Taking the opportunity to venture up North, we caught up with Anthony Gordon recently, and were keen to find out more about the man behind the player, focussing on his switch to the Toon, his creative side and how he fills his time away from football.
Recently, adidas and Pro:Direct Soccer joined forces to hold their first-ever boot exchange. Located in Newcastle, the event was opened by star winger Anthony Gordon, and it saw fans turning out in their droves to swap an old pair of boots (didn’t even have to be adidas boots!) For a brand new shiny pair of Predators. We just happened to find ourselves in the area (not trading in our old Dunlops, swear…) and we were able to wangle a bit of time with Gordon.
After all the swapping had taken place and the event was closed down to the majority of the public, we were escorted ‘out back’ along with a handful of fortunate Pro:Direct Exclusive Members. Mildly concerned about our general safety, we managed to keep a chilly demeanour. Thankfully, there were no bullies out back ready to duff us in for our lunch money, and instead the lucky guests got to meet Gordon and get some of their newly acquired merch signed. And it was once all this had settled down that we finally got to sit quietly with the man himself, and it was clear that he was buzzing from the experience of interacting with the fans. He sat back, leg up on the velvet corner seat that we found ourselves on, ready to chat.
Newcastle may be a reasonable slog away from his Merseyside roots, but for Gordon it turns out, the transition has been anything but difficult. "I feel really settled,” he explains, which is backed up by his laid back body language. “It’s actually quite similar to where I’m from, so it wasn’t a huge adjustment. Both are proper working-class cities where football is everything. The people here are down-to-earth, humble, and completely invested in the game. That kind of passion creates the best fanbases."
On the pitch, his influence is growing with every game, but away from football, he’s all about the basics—chilling, recovering, and making sure he's ready to go again. "With the fixture schedule being so intense, there’s not much time for anything else," he admitted, an air of desire to be able to do more apparent.
Intrigued to find out more about what “chilling” looks like for Gordon though, we pursued this line of questioning. Turns out that, while football might be his main focus (natch), when he switches off, Gordon likes to keep things relaxed and simple, and TV is big for him—he’s watched Entourage "about 70 times—no exaggeration!" Recently, he’s been brushing up on his Spanish with Elite on Netflix. "It’s all in Spanish, but with subtitles, and it’s actually a great way to pick up a language.” A future move to Real or Barcelona on the cards perhaps?
Sticking with the subject of skills, and turns out that music is something he’s keen to explore. Perhaps it's this type of avenue for his creativity that he regretfully just hasn't yet found the time for – yet. "I don’t play an instrument, but I’d love to. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. Same with languages—I’d love to be fluent in another language. Those are things I definitely want to take up at some point.” It’s an interesting introduction to the creative side that he clearly has, not just evident in his play, but also through his lifestyle choices.
He’s previously turned heads with his off-pitch fits, though these days, he’s keeping things a little more low-key. "Back in the day, I might have been a bit louder with it—those pants I wore once probably finished me off on social media! But I still enjoy fashion, I just don’t post about it as much anymore."
In a game where flair and expression make the difference, it’s clear that Gordon embraces creativity both in and out of football. Whether it’s his playing style, his taste in music, or even his fashion sense, authenticity is key. "I think creativity is just being yourself. Everyone has their own way of doing things, their own style, their own way of thinking. You don’t need to force creativity—it shines through naturally in whatever you’re passionate about.”
One of the first to lace up the bright and bold Generation Pred when it dropped in March 2024, Gordon is all about the balance between nostalgia and evolution. "I love the classic colourways. They’ve got a nostalgia to them, a real character. When you grow up watching football, those iconic boots are ingrained in your memory. But at the same time, boots have to keep evolving—lighter materials, new details—adidas always finds a way to push things forward while keeping the heritage intact."
Any scope for designing his own boots? Turns out that his creative side has already served for if and when adidas feel the time might be right for an Anthony Gordon signature edition. "The base would have to be white—I’ve realised I just love wearing white boots. Maybe with some black and gold detailing, something subtle but classy. White just always looks clean."
Ask any footballer about their first boots, and they’ll take you straight back to their childhood. For Gordon, it’s the white and yellow F50s that stand out. "Suarez used to wear them at the time, and they stuck with me. When I think about my childhood, those boots come straight to mind."
But it turns out that access to boots as a young player wasn’t always easy. "I had to buy my own, which was normal, but it wasn’t always easy. My dad did his best, but I was always asking for the latest boots. There weren’t any initiatives like there are now, so I think what’s being done to give kids access to boots today is brilliant. It makes a huge difference."
So, if he had to pick between Predator, F50, or Copa Mundial? "Predator. I wore F50s as a kid, but as I’ve got older, I’ve come to appreciate the Predator more. It’s got that history to it—Gerrard, Beckham, Lampard—all those English legends wore it. The colourways always stand out, they have real character. It’s just an iconic boot." Amen to that.
And on that note, time was called and so we gathered our new Predators... oh, I mean trusty Dunlops... and headed off into the Geordie sunset. An admirable young man, Gordon is still writing his own chapter in football, but if there’s one thing that’s clear, it’s that he’s doing it on his own terms. Authentic, driven, and with a love for the game that mirrors the passion of the fans around him, he’s a perfect fit for a city that lives and breathes football.
Anthony Gordon wear adidas Predator boots, which you can shop at prodirectsport.com/soccer
