THEY were last seen heading down the Galpharm tunnel just seconds after touching concrete in the main stand.
Tomorrow Town fans will hope to see Danny Cadamarteri’s yellow boots working their way around the Keepmoat pitch for the full 90 minutes – and hopefully propelling the ball into the net for the third time in as many starts.
When the striker, who turned 28 on Friday, made his debut from the bench down at Northampton three weeks ago, his colourful choice of footwear was one of the few bright things on a generally grey day for Town, who lost 3-0.
The boots were back for the home meeting with Luton, when Cadamarteri, making his full and home debuts after missing the start of the season with a hamstring tear, clinched a 2-0 win with a cool 60th-minute finish.
Then, against Nottingham Forest the following Tuesday, a fluorescent flash put Town ahead in the 67th minute, only for the wearer, already booked, to be shown another yellow card, and therefore a red, for an over-zealous celebration.
Forest made their numerical advantage tell with an equaliser, and Cadamarteri’s ban kept him out of last Saturday’s 4-0 drubbing at Walsall.
He’s available again for the Sky-televised clash at Doncaster – and if the frontman does the business, manager Andy Ritchie wouldn’t care what’s on his feet.
“The lads have their own boot deals, and Danny’s choice is pretty much a reflection of his personality,” said Ritchie.
“He’s actually got a whole variety of colours, and some of the lads are wondering if he’ll do a Deco, and wear different ones on each foot.”
When the Portuguese midfielder appeared in different coloured boots for Barcelona against Liverpool in a Champions League clash at Anfield last season, they were actually designed that way, the Umbro SX box containing one black and one red.
It’s a far cry from the Seventies, when Stan Bowles played for England wearing one Adidas boot and one Gola in a doomed attempt to double his sponsorship money.
In Ritchie’s memory, only two players veered from the black-footed norm in those days.
“Alan Ball wore white boots, I think made by Hummel, while he was at Everton and Arsenal,” said the 46-year-old.
“Derby’s Alan Hinton did the same, but he never seemed to get as much publicity.”
And as well as his sublime footballing skills, George Best’s boots also struck a chord with Ritchie.
“He endorsed a brand called the Stylo Matchmaker,” explained Best’s fellow former Manchester United player.
“They had a big white flash and were considered the bees’ knees because they were side-lacing.
“At that time, football boot laces were yards long and you had to spend five minutes winding them under your foot and around the back before tieing the knot!”
