in, we are a touristic city. We are used to the pulse and flow of people suddenly turning up and hogging our parking spaces and increasing the rush hour by about an hour.
But, football is the sport of paupers and kings. I quite like the inclusiveness of it. Wear the right shirt and you’re one of them; who all like garish colours and in-your-face fashions and chants about your loser-choice team and unfaithful wife who would be faithful if you supported the correct colours.
Following its recent Tiger vs. Rory advert; Nike has come out with Mercurial. A new brand of boot designed for firm ground with bright metallic colours, customisable and designed to be responsive. Sounds like a winner; check it out...
Did this advert make you think “I am proud football was invented in our country”? or “wow, so those are the football skills people catch their breath about”?
We like Nike, they spend money on their adverts that tote inclusiveness and explain to the uninterested audience what the hullabaloo is actually about in golf, running, basketball, fashion and, in other adverts, football.
We watched this and whilst some of us thought it resembled Willy Wonka’s nightmare coupled with the artistic direction of the school skiver football obsessive teenager; others thought it demonstrated where Nike ‘kicked off’ creatively (excuse the pun), the quirky branding, block typography and pop-art-esque design. We love a bit of retro, but if all else fails, they’ll be some really excited ravers!