HE'S A STUID

Ryan used to be a banker but | now he's filling his boots by customising footwear for the biggest names in the game

- ELIZABETH HUNTER

A FORMER banker turned his love of customising football boots into a fulltime job and now works with the Scotland team and some top European players.

Ryan Park rediscovered the hobby during lockdowns having enjoyed renovating football boots in his early 20s.

The 32-year-old from Edinburgh would buy old pairs of boots on eBay then refurbish and share his transformations on his Instagram page Boots N Pieces.

Now he works with international stars including Liverpool midfielder Thiago and Real Madrid's Antonio Rudiger as well as joining the Scotland camp in Glasgow to custom fit studs for the likes of Ryan Christie, Lyndon Dykes, Ryan Christie and Billy Gilmour.

Rangers skipper James Tavernier and midfielder Ryan Jack are also customers.

It all started in 2020 when Hibs captain Paul Hanlon reached out to Ryan with a customisation request.

Word spread, with players across the SPFL and beyond reaching out.

After just a year and a half, Ryan left his 13-year career in investment banking to run Boots N Pieces full-time.

He recalled: "During lockdown, I had a bit of time on my hands so I picked up an old hobby that I'd had when I was younger, said Ryan. "I decided to start buying boots on eBay and refurbishing them, selling them on for a bit of profit.