Jimmy Bartel’s footy boots business goes studs up
He put his money where his mouth is after first wearing them as a junior star at Bell Park, but it’s all gone wrong for Jimmy Bartel and his favourite boot company.
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Jimmy Bartel might have more luck backing a winner at Flemington than he did with his investment in flashy football boot company XBlades.
The Brownlow medallist put his “own cash” into the company back in 2016, saying he believed in the boots he first wore as a junior-burger at Bell Park.
But it’s all gone wrong for the boot company that once boasted English Premier League star David Beckham in its line-up.
Bill Spyros founded XBlades Sports Australia in 1989. Company documents show he pulled the pin as a director in July and it’s all gone downhill from there.
The company is now in the hands of Ivan Glavas, from Worrells Solvency and Forensic Accountants in William Street.
It’s fair to say that without local football and shops closed because of the virus, it would have been hard to move boots this season.
Bartel was confident of the blade design instead of traditional stops in regular football boots. At the time Bartel said he wasn’t just “spruiking” the boots. He really believed in them.
The Geelong star and Brownlow medallist later became a product development director, designing his own boots for the brand.
Bartel said he was “just a silent investor” and hadn’t “had any involvement in the company for two years.”
At one point the company had deals with the Parramatta Eels, Cronulla Sharks, Gold Coast Titans, Newcastle Knights, North Queensland Cowboys, St George Illawarra, Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Castleford Tigers, Balmain Tigers, Leeds Rhinos, Gloucester Rugby, Touch Football Australia, Touch Football New Zealand, Wales Touch, UK Touch, Oztag Australia, New Zealand Tag Football.
In the AFL, Bartel was not the only Brownlow Medallist to take a shine to the blades.
Brisbane star Lachie Neale, this year’s Brownlow winner, also pulled on the boots.
The website is still open and they’re half price while they last.
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