Widdowson cut down a pair of cricket shin pads and strapped them to the outside of his stockings using straps of leather. Other players ridiculed him initially, but shin guards eventually caught on as players saw the practical use of protecting their shins. Today, there are a two basic types of shin guards used in association football: slip-in shin guards and ankle shin guards.
Widdowson fashioned a pair of cricket shin pads and attached them to his stockings with leather straps. Other players initially ridiculed him, but eventually, the use of shin guards became widespread as players recognized their practical value in protecting shins. Today, there are two primary types of shin guards used in association football: slip-in models and ankle guards.