The trainers of choice could be narrowed to one brand – Adidas. The latest styles were only available in the sports shops in Europe.

For the film, set in 1979, it was vitally important to have trainers from that year.

"The fashions were evolving constantly," says Dave, a printer, whose son Daniel, 20, starred in the film wearing his vintage Adidas 1977 ST2 padded cagoule.

"Young lads would come back from pre-season games in 78-79 in Switzerland, and that would start another take on the fashion, and it would be, ‘where did you get that from?’.

"Things were developing that quickly, something might have been desirable for a month, then something else came back from abroad and that became more desirable. By 1981, everyone knew all these trainers were coming back from Europe."

He knew the trainers worn in the film were all-important. Thousands of men of a certain age can still recall a period of being obsessed with their Trim Trabbs and Grand Slams with three pegs.

"In 1979, the trainers in the film are Forest Hills in gold with yellow soles, Ille Nastase’s, Barringtons and Tom Okker’s. Everyone was wearing a Peter Storm cagoule and a V-neck Fred Perry or Slazenger."

Dave’s first trainer lust hit at 14 – he yearned after a pair of 1977 Sambas. "In those days, your mum and dad bought your clothes. I went on about wanting a pair of Sambas. They came back with black Mitres. I got a part-time job on a milk round and had to save up to buy my own."

His most successful foray abroad was with Liverpool to the European Cup Final, against Real Madrid.

"We went to Paris in 1981 because Liverpool had got to the European Cup final.

"England were playing in Switzerland two days after, so we bumped the train and travelled down to Basle. From there, you could walk across the border into a small town in Germany and pick up Adidas Grand Slam from the local sports shop.

"Once I got them it was fantastic, because not a lot of people would have those in Liverpool. There wasn’t a lot in Paris at the time; I think I got a pair of Kickers. So the lads going home from Paris wouldn’t have had them. You didn’t talk about them – I don’t know if that’s a man thing – but people would look at what was on your feet."

Soon the craze spread to wearing sports clothes, too. Cagoules, ski-jumpers and jackets and tracksuits were all European brands like Fila and Toccini, bought from abroad.

Within three years, the Liverpool street culture that had started with having a pair of jeans from Great Homer Street Market before everyone else, meant having a pair of trainers only available from Germany, or a tracksuit from Italy that was impossible for anyone else to get.

Canny entrepreneur David Wade Smith was quick to spot a business opportunity. He opened up his own shop in Slater Street in 1982, selling Adidas trainers he’d brought back from Germany.

"It changed the High Street. Agents in London would go to Europe to buy the latest models to sell them to independent retailers on the High Street," adds Dave

It was a cultural tidal wave in Merseyside, and it was on the verge of spreading out across Britain.

Tranmere follower Kevin Sampson had written to The Face about what was happening in 1982. He still has the rejection letter. Editor Steve Taylor implied that, as this was a youth cult he didn't recognise, it was too marginal for the magazine. By 1983, they couldn’t ignore the phenomenon any longer, and they ran his feature. Dave was already writing the book.

"By 1983, even the Kop was looking well-dressed," says Dave. "It was mainstream."

Today, its mark is left on the generation-crossing trend to wear the most scientifically developed outdoors clothing for a day out shopping. Witness the popularity of extreme cold brands like North Face and ski and surf brand O’Neills.

Remarks Dave: "The kids walking around today in their designer tracksuits with their hands down the front of their pants have no idea that, before 1978, trainers and tracksuits were for people who actually did sport."

Arguably, it was the last great clothing popular revolution.

"For kids who were unemployed, it was a form of escapism. It was a bit rebellious too, if you were 16-19, just like it was in the early days of Mods or Rockers or Punks.

"It was the last great revolution in clothing. There was no outside influence. No media or celebrity or musician was telling us what to wear. It just came from us, from friends. I can’t see that ever happening again."

THE Liverpool Boys Are In Town: The Birth of Terrace Culture costs £8.99 and is available from Waterstones, Zavvi, HMV and Microzine.

FOR clips of the movie, go to www.awaydaysthemovie.com/movie-clips.html

Critical acclaim for Awaydays movie  >>>>>>>>>>>