Balls to it - the changing faces of footballs

This weekend sees the arrival of the Seitiro Hi-Vis football, the yellow version of the ball used in all Premier League games… Now an annual event, when the league use an apparently more visible ball for the gloomy winter months. Another evolution in the key piece of equipment in the game? Or just a blatant excuse to plug budding Sunday Leaguers to shell another £80 or so in order to try and recreate a mental dipping Ronaldo free kick.

The Blue Man Group picked up the wrong shade

The history of the football is a tale worthy of a Hollywood movie, one of those My Fair Lady jobs where the star becomes refined, floaty and, in the case of the Simpsons, yellow. But is that better? In years, will people reminisce about the 2011 Premier League football, and how simple and elegant it was? At least the current video games allow us the choice to change the ball, and I doubt many will choose the current.

The encylopaedic Soccerballworld.com shows a history of footballs used during World Cups since 1970, and it screams 'classic'. Perhaps it is also a link to the wider screening of games on telly, when the ball became almost as symbolic as the kit. Plus, they just looked awesome, seeing Carlos Alberto finish off Italy in the 1970 final, that Adidas Telstar ball, white with black hexagonal patches, nestling beautifully in the bottom corner.

The 99p flyaway ball was a success

Of course the goals themselves are the key, or the thing of beauty on occasion. But does the ball make that much of a difference? Players (mostly goalkeepers) make a big song and dance about how the ball moves in the air, but do they wish for the days when the ball would be a big leather brick, absorbing water? Would Javier Hernandez be as proficient a header of the ball if he got a concussion every time he went for a header?

  

Ouch

These footballs were blamed for senility and dementia by former Celtic player Billy McPhail, and perhaps many more - but football has changed. Sure, some of the ideas are the same, but with all the football on TV, and the marketing exploits, people want to see quick, fleet footed players. Imagine the thigh strength required to put one of those old balls in the top corner from 30 yards!

So maybe it's a matter of personal taste, and we all have our memories... But my personal favourite is the Tango Espana... What's yours?

Back of the net

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