Creative: Pro:Direct / Photography: Pro:Direct / Words: Pro:Direct

Pre-Season Football Essentials Guide

You don’t need a contract to take football seriously.

This is for the players who train when others clock off.

Who live for the weekend but don't wait for it. While everyone else is still warming up, you're already three steps ahead. Your alarm goes before the sun. Your kit bag stays packed. You chase the extra reps, the muddy sessions, the graft no one posts about.

Jump to What You Need:

“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” – Pelé

Mentality First: Pre-Season Is Where the Fire Starts

You’ve had your time off. Pints, holidays, lie-ins. All done. Now the group chat’s buzzing again. First friendly is pencilled in. That first kickabout is getting serious. Boots still muddy from last season? Yeah, it’s time.

Pre-season isn’t just for pros. It’s for the players who show up every week no matter what. The ones who train in the dark, stretch in the living room, and still chase lost causes like it’s a final. The ones who love the graft, even if no one’s watching.

This isn’t about contracts or clout. It’s about showing up because you care. Because football’s still your favourite part of the week.

This season is coming. And this time, you’re arriving sharp.

 

Running Shoes

It’s not glamorous. It’s not fun. But it’s real. Pre-season fitness is built on effort no one sees. You’re not doing it for likes. You’re doing it so your legs don’t give out when it’s 2–2 with five left.

We spoke to the crew at Pro:Direct Running to get the pairs they swear by. These running shoes are for the graft that happens when no one’s watching. When you’re running laps at the park and pretending you’re Gerrard in 06.

Nike Pegasus 41

For the players who run beyond the pitch.

The Pegasus 41 is built for those extra laps after training, the shuttle runs no one sees, the miles that separate Saturday starters from the rest. ReactX foam cushions each stride, Zoom Air keeps the legs ticking over. It’s a bootroom essential for footballers who train like pros.

On Cloudsurfer 2

Recovery runs for the ones who never slow down.

The Cloudsurfer 2 takes the edge off heavy legs after 5-a-sides, gym doubles or Sunday league marathons. CloudTec Phase makes every stride feel smooth, helping you reset without losing rhythm. This is your go-to when the fixture list stacks up and your body needs looking after.

New Balance 1080v14

Engine room energy, off the ball and off the pitch.

Perfect for midfielders who do the hard yards, the 1080v14 brings soft landings and springy lift with every stride. Great for pitch-side laps, long warm-ups or keeping fit while recovering. If your game’s built on constant motion, this one’s built for you.

HOKA Bondi 9

Comfort like an ice bath, minus the cold.

Whether it’s coming off back-to-backs or rehabbing a knock, the Bondi 9 gives you that extra support when you need it most. Smooth, wide, and seriously cushioned — it’s like playing in sliders after a cup final. One for recovery days and casual jogs to training.

adidas Adizero Evo SL

Tempo runs with matchday sharpness.

When you want to feel sharp before the weekend, EVO SL delivers. Lightstrike Pro brings fast energy underfoot so you’re ready to press from the first whistle. For wingers chasing fitness or forwards looking to stay explosive, this one keeps your edge razor sharp.

Training Clothing

It takes one session in the wrong gear to know better. Cold sweats. Heavy fabric. That constant drag when you try to open up. Football training wear should move clean, stay light, and keep your head in the game.

From slim-fit layers to breathable compression, this is the gear that turns up every session — just like you.

Shop football training wear at Pro:Direct Soccer. No fuss. All function.

Football Boots

You’ve clocked the miles. Put in the graft.

Pre-season doesn’t wait for anyone. The legs are tired, the pitches are dry, and the ball’s moving fast. Maybe you’re after comfort. A leather football boot that takes the pressure off. Or maybe you want something light and nimble, made for breaking lines and playing on instinct. Whatever your game looks like, it starts with the right pair. These boots are here to back you before the season even begins.

Nike Phantom

Worn by Erling Haaland.

For the ones who keep the game ticking.

The Nike Phantom 6 connects you to the ball like it's wired in. Every drag-back, disguised pass, and clipped delivery feels smoother. Built for vision-first players who glide through midfield and let their feet do the thinking.

adidas Copa Pure

Worn by Declan Rice.

Old-school soul. Modern-day control.

The adidas Copa Pure III brings that calm, cultured energy. Wrapped in leather, built to last, it suits players who slow the game down to their tempo. Think deep-lying passers, confident captains, and those who never rush the moment.

PUMA Ultra

Worn by Cody Gakpo.

Blink and they’ve gone.

Light on your foot, deadly when it counts. The PUMA Ultra is built for out-and-out wingers and breakaway specialists. Perfect for players who play with instinct and leave defenders guessing.

adidas Copa Gloro

Worn by 50% of Sunday League CBs.

Feel first. Everything else follows.

The adidas Copa Gloro brings back that pure connection. Leather comfort, simple structure, and a fit that just works. Great for central players, defensive organisers, or anyone who plays with calm authority.

Nike Mercurial Vapor 16

Worn by Kylian Mbappé.

For the pure pace merchants.

The Nike Mercurial Vapor 16 is lightning in boot form. Minimal weight, maximum traction. Best suited to the fastest on the pitch — strikers, wide players, anyone who plays off the shoulder and lives for the breakaway.

Mizuno Morelia Neo IV Beta

Worn by Sergio Ramos.

For the player who cares how it feels.

Whispers in the tunnel. Eyes on your boots. The Mizuno Morelia Neo IV Beta blends heritage with performance. Lightweight, handcrafted, and ready for players who value precision, leadership, and total control under pressure.

adidas Predator 25

Worn by Jude Bellingham.

Built for the ball strikers.

The adidas Predator 25 brings power and shape to every strike. It’s made for midfield maestros and attacking technicians who love to strike through the ball, bend it top bins, or ping passes through tight gaps with total confidence.

Nike Premier

Worn by leaders, lifers, and lovers of leather.

The Nike Premier is all about stripped-back performance. Leather where you need it, traction where it matters. A quiet classic for players who let their game talk louder than their boots ever could.

New Balance Furon

Worn by Bukayo Saka.

All about the finish.

No frills. Just speed, strike, and that killer instinct. The New Balance Furon v8 is built for wingers, wide forwards, and anyone who thrives on final-third moments. One chance, one goal, no second takes.

Footballs & Training Equipment

The first touch always tells the truth. And if it’s not there, you can feel it. The extra bounce. The mistimed trap. The moment you take one too many.

But getting that rhythm back? That’s on you. Drills with cones. Touch boxes. Ball mastery on a flat bit of tarmac. You don’t need a crowd. Just a ball, a plan, and the right tools.

Nike Flight. PUMA Orbita. Reliable with a game-real feel. Add in a rebounder. A ladder. A few hurdles. Even Cal the Dragon knows the value of backyard graft.

Shop footballs and shop training equipment now at Pro:Direct Soccer. The work starts here.

Accessories That Matter

Anyone can turn up. But the ones who train smart know it’s the little things that keep you switched on. Laces that never need redoing. Sock Tape that doesn’t peel. Studs that don’t let you slip when it matters.

AMO Accessories cover the lot. From grip laces to game-ready wraps, this is pro-level detail made for every pitch.

Shop the full football accessories range now. Featuring AMO.

Recovery & Injury Prevention

You used to go 90 on a Saturday, go on a night out, and play again on Sunday. Now your hamstrings start complaining during the warm-up. The work is still there, but your body’s asking for a little help.

Recovery keeps you in the game. Foam rollers, stretch bands, massage guns. Ice packs and a sofa. That’s the new post-match routine.

Shop now and get your recovery sorted. Ibuprofen can’t carry a whole season.

Pro:Direct Picks

This is your recovery window. Legs elevated. Massage ball underfoot. Match highlights on mute. Now’s the moment to level up your gear game.

We’ve got guides that go deep. Whether it’s finding the perfect boots or working out the best soleplate for your pitch, this is what you need next.

Scroll now. Be smarter next time you shop.

The New Season Is Loading... You In?

You’ve got the tools. The boots, the kit, the knowledge. You know what works. You’ve read the guide, scrolled through the picks, picked up the tips.

Now it’s time to do the work.

No one’s coming to hand you a spot in the starting eleven. You earn that on the touchline, in the wind, mid-sprint, legs burning. You earn it when the ball’s bouncing loose and you’re the first to get there.

This is your moment. New season. New sharpness. New level.

Go make it count. Shop Pre-Season Essentials at Pro:Direct Soccer.