Billy Celeski’s BootLab getting off on the right foot

Former Socceroo and Melbourne Victory star Billy Celeski says cleaning boots is important for players who dream of playing professionally.

The cleaning of boots has becoming something of a time-honoured tradition amongst seasoned professional football players.

For many who have scaled the heights of this great game, the memories of cleaning boots as a youngster was a humbling reminder of where they started, and considered an important lesson in the requirements of discipline and respect that grounded them on their way to the top.

In the modern day, it is not often you see elite youth players cleaning the boots of the professional peers, but former Socceroo and Melbourne Victory star Billy Celeski says cleaning their own boots is an important discipline for players who dream of playing professionally.

It was that thought process that saw Celeski identify a business opportunity and one that he has pounced on with the launch of his new boot-cleaning product, Bootlab 101.

“I wanted something that would teach kids about the importance of respecting the tools of their trade,” he told Soccerscene.

“And that’s what boots are. They are our tools, and as players we have to take care of them.”

The Bootlab 101 Boot Brush is a visually striking product.

It wouldn’t look out of place amongst the high-tech, high-design aesthetic of an Apple store.

But when it comes to Celeski’s Boot Brush, its ingenuity is in its simplicity.

A 300 ml bottle with a squeeze valve attached to a brush.

Simply fill the bottle with water, squeeze to release the water onto the boot and use the brushes to scrub them clean. Simple!

No more dragging muddy boots through the house to laundry and no more excuses from brining muddy boots into the clubhouse.

Celeski – who was a creative force on the field as a player – said however simple its application, the conception, design and manufacture of the brush was meticulously planned and carried out.

“Initially when we looked at what we could do, the research was based on looking at what kids get when they signup for a club or an academy,” he said.

“You get your kit, you get your drink bottle and maybe some merch, which is great, but what are we giving them to teach them about the importance of caring for the tools they use to play?

“I wanted to come up with a device or product that was going to trigger them to ensure they looked after those tools.

“At the end of the day, parents spend a lot of money on registration and boots and being able to take care of those boots is an important lesson for kids to learn about having respect for what their parents do for them, and a good discipline to get into when it comes to respecting themselves as well.”

Celeski employed the services of an industrial designer to bring his vision to life and said that with the product now on the market, the feedback has been great.

The brush is already in the hands of A-League and W-League stars and internationals like Jamie Maclaren and Melissa Barbieri, and Celeski said first impressions have been good.

“We gave a couple out to some professionals just to get some feedback and the flow on from that has been great,” he said.

“The feedback is good and we are getting professionals from overseas who are getting in touch with us and buying the product for themselves.

“Hopefully if we can show that it’s good enough for the professionals, then the clubs and academies and players will want it for themselves as well.”

Celeski said the Boot Lab 101 was working with a number of clubs to make the Boot Brush a part of the kit they provide players.

“We’re speaking to a couple of A-League clubs and there’s a lot of interest from NPL clubs as well, because they have players from under-7s right up to their seniors,” he said.

“We’ve cast the net far and wide and now that the product is out there and people are starting to get it in their hands and see how effective it is we’re getting good feedback.

“Players can clean their boots on the spot and leave all that mud and dirt on the ground where it’s meant to be and out of their clubrooms, their lawns or their laundry.”

With B2B a core focus of Boot Lab 101’s sales strategy, Celeski confirmed his company is looking at the best branding possibilities for the bottles, so that they can be branded with club logos and sponsors.

Boot Lab also offers wholesale pricing for clubs, academies and associations who place large orders.

“The brand is starting to get out there,” he said.

“I feel as it is early days, but the feedback is good and we believe we’ve delivered a quite innovative product that doesn’t really have much in the way of comparable products.

“Once we start announcing some of the clubs we’re working with, I’m confident we will see a domino effect and more will come as a result.”

You can purchase the Boot Lab 101 Boot Brush via the company’s online store. 

Clubs, academies, federations and interested stockists can learn more about wholesale pricing via the Boot Lab 101 website.

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Football Star Academy unveils Partnership with Directed

Football Star Academy (FSA) has announced a new partnership with Directed Electronics Australia, the exclusive distributor of Playermaker across Australia and New Zealand.

This collaboration marks an exciting leap forward in the development of both athletes and coaches, giving players across Football Star Academy programs nationwide access to Playermaker’s cutting-edge wearable technology.

Playermaker is the world’s first foot-worn player development system, purpose-built for football and certified by FIFA for match use. It’s already trusted by top clubs like Manchester City, LA Galaxy, and Borussia Dortmund, among others.

Thanks to this collaboration with Directed, FSA franchisees will now be equipped with Playermaker’s innovative ankle-worn devices that track players’ movements in real-time.

These insights give coaches and athletes a deeper understanding of key performance metrics—like speed, distance, and physical load—helping them train smarter and prepare more effectively for matches.

The benefits of this partnership extend well beyond FSA’s own network, offering schools and sports clubs across Australia the chance to access this groundbreaking technology and take their athletes’ development to the next level.

Anthony Grima, Chief Operating Officer of The AllStars Academy (TAA), shared his excitement about the partnership.

“We are obviously delighted to partner with Directed to bring Playermaker’s game-changing technology to the FSA community,” Grima said in a press release

“This partnership will empower our franchisees, schools, and sporting clubs with the ability to track and analyse player performance in real-time, making training more data-driven and impactful.

“By offering them access to Playermaker’s wearable devices, we are furthering our commitment to providing the best resources for athlete and coach development.”

Playermaker’s wearable technology delivers valuable insights by tracking how players move during training and games.

It captures key data like ball touches, kicking power, speed, distance covered, and overall physical load.

By using this data, coaches and athletes can fine-tune training programs, reduce the risk of injury, and improve performance on the pitch.

As part of this collaboration, participating schools and clubs will also have access to exclusive offers and discounts, making it easier to bring Playermaker’s advanced tools into their own programs.

Directed’s exclusive distribution rights to Playermaker and other top-tier sports, fitness, and wellness technologies give FSA a major advantage—ensuring the latest innovations in performance tracking are available across the region.

This partnership also supports FSA’s long-term vision of providing world-class tools and support to its franchisees, partner schools, and clubs—helping players and coaches across Australia reach their full potential.

General Manager of Brand Partnerships & Strategy at Directed Karl Schuster expressed enthusiasm about the team up with Football Star Academy, highlighting how Playermaker will empower athletes and coaches with valuable performance insights, enhancing training and reinforcing FSA’s leadership in sports development.

“We are excited to join forces with Football Star Academy,” Schuster said in a press release.

“With Playermaker, athletes and coaches can gain valuable insights into their movements, helping them make smarter decisions, train more effectively, and unlock their full potential.

“This collaboration will further strengthen FSA’s position as a leader in sports development in the region.”

To learn more about discounted Playermaker products for schools and sports clubs, you can contact Anthony Grima at anthony@taabrands.com or on 0466 208 213.

Off the Pitch Podcast: Shah Ali Rajput on Tradex Co football apparel

In episode six of Soccerscene’s Off the Pitch podcast, Tradex Co. founding member Shah Ali Rajput joins the show to talk about the ins and outs of football apparel, the companies growth in the Victorian and South Australian local football scene, and the quality of materials used to create their new football range.

Tradex Co., founded in Melbourne in 2020, is a wholesale sportswear brand that’s changing the game for sports clubs and local organisations.

The company is focused on breaking the mould by giving teams more control over their gear — from design to fit.

With a strong emphasis on innovative fabrics and smart design, Tradex Co. aims to deliver apparel that not only looks great but performs even better.

The company began by working with just two clubs but has since expanded its reach to 30 clubs.

To set itself apart from the competition, Rajput explained that Tradex Co focuses on strong customer service by maintaining a direct, hands-on relationship with clubs and their members.

“The point of difference for our company as compared to everyone else in the market, or a few in the market, would be our customer service,” he said on the podcast.

“A direct relationship between the consumer, the customer, the club, the club member, and myself, as being their own account manager for the majority of these clubs.

“So it’s a very direct relationship that is one of the major differences, and immediate feedback is taken on board.

“And accordingly, whatever is required, whatever is needed to be done is actioned within a certain amount of time, and feedback against the feedback is given back to the end user.”

Tradex Co is currently partnering with clubs in Victoria and South Australia, but the long-term goal is to expand and work with teams right across Australia.

However, Rajput emphasised that currently, while Tradex Co is open to working with clubs from other states, their focus remains on gradual, quality-driven growth rather than rapid expansion.

“We’re not going to be reaching out ourselves in the next 12 to 16 months to other states, but if a club would like to work with us, we’re more than happy to discuss,” Rajput continued.

“But we want to make sure the quality stays phenomenal.

“We don’t want quantity over quality, we want quality over quantity, we want to work with a certain amount of clubs, and that’s how we look at this business.

“Yes, we want to grow, but we don’t want to grow too quick, too soon, we want to grow gradually.”

To learn more about Tradex Co., listen to the full interview with Shah Ali Rajput on episode six of Soccerscene’s Off the Pitch Podcast – available on all major podcasting apps.

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