Spitfires and Hurricanes (81-84)

Not only could Pentland provide the financial backing Fireman needed but also, they had offices in Hongkong and Pusan, Korea the home of HS corporation and their factory. To head his development Paul recruited Steve Liggett, who would spend much of the next five years flying to and from Pusan where he stayed for months on end.

Orient express (77-83)

Reebok had struggled through the mid 70’s to fight increases in cost, inflation in the UK was running at over 10% and industrial relations between corporations and unions was at rock bottom. Every year Reebok’s prices went up while their competitions didn’t.  It was at the super show that salvation from this ever-increasing spiral was found. 

COUGAR! Road training legend (1976 -78).

Before the Aztec, Reebok was already a well-established Road training brand in the UK, Europe and USA, the shoe that had established that reputation was Cougar, a tough yet light Road shoe that had gone through many modifications through the 1970’s. 

Marathon and Cougar (1972 to 1973)

Enter the Cougar, a new shoe for Reebok making use of new materials that had just become available and it addressed the needs of the modern runner.

VICTORY G (OG) review:

The Victory GOG is a tribute to what I would say was the first Reebok to be created by Paul Fireman,  It was Paul who saw GORE-TEX running suits in 1980 and it was his challenge to My Dad and then Factory Manager Bob Johnson to come up with the shoe.  It was also Paul who insisted on changing the companies logo away from the ‘Starcrest’ and insisted on the union flag, in a window box on the lateral of the shoe, a feature that would be a Reebok trademark for the next 20years.

GUS and I, in the City ‘86

I came up with City ’86. I had a limited budget, but we could spend a little on new pattern work. I kept the back half of City, same counter foxing, heel tab and side stripe. New toe cap/ foxing with side support bars, close to the Classic Leather. Three piece facing to replace City’s expensive one piece affair. This echoed the GL6000’s shadow effect wrap around throat.

Reebok UK (July 1984)

In July 1984 Reebok appointed a new distributor, Fleetfoot Ltd. Owned by Chris Brasher and John Disley.

Into the City! (March 1984)

City was to be our most modern trainer. Bob Johnson had returned as Factory Manager and he convinced my Dad we had to have a Strobel sewing machine in order to make the sock lasted shoes like our competition. This was an evil machine with a needle that shot out straight at the user.