A couple of generations ago, footwear was seen as functional more than fashionable in many parts of the UK.
A child growing up in the middle of the 20th Century had a pair of wellingtons (wellies) for when it was wet or snow was lying on the ground, a pair of plimsolls for gym at school, years before the fashionable trainer came into being, a pair of football boots, heavy leather with support round the ankles and a solid toe cap to kick the laced, heavy leather ball.
Of less interest to the child was a pair of shoes for best, nice
brown shoes, and probably a second pair of shoes to play in.There were often strict rules about what to wear and when.
Shopping with mother was in Sunday best because mothers are proud to show off their children, both their good behavior and their appearance. Shopping with mother at the weekend was a chore to the child whose hours of free time were meant to be spent with their friends, playing in the street, the fields, and generally on missions of discovery.
Those were the days when school holidays meant out of the house after breakfast, returning only for food with parents having few worries about what was happening in the hours of their childs absence.
Those lucky enough to live near the coast or on the outskirts of towns, with sand dunes, fields and woods to explore could spend endless hours on those explorations.
For many a youngster though, sport was all. Television coverage of live sport was very limited indeed, particularly soccer. The FA Cup Final was a prime exception, its televising such a special day live soccer, the build up lasted several hours and then the match. A whole day virtually in front of the television with dads approval! Todays youngster has so many live games to watch that the FA Cup Final has slipped well down the rankings.
Playing in the street was common, whatever the sport but if it was football, the street was no place for studded heavy boots, nor were the plimsolls strong enough for the heavy football, and no one wore wellies to play football.
It left two choices of footwear, the Sunday best or the shoes for playing. If the match in the street was about to start, excitement would rise, and many a child forgot to change from his best clothes into the ones his parents found acceptable for the game outside.
Many a pair of Sunday bests were scuffed during the regular games in the streets and many a child felt the anger of parents frustrated by their childs forgetting to change before dashing outside.
