Can the Home Nations Emulate the Success of the Terrace Trainer?

Despite only 1.2 million tickets being made available for this summer’s tournament in Germany, reports suggest that up to half a million England and Scotland fans could make the journey east. 

England are hoping to go one better than their outing in the postponed 2020 edition and get their hands on silverware for the first time since 1966. Scoltand, on the other hand, who’re competing at back to back championships for only the second time in their history, will be hoping to cause an upset in a group that includes the heavyweight hosts, Die Mannschaft.

We’re expecting a summer awash with foot-long frankfurters and pints of pilsner. Win or lose, there is no doubt that the fans travelling to Germany, and those celebrating back on British soil, will be royally encapsulated in the magic of ‘football fever’. 

Learn from the greats and past mistakes

Scotland manager Steve Clarke has called upon his players to ‘create history’ when they walk out onto the pitch in Munich on June 14th. Clarke has ‘reiterated his desire to see his men become the first tartan army to march on through to the knockout stage’. 

Gareth Southgate, meanwhile, has been compared in the same breath as greats like Sir Bobby Robson and Terry Venables, and the question begs whether he can take his ensemble one stage further than these revered coaches, and actually win a major international trophy. 

Whether it’s learning from past failings or watching the tale of the tape from yester-year, both Clarke and Southgate will be sure to call upon every potential piece of kit available in the armoury to see this one through. 

A restyled Southgate is reportedly leaving his beloved waistcoat in the wardrobe of his Harrogate Manor while Steve Clarke will be hoping to leave all memory of his squad’s last seven outings behind at home as well. 

What you can expect to see, however, is a sea of one particular style of shoe… one that’s success, particularly in terms of revival, is pretty admirable. Global footwear fashion brands have created some incredibly fashionable iterations of this style of shoe, including adidas, Reebok, and PUMA – but let’s go back to the start!

The origin of terrace trainers

The name terrace trainer derives from the fashion on the football terraces back in the 70s and 80s. 

The casuals, who were known to sport such footwear fashion, could be identified not only through their love of football but also through their unique style. Despite being a relatively unknown entity outside of the concourse, this subculture grew astronomically around Britain and subsequently across Europe. 

Brands such as Fred Perry, Fila, Lacoste, and Stone Island became synonymous. While the aforementioned footwear brands were often spotted and considered the sneaker of choice for the football goer. 

Classic styles stemming from the stadium

The first real sneaker to make its mark in the space was the Trimm Trab from adidas – a shoe crafted to get the everyday German up and moving. Its design was the complete blend of comfort, performance, and style. 

Released in 1975, the Trimm Trab became a bestselling shoe in the 1980s and has remained consistent for more than four decades. High quality suede, a chunky sole, and bright and bold colourways are, in essence, exactly what terrace trainers are all about. 

The Trimm Trab has plenty of other siblings, however. Styles from adidas that have foundations in football fashion but have successfully migrated into the mainstream. Stan Smiths, Gazelles, Spezials – these are all iconic silhouettes that came to prominence during their time on the terraces. Reebok —- speak about the partnership. 

And who could forget the stunning styles generated by PUMA. Classics such as the Delphin, Super Team, and Army, all with deep rooted history in the football subculture, have witnessed their modern day resurrection. 

Beautifully bold hues of colour from light mint to pink delight and yellow sizzle run perfectly through into the instantly recognisable gum sole.  

Terrace trainer trend in 2024

Harry Styles has been known to sport a Gazelle on occasions, taking it from the terrace to the red carpet, while American fashionista and self proclaimed footwear fanatic, Emily Ratajkowski, regularly papped donning a classic Reebok style. 

So, it’s not just the football scene that’s dominated by these stylish silhouettes – the entire footwear market is being dominated. Terrace trainers don’t just turn up in the qualifiers, they deliver on a consistent basis… 

Head over to our website to find out more about our edit of terrace trainers and shop the latest, hottest styles.