HO David James Goalkeeper Gloves – Black & Gold ‘Pro Mega Negative’
Last weekend’s Community Shield game between Manchester United and Portsmouth turned out to be the modestly, but not sensationally contested pre-season warm up game that many people had expected, with too many players still shaking off the effects of the summer rest.
But one man for whom that could not be said was Portsmouth’s ever present goalkeeper David James, who looked as sharp as ever. James pulled off some good saves including one ‘straight out of the top drawer’, turning away at full stretch Carlos Tevez’s effort from the edge of the box and leaving the Argentine clearly frustrated.
Under the always watchful gaze of ‘Fab’ Capello, James must have been secretly delighted. He builds up more chips in his stake in the competition to be England’s Number One, with a rejuvenated Ben Foster now back in the frame, and Hart, Kirkland and others chasing hard.
James marshals the Pompey defence in Sunday’s Community Shield match against Manchester United
David James’ continuing recognition as the best current English goalkeeper has created a great deal of interest from goalkeepers in the black and gold goalkeeper gloves he has been wearing since the end of last season.
James lifted the FA Cup in the gloves and they featured in England’s Wembley defeat of the U.S.A. in May, as well as the weekend’s Charity Shield game, and they will be the gloves in which he begins the 2008-09 Premiership and European campaigns with Portsmouth. The gloves in question – the HO SOCCER Pro Mega Negative Black and Gold goalkeeper gloves – specially developed for David James with an enormous amount of input from him. They’re due to hit the shops in September and will be available in negative cut and roll finger versions.
David James’ HO SOCCER Pro Mega Negative goalkeeper gloves. Release date September 2008
David James is a fascinating guy. Like a fine wine, a player whose game has only improved with maturity, everything he does is meticulous. While other players were enjoying the summer break, James allowed himself only a week of cooked breakfasts after the end of the season, before getting back onto the salad, cold showers and early morning meditation. Well, we’re not sure about the cold showers and meditation, but it wouldn’t be surprising.
James worked over the summer on maintaining his fitness with regular runs, and competed in the international Free Kick Masters Tournament held in Houston, Texas, against free kick specialists including Lionel Messi and other top goalkeepers including Francesco Toldo. Best Goalkeeper prize? James won it.
‘Numquam Dubitatio’ – ‘Never a Doubt’. James has added his own motto to the wrist strap of his gloves, seen here on the palm side of the right hand
In his choice of goalkeeper gloves the story is no different. Everything has to be right. James and HO SOCCER worked closely together in the development of the HO SOCCER Pro Mega Black and Gold release. After signing with HO at the beginning of the 2007-08 season, James originally started with the blue Pro Mega Flat gloves, before moving to the Pro Mega Roll. He then developed a preference for black colouring on the backhand of the gloves, and coloured in the blue of his Pro Mega Roll gloves with a black marker himself!
HO SOCCER obligingly released the Pro Mega Roll in black and white, saving James the time of colouring in the gloves. But as last season wore on, James began trialling the HO Enigma goalkeeper gloves, and became a big fan of the negative cut style. The HO Pro Mega Black and Gold gloves were developed with this in mind, and James now wears the negative cut version. After some initial consideration of a Black and Pink design, the Black and Gold model was settled on, and HO SOCCER decided to use the pink colour on the new Protek Negative model instead.
Expect to see the Pro Mega Negative Black and Gold goalkeeper gloves starring in Portsmouth and England games throughout the season, quite possibly with an interesting variety of James’ Magic Marker customised touches!
Technical info: HO SOCCER Pro Mega Black and Gold goalkeeper gloves
GLOVE CUT – Roll finger or negative cut versions available
CONDITIONS – Dry, damp, wet, soft ground
PALM TYPE – Mega Grip latex foam
PALM THICKNESS – 4mm latex, plus 3mm backing foam
PALM LENGTH' ' Wrist length
SPECIAL FEATURES – MAS technology (Micro Adjustable Strap). Adjustable strap in the lower backhand of the glove at wrist height, allowing the fit of the gloves to be tightened loosened according to the goalkeeper’s preference. Provides greater choice to the goalkeeper, and greater ability to tailor the glove fit to exact requirements.
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