Bumpy Pitch and subsequently The Original Winger has always been an experiment. One that we are committed to, but an experiment nonetheless. We started all of this because we believed that there was a deep connection to the sport that transcended what took place on the field. That there was a vibrant, and very real culture and lifestyle that the sport represented. It might have been under served, but we felt it existed and we wanted to be the first to tap into it.  We’ve taken our knocks from people along the way. Asking why we didn’t offer gear that could be worn on the field, why we didn’t make soccer balls, jerseys, etc…you name it, we have been questioned about it. We were told that if we didn’t produce “real” soccer items, that we were on our own.

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I took this picture a few days ago out in front of our manufacturers warehouse at about 7:00pm. It’s hard to tell, but behind that fence in the empty parking lot are some dudes playing in a post work pickup game. The streets were empty, most businesses were closed down, and these guys could have gone home. Instead they chose to stay late and get in a game after work. They still were in their work gear, had cones set up as goals and were going at it. This is the perfect way to end the day after work.

Sorry about the picture, I had the wrong lens with me so they seem really far away. Oh well.

They say soccer is the beautiful game, so it’s natural that it would photograph well. I was cruising the Interwebs tonight looking at some soccer pictures from around the world and wanted to share some of what I found. Some I have seen a thousand times, but that doesn’t make them any less perfect than they have always been. I know there are about a million more out there that I didn’t post, so if you have some favorites, hit us off with a link so we can make sure and get them posted.

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I’m not sure what’s big with youth soccer clubs these days, but when Dunny and I were young whippers coming up, club trading pins were the business.  Tournaments were the perfect opportunity to trade for some pins from clubs that were out of the area. Getting the right pins involved some haggling and bartering and there were some negotiation techniques that were learned on soccer fields in between games.

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I posted a little something on Twitter tonight about how the right song at the right moment always equals a good time. With that in mind, here is an album that always seems to represent corrcectly. Everyone has albums that represent a time and place in their lives. This came out around 92/93 and was a big influence on me for many years. This album, Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), Ready To Die…these were the soundtracks of my life in the early 1990’s…I used to listen to these albums before games and they always got me hype. Still do…and if I’m honest, they’re all still hot to this day. It’s very hard to front on this album.

This is one of those albums you can put on, lay back and ride things out. Yes, it’s that good. If you find yourself lounging around on a weekend with your breezy, put this on, lay back and ride the weekend out. You’re welcome.

Hit the jump for quite possibly the illest song from Liquid Swords

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Can we ask for mandatory Vuvuzela blowing every time Sepp Blatter steps up to the microphone?

For his thesis project, Parsons School of Design student David Park chose sneaker culture as well as youth culture, music, and fashion.[HighSnob]

The New Order is a genuinely international look at street culture. Fashion, Art, Film and more. A quarterly publication created by some of the most talented writers, editors and photographs around the world and sold in all corners of the globe. A magazine targeting influencers and aimed at those who make and breathe tomorrow’s trends.

I just got my copy in the mail this week and if the above description sounds interesting to you, I highly recommend the magazine. This will definitely be part of my weekend reading.

Order yours here.