Kyle Walker on Air

In the lead-up to Air Max Day, Nike will explore the passions of seven Air Max enthusiasts who, despite different latitudes, prove that the language of sneakers is universal.

#1 When did you realize you loved trainers?

I first realized that I loved trainers when I was about five or six, when my family used to drag me along to the shops trying to find the latest Nike trainers that I liked.

#2 Was there a certain shoe that started the appreciation of trainers?

Probably the Nike Air Max 90. It was a popular trainer around my area of growing up and I know everybody wanted to get the latest color.

#3 What was your first pair of Air Max?

I can definitely tell you it was the Air Max 90. As I said, obviously, it was a popular trainer around the area. Everyone used to try and get the latest color. I can remember I used to go to my friends’ house, knock on their door and say to them, ‘Can I borrow your trainers?’ I didn't want to ruin mine.

#4 How many pair of Air Max do you own?

Roughly now I think it's around about the 50-55 mark. I still want a lot more, so hopefully I can add to my collection soon.

#5 Which Air Max style do you think has the most dominance in your collection?

To be fair, I do vary. Some days I like the 1, some days I like the 90. But I think it has to probably be the 90 that I have a lot more of. I think they go well with the track suit that I wear for football and everything. I think you can also wear them with a pair of jeans and they look nice there.

#6 What's your favorite Air Max?

There's a lot here. It depends. Probably for the 90s, I go for the all-white ones, just because they're classy. I feel that you can wear them with everything and they go really well with the track suit. Obviously, white goes with everything. So if I go for them for the 90s.

#7 Do you have a cleaning routine for your trainers?

I try and keep them as fresh as possible.  It's not a sob story or anything, but when I was growing up, I didn't have much, so my mum always said, ‘Treat things with respect, and they'll last a little bit longer.’ So that's what I've tried to do. As soon as I wear them, I put them back, baby-wipe them, and that's about it until the next time I wear them.

#8 When you're wearing your Air Max, where are you going?

Mainly to work, because that's where I seem to spend most of my life. But obviously, as I say, they're a comfortable pair of shoes. So if my sister's dragging me around shopping, then I do bang on a pair of the Nike Air Max 90s to try and help my feet out a little bit.

#9 If your favorite Air Max played a position on the pitch, which position would it be and why? 

If my Air Max played a position on the pitch, I think it'd have to be number 10, because there are so many different colors, different styles and everything.  So I think obviously being a number 10, you need to be creative, which I think Air Max are, with obviously the many styles they've got and everything. And now I think I'd stick them with number 10 and go and get some goals for me, hopefully.

10# You've got a lot of trainers in here, not just Air Max.  How many trainers do you have in your entire collection?

Oh, I don't know. I couldn't tell you. Maybe 150 or so. I know I've got some in the garage that I still haven't unpacked, because obviously I've just moved to this new house. So I'd say I've got quite a bit. And you know what? I think mum has actually got a full bedroom of them at home.

I've always had a trainer fetish. That's just my thing. I think I caught it from my mum, because I know my mum does like shoes. So I think I've caught it off her, but I think I've kind of overtook her now, definitely.

#11 How many years did it take to accumulate your current collection?

I think I’ve been collecting since I was about 15 years old, when I got a little spending money from my grandparents. I've always saved up and tried to buy at least one pair of trainers every other month. Obviously, back then, they didn't last me too long because I was always playing football in them. So now I can actually look after them and buy a few more pairs. You know, I try and get a good four or five pairs a month and then go from there.

#12 How would you define trainer culture in the UK? 

Coming from Sheffield and moving down to London at the age of 19, you know, I found it a lot bigger down here and the trainers have gotten a lot louder. But now, coming down here, you see all different varieties and the different ways people rock them. So I’ve taken a liking to some of these bolder styles.

#13 How would you say trainer culture in the UK differs from the rest of the world? 

I feel that trainer styles differ across the world. We've been to America in a few of the preseason tours. I see a lot of people in America wearing the Air Force 1’s. So I know that's really big over there. But as they say, the Air Max is a London trainer. So I feel that being from England, I have to keep repping the Air Max rather than the Air Force 1.

#14 Are there any trainers that you think are more popular in the UK than anywhere else?

Well, popular in my area, as I keep saying, was the 90s. It was massive. Everyone seemed to have a pair. Kids would see us wearing them and they'd run over and say, ‘Well, where did you get your trainers from?’ It was kind of a secret, not to tell them.  It was like, ‘No, no. I don't know. My mum got me them.’ Like you pretended that you didn't know where you got them from because you didn't want anyone to have the same trainer as you.  

#15 What's your go-to activity when you're not on the pitch? 

I like to try and play golf. It's difficult with my football schedule. But whenever I do have time, I go with my mates to play golf. We have a good laugh. So I try and take my mind off football in that way.

#16 What's the one thing about you that most people don't know?

My missus would probably like me to say this. I like things to be clean. I don't like mess. My missus will probably tell you that I drive her insane with all my cleanliness. It’s probably why I've got 20 packs of baby wipes in a cupboard down there just so when I come into my sneaker closet, I can keep them clean and fresh. 

#17 Many say that playing defense is a mentality. What's your mentality when you defend on the pitch?

I have had a lot of tests in my career so far. I think obviously being injured and missing the World Cup was tough. Not being able to play for my country in Brazil was a big kick in the teeth.

In football you're going to have a lot of ups and downs, but you need to stay mentally strong and you need to stay focused. You need to know you're a professional and you've got a job to do. It’s not a one-man game. It's 10 other players on the pitch that everyone must rely on to get the three points you’re striving for throughout the week. 

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