While Gola is a globally recognised name today, its soul belongs to the East Midlands. For over 120 years, the brand has been a flagship of British craftsmanship, and its origins are inextricably linked to the industrial heart of Leicester.
Gola’s story began on May 22, 1905, in a small factory on Gateway Street, Leicester. Originally registered by Joseph Leeson & Sons, it started as a specialized brand for football boots which were entirely handmade from leather and iron nails.
In an era where most “football boots” were simply heavy-duty work boots, the Leicester factory pioneered the idea of specialized footwear. These early designs featured high-ankle legs for protection, a reinforcement strap across the toe, and hard leather toe caps to protect players from the heavy, water-logged balls of the Victorian era.
In 1930, the brand was purchased by William Botterill & Sons. By 1936, the “Gola” name—an anagram of the word GOAL—was officially adopted for their flagship line of football and rugby boots.
During this “Russet Leather” era, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire factories offered boots in three distinct quality grades:
- Split Leather: The affordable choice for grassroots players.
- Side Leather: A durable, medium-grade option.
- Russet Kip Butts: Premium leather used for the most expensive professional boots.
As the 1950s and 60s saw boots become lower and lighter to allow for better speed and ball control, Gola became the brand of choice for some of football’s most iconic figures.
- The 1965 FA Cup Final: Before facing Leeds United, the Liverpool FC squad visited the Gola factory to be kitted out. On the day of the final, Adidas officials reportedly offered the players money to switch boots. The team took the cash but refused to give up their comfortable Golas—instead, they painted white Adidas-style stripes over their Gola boots to collect the payment while keeping their Leicester-made footwear.
- The Shankly Boots: Manager Bill Shankly famously wore a pair of black Golas with yellow flashes (Size 8) at training every day. Inscribed with his initials “W.S.”, these boots were eventually sold at Christie’s for nearly £6,000 and are considered legendary pieces of sports memorabilia.
- The Stan Bowles “Two-Boot” Scandal: In a 1977 England match against Holland, maverick Stan Bowles accepted £200 from Gola and £300 from Adidas. Unable to choose, he walked onto the Wembley pitch wearing a Gola boot on his right foot and an Adidas boot on his left. Both sponsorship deals were promptly cancelled.
Iconic Models & Pop Culture
- The Harrier (1968): Designed by Fred Dilley, the Gola Harrier (originally the “367”) was a “Special Hard Ground Football Boot.” It became an instant icon, with 6,000 pairs produced weekly in the Midlands. It eventually transitioned from the pitch to the stage, worn by Paul Weller and the Gallagher brothers during the Britpop era.
- Roy of the Rovers: In 1981, Gola became the first official sponsor of the fictional Melchester Rovers. Roy Race signed an exclusive boot deal with Gola, and the brand even redesigned the team’s kit, cementing Gola as a household name for a generation of comic readers.
- The “Bobby Moore” & “Peter Shilton” Ranges: Gola leveraged Leicestershire’s sporting connections to create signature lines for England’s greatest stars. Other models included the Gola Elan (a 1970s multi-purpose trainer) and the Gola Tornado (a track-inspired design from 1985).
After being acquired by the Jacobson Group in 1996, Gola revived the silhouettes created in those early Leicestershire workshops. Today, the famous “Wingflash” logo remains a tribute to over a century of East Midlands manufacturing—a journey from the muddy pitches of 1905 to the “Cool Britannia” era of the 90s and beyond!