Interested by all the barefooted youngsters wearing jeans, he developed a new shoe concept which he believed to be more compatible with the blue-jean generation.

It was in the late 1980s and early 1990s that Kickers really gained popularity when Kick His were heralded by icons on the Manchester music scene.

Over the years, Kickers has been associated with the music industry, including Ms Dynamite, So Solid Crew, Jarvis Cocker, Noel Gallagher, Mike Skinner, Arctic Monkeys, Craig David and Rodney P. David Bowie wore a pair of Kickers on the set of Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy alongside Bing Crosby in 1977.

He was also photographed by Clive Arrowsmith in that same year,[4] as well as appearing on the front cover of Melody Maker on February 18, 1978, resplendent in the brand.

[5] Ian Brown wore a pair of Kick His to The Haçienda as a cheeky retort to the strict 'no trainer policy'.