I once saw a movie when I was on a plane, or in a motel, perhaps when
travelling overseas about a kid who finds some soccer (footbol) shoes.
 These shoes made him play really well, etc, etc.  This was before the
movie "Like Mike".  And so I was amazed when "Like Mike" came out. 
But now I can't remember the name of the movie.  Can you help?

I believe you're remembering "There's Only One Jimmy Grimble."

Here are some plot summaries:

"Jimmy is a teenager who has all the usual worries of a teenager -
bullies, girls, stepfathers and so on. However Jimmy also has the
pressures of making it into his school football team as well as being
one of the few City fans in a world full of Man Utd fans. When Jimmy
gets a pair of old boots, things seem to turn around for him,
coinciding with the school desperately needing the funds that an
appearance in the final would bring."

Internet Movie Database
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0238660/

"today at school we watched this movie called 'theres only one jimmy
grimble'. it was really cool, different, but cool. it was about this
boy, jimmy, who sucks at soccer, but one day he finds these shoes that
make him play soccer really well."

Blurty
http://www.blurty.com/talkpost.bml?journal=ch3rrieo&itemid=876 

"Desperate to prove himself, Jimmy accepts a battered old pair of
football boots from a kind homeless woman (Jane Lapotaire), who claims
they used to belong to a legendary City striker called Robbie Brewer.

Gordon is injured in the first match against the thuggish Wreckingham
and Jimmy is drafted in as his replacement.

To everyone's amazement (not least his own), Jimmy scores the winning
goal and the team move forward to the next round."

Tiscali Film & TV
http://www.tiscali.co.uk/entertainment/film/reviews/theres_only_one_jimmy_grimble.html

"It looks like Jimmy will be riding the bench for a while. But when an
old woman gives Jimmy a pair of shoes that once belonged to one of
Manchester City's greatest players, his skills on the field begin to
change."

MSN Movies
http://movies.msn.com/movies/movie.aspx?m=467640

Google search strategy:

Google Web Search: "there's only one jimmy grimble" 
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22there%27s+only+one+jimmy+grimble%22

I hope this is helpful. If this is not the correct movie, or if
anything is unclear or incomplete, please request clarification; I'll
be glad to offer further assistance before you rate my answer.

Best regards,
pinkfreud