Entering the field with left foot and untied shoelaces (Pedro Campos)

Title: Entering the field with left foot and untied shoelaces

General Information about Item:

Informant Data:

T.C. is a male student-athlete from the class of 2024 who plays soccer at Dartmouth. He was born and raised in Willingdon, England. T.C. has been playing soccer since before he could walk and is a fan of the West Ham United FC.

Contextual Data:

Cultural Context: Soccer (or football, as it is referred to in England) is a major part of English culture, especially for boys. Kids at a young age often look up to professional footballers and try to emulate them (dress code, hairstyle, style of play, and so on).
Social Context: T.C. explained his superstitions to me right before a game, which is when he performs them. At first, he did not seem to remember where he picked up his superstitions from, but after further questioning he agreed that he was attempting to emulate professional player’s rituals.

Item:

Before a game, T.C. will enter the field with the laces in his soccer boots untied and will take two steps on his left foot before taking one on his right.

Associated files/pictures:

Transcript:

“I don’t tie the laces on my boots until I’m out in the field. And also, when I get on the field I take two steps on my left foot before I take a step on my right. I might have picked up my superstitions when I was 13 at my club back in England.”

Informants Comments:

He later remembered that the shoelace superstition was based on a ritual performed by former England national team left back Leighton Baines.

Collector’s Comments:

As a 13-year-old, T.C. was obviously emulating professional footballers and their superstitions, as an attempt of being a more integral member of the footballers folk group. Walking into the pitch on foot is a very common superstition among soccer players.

Collector’s Name:

Tags:

Dartmouth Folklore Archive