Abstract: A football shoe or football boot including a sole, an upper, a fastener to fasten the shoe or boot in place, and a layer of material that in situ is disposed between the fastener and an underlying foot or hose. The layer of material includes a ball control region with an outer ball control surface contactable with a football during kicking. The ball control surface lies rearwardly of a foremost region of the layer of material.

Abstract: A football shoe or football boot includes a sole, and an upper including a throat region provided by flexible material of the upper, the throat region defining a boundary of the flexible material, with a canopy or tongue extending within the boundary, wherein the canopy or tongue includes a central portion and one or more protuberances disposed laterally of the central portion, the protuberances being formed of material added to material defining the canopy or tongue, wherein the central portion has none or a negligible amount of the added material forming the protuberances.

Abstract: A football shoe or football boot includes a sole and an upper. The upper includes a central region and one or more protuberances at each side of the central region. The one or more protuberances on each side define a crest alongside the central region, such that the crests and the central region define a ball control region. The protuberances are formed by incorporation of fluid material with the upper, in direct contact with the upper.

Abstract: A football shoe or boot including a sole (12), an upper (14) and a tongue (16), wherein the upper includes a flap (22) that overlies the tongue and at its lateral edges (33) is separated from side portions (15) of the upper by respective slits (25) open at their rear ends (26) and closed at their forward ends (27). The flap has an upper surface (23) that includes a ball control region (30). In one aspect the ball control region extends rearwardly from a foremost extremity located rearwardly of the forward ends of said slits. In another aspect, the slits are provided with lacing (60) whereby, when the shoe or boot is being worn, the relative positions of said lateral edges and the opposed side portions of the upper may be controlled.

Abstract: A football shoe or football boot including a sole, an upper, a fastening means to fasten the shoe or boot in place, and a layer of material that in situ is disposed between the fastening means and an underlying foot or hose, wherein the layer of material includes a ball control region with an outer ball control surface contactable with a football during kicking, and wherein said ball control surface lies rearwardly of a foremost region of the layer of material.

Abstract: A football shoe or boot including a sole (12), an upper (14) and a tongue (16), wherein the upper includes a flap (22) that overlies the tongue and at its lateral edges (33) is separated from side portions (15) of the upper by respective slits (25) open at their rear ends (26) and closed at their forward ends (27). The flap has an upper surface (23) that includes a ball control region (30). In one aspect the ball control region extends rearwardly from a foremost extremity located rearwardly of the forward ends of said slits. In another aspect, the slits are provided with lacing (60) whereby, when the shoe or boot is being worn, the relative positions of said lateral edges and the opposed side portions of the upper may be controlled.