A Football Report

Foos… ball on the go

Everyone likes foosball, but once you put a table down in one spot it’s never moving again. Kartoni found a solution to this, creating a cardboard foosball table that has the original dimensions of a pub table football (yes, there are official dimensions). The table is compact, as the wooden ball and foosball handles all fit into the folded up cardboard box when you’re on the go. The table can be put together in minutes without glue, screws, or any additional tools. However, an additional feature is a built-in speaker for an iPhone, which seems a little like having an outlet for a Macbook Pro if you live in a cardboard box.

Also, everything is made from 100% recycled materials, so the gods of sustainability approve. You can get Kartoni’s “I love to kick table” here, and it’s actually pretty affordable… because it’s made out of cardboard. [Posted by Eric]

The rise of the thinking man’s football magazine continues: Here’s to Pickles!

If you’re reading AFR, then you’ve no excuse for not knowing about the likes of Howler, XI Quarterly, and The Blizzard. Intelligent and wonderfully designed magazines dedicated to the beautiful game are truly flourishing, and - to our own fault - we’ve somehow failed to add Pickles Magazine to that list, which is frankly unforgivable.

Based out of the UK, Pickles combines their love for the game with their love for design and illustration. Issue 5 just dropped and is available to download for free. Make your Monday, and let Pickles expand the game from under your feet.

3nil FC joins Barça, Juve, Man Utd, PSG, and Bayern with Top of the League

It’s only mid-February, yet some clubs have been impatient. Who needs drama when you can go out and put one hand on a trophy three months in advance? Barça are already hoisting the La Liga title, Bayern are running away with the Bundesliga, and Manchester United are closing in on their 20th Premier League title. With Top of the League, 3nil wanted to share make a shirt that shares that tremendous feeling of reaching the summit after a treacherous path and enjoying the view. [Posted by Eric. GIFs by Dale Con Comba]

Meanwhile in New York, the Cosmos make $400m plans

It’s no secret that the revamped New York Cosmos are hoping to make a splash as they return to professional soccer in the North American Soccer League (NASL) this August. It’s no secret that Major League Soccer wants its 20th team to be in Queens.

Today, the Cosmos launched a microsite with full details about their plan to privately fund a new 25k seat stadium in Belmont Park, almost on the border of Queens and Long Island. The proposed stadium hoping to open in 2016 is designed by Populous, the firm behind projects like the Emirates, Wembley, and the London 2012 Olympic Stadium. Questions are being raised as to whether or not the New York City area could even support 3 clubs, but before we get to 3 we need to get to 2. A fair share of drama lies ahead between the Cosmos and MLS, as does plenty of entertainment, but it’s reasonable to say that this could be an extravagant, exciting leap forward.

We’re only scratching the surface, so for more information here’s…

• The official release about the proposal from the Cosmos site.
• Cosmos COO Erik Stover talking about the announcement
• Grant Wahl on the Cosmos plan, which is separate from MLS plans

What’s your reaction? Full support, skepticism, or thinking this is general step forward for the sport in the States?

Getting nostalgic and embracing the present: Best of football boots

The original Vapors. The Puma King. The adi Preds. All bring back memories of fitter days and more spritely spirits. As our friend Bryan Byrne points out, “over the years, there have seen hundreds of different releases that cater to different player types, some featuring technology and others relying on comfort and basic performance.” He decided to compile a list of the top 25 boots in football history. The only things missing are my old Kelmes, so I want to open this up: what are the best boots you’ve ever owned?

Camp Nou x 3nil

A floodlit Camp Nou is a wonder to see for football fans from all over the globe. Rivaldo, Romario, Ronaldo, Stoichkov, Messi and Ronaldinho have all called this place home in recent years, and the home of the legends quickly becomes legendary. Indeed, this place means so much to football and to the Catalan people.

Inspired by Catalunya’s Antoni Gaudí, this design by 3nil highlights the initials of Camp Nou in a unique mosaic pattern, bringing slices of Parc Güell and the Blaugrana’s passion with you wherever you go.

Gaudi. FC Barcelona. Camp Nou.

Long hours make Timeless: The new Live Breathe Futbol Collection

Always appreciative of the struggle an artist forgoes with the hopes of creating something special, we have to give it to Ebun Olaloye and Dominic Cucinotta for what they have accomplished. Working independently and sacrificing countless nights of sleep only to let footy fans look so good. It’s an admirable thing, and certainly comes with its rewards. Between the Cruijff hoody and the Skipper’s crewneck, we’re hooked.

Check the whole Fall/Winter 2012 collection here and support the youngest, brightest, and most driven entrepreneurs and their Alexis Sanchez look-a-like in the (beautiful) game. In a world with oil-tycoons taking over the world’s best clubs, we’re always happy to see a little authenticity. [Posted by Eric]

AFR x adidas x You. Designing Lionel Messi.

Leo Messi needs you (or your more artistic friend) to design his next pair of adidas football boots, which he’ll wear during a match in December. WAIT. Read that last sentence again to make sure we’re on the same page. You can create a unique pair of adidas adizero f50s (just like ours, above) for Messi by visiting the new “miadidas configurator” here and submitting a design with various colour schemes and personal touches.

But you don’t really want to hear us go on and on about this, do you? Alright, we’ll turn this over to our favourite #10. Messi said: “In football, you express yourself with your feet, which is why I like to feel like I have a connection to my adizero f50s. Knowing that your boots are unique makes you feel special and makes you play with more confidence. I’m excited to see the designs that my fans create for me on the miadidas configurator and I look forward to playing in them.” 

Want more info? Head to facebook.com/adidasfootball or @adidasfootball (use the #miadidas hashtag to join the conversation), or even ask us @afootballreport. These boots make their debut this weekend, and the likes of Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema and AC Milan’s Riccardo Montolivo will be hitting the pitch with their own customised boots. [posted by Dominic and Eric]