Quiz reveals whether amateur footballers have what it takes for the Premier League

dailystar.co.uk:

online tool after a poll of 750 grassroots players revealed amateurs are trying to emulate Premier League footballers – by wearing hair bands, rolling down their socks, and even getting tattoos.

Nearly half (47%) said they even “borrow” fashion tips from Premier League stars, and over two-fifths even monitor their performance on the pitch by using smart watches.But it is not just sports science which has been adopted by amateurs – a quarter of players copy goal celebrations, and two in ten attempt to “Bend It Like Beckham” and score from the half-way line.Grassroots players also copy their favourite players on the pitch by putting on brightly coloured boots, wearing gloves like Paul Pogba, or hairbands like Jack Grealish to avoid getting their hair in a mess.And over one in ten choose to roll their socks down with small shin pads, put Vicks on the top of their shirt, and cut the ends off socks, just like Harry Kane.

A spokesman for online betting sporting website CopyBet, which commissioned the research, said: “Football has changed from top to bottom, with amateur players taking inspiration from today’s footballing stars – such as Phil Foden, Virgil van Dijk, and Cristiano Ronaldo. “Football is universal, and with the players in the Premier and Scottish Premier League all starting at grassroots level, it is good to see their influence spreading back throughout the beautiful game.”The study found amateur players have been so inspired by footballing teams that they have purchased an advertised product (30%), backed a charitable campaign (26%), and even named their pet after them (22%).And almost one in five have gone as far as dying their own hair in their favourite team’s colours.Nearly a third of players said they copy.