NFL is once again heading to London this weekend, and to celebrate its return, custom creator James Reynolds has hand-painted a selection of American footballs to look like iconic Premier League balls.
Once again taking the international break as an opportunity to bring their show to UK shores, NFL is set to pull up to the Tottenham Hotspur stadium on 15 October, with Baltimore Ravens taking on the Tennessee Titans. It’s become an annual event that never fails to disappoint on a spectacle front, and its arrival deserves to be celebrated. As such, custom creator, James Reynolds, (@customklompen) has transformed some American Footballs, giving them a more recognisable and iconic visage – at least to fans of the Premier League.
Reynolds hand-painted the American footballs to look like some of the Premier League’s most classic footballs from years gone by, and there was no place better to start than with the iconic Mitre Ultimax. The first ever ball to be recorded at over 100mph, the Mitre Ultimax is pure nostalgia, and here it is lovingly recreated, right down to that OG Premier League logo, nestled between those unmistakeable blue, red and gold chevrons.
Next up is the Nike Geo Merlin. The first Premier League ball from Nike, seen at the feet of prime Shearer, Beckham, Bergkamp… the list is endless. Represents proper Golden Era Premier League, even being the ball that saw in the name “Premier League”, taking over from “The Premiership” in 2001. When you caught it properly, it flew.
And last (for now – expect there may be more up Reynolds’ sleeve) is the Nike Total 90 Aerow, in its high-vis guise from the 2005/06 season, of course. This one just drips with the nostalgia of the era, and that circled 90 just screams peak Henry.
Check out more of James Reynolds' work here.
