Christmas is upon us and it is the time of year where family start asking what you would like to receive on Christmas day. Players it is time to start thinking about replacing those items you wear every training session that are starting to fall apart, family members of players why not treat the player to something that is going to help them not just this current season but future seasons too. Today's post is one packed full of ideas from stocking fillers to those more expensive items the player might be holding off buying. Finding the right gift can be hard work but for a player who spends most of their days doing something football related you can't go wrong with these ideas...

Shin pads

Shin pads aren't always the first thing you think of when sending someone a gift however, it is one that most players would probably be grateful for as their current ones might be years old and starting to stink. There are plenty of options out there for every price point when it comes to shin pads but why not do something a bit more personal for the player and surprise them with some personalized shin pads? They could simply be there name & number or even have some of their favourite pictures on them, it just makes the gift that little bit more unique.

Calendar for fixtures

Now this is one that is not only great for the player but the rest of the family too as it can be hung for everyone to see. Having a calendar hung with all the fixtures and training sessions on just means there is no confusion leading to double booking or even turning up at the wrong place at the wrong time. If there are multiple players in the family why not get a family calendar with multiple columns for each player broken into times so there is no confusion over where everyone is meant to be and lifts can be arranged if needed so no one misses out on game day.

Grip Socks

Grip socks have really taken over in the world of football and the majority of players these days are seen wearing them with sock sleeves or the feet of their club socks cut out. They stop your feet sliding around in your boot and just provide a fit that a club sock might not, I know I personally prefer grip socks over normal ones as I just feel that bit more secure. These would be the perfect stocking filler for any player and if you check out GripSockz and use the code EDGEOFTHEAREA20 you can get some money off your order.

Team merchandise

Most teams these days have their own merchandise so why not get the player kitted out in their clubs colours whether it is for day to day wear, training or pre-match. Typically clubs offer hats, t-shirts and hoodies so why not see what the club offers and pick up a few pieces for the player. Not only are you helping the player represent their club you will also be helping the club as the funds will no doubt go to them.

Training wear

If the player doesn't have a specific training kit they have to wear a nice shirt and shorts set might help them head into the second half of the season with a bit more confidence. Alternatively if the player heads to the gym outside of football training a nice set for this will come in handy and just give them something different to wear rather than wearing the clubs training kit every session.

Massage gun

Now this is a great idea especially for us older players who might ache the day after games or training sessions however, it would also be great for those constantly training. There is nothing worse than waking up with your legs aching when you know you are going to be training again the next day. A massage gun can be used post game/training session to loosen those muscles and try reduce the intensity of the aches and pains. Massage guns used to to cost an absolute fortune but these days you can pick them up at various prices.

Care package

A little care package would be nice especially if a player is out injured. It could be filled with treats, books or things to simply help pass the time on the sidelines until they are recovered, a little basket filled with all the players favourite things would be sure to brighten up their Christmas. For those still playing it could be filled with novelty but useful bits such as plasters, deep heat, hand warmers and hot drinks sachets just for them to keep in their bag throughout the remainder of the season.

Medical supplies

If you don't fancy going down the care package routine and fancy some stocking fillers for the player when not pick them up some medical supplies that they can keep to hand seen as knocks are part and parcel of the game. There are a few different bits that any player would be happy to be stocked up on such as heat packs, deep heat, deep freeze, plasters of all kinds and even bandages, if the player usually has energy gels in a game these could also be used as a stocking filler.

Boot buddy

There is nothing worse than muddy boots so a Boot Buddy or any other boot cleaner would definitely help out any player you are purchasing for. Here in the UK you never seem to be able to escape the mud and if left it just makes a real mess of your boots which are too expensive to get ruined these days. The Boot Buddy is a really inexpensive gift that can make cleaning those boots a whole lot easier than using the standard products. This is definitely going onto my own Christmas wish list.

Boot bag or Kit bag

All these new items need somewhere to live so why not treat the player to a new boot bag or kit bag that is big enough to store everything in. Again you can possibly get a team bag or Nike & Miss Kick have some great options to cover all basis. These will vary in price so it depends what type you are after but a new bag for the new year would be great for the player heading into the second half of the season as it isn't always something the player would think of upgrading themselves.

New boots

Possibly the most obvious gift idea is a pair of new boots to go into the second half of the season with a nice fresh pair. Boots have definitely shot up in price but you can find them at a mixture price points so there is something for every budget. What player doesn't want to open a fresh pair of boots at Christmas? Just make sure you know what surface they are needed for.

So there you have it that is our women's football player gift guide, check back next week to see our fans gift guide with plenty of ideas for those who love to spend their time watching the game. There are plenty of options to treat the footballer in your life to at various price points whether it is a stocking filler or a main gift there is something for everyone. If you play football what would you love to receive this Christmas?