NUMBERED SHIRTS

 August 25th was a day that  football took a large step towards numeric organisation. 

In 1928 when Sheffield Wednesday beat Arsenal 3-2 on the opening day of the new season, the crowd saw the two teams run out on to the pitch with numbers on their backs. The players were numbered 1-22. At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea and Swansea Town (as the club was then called) did the same. Chelsea won 4-0, wearing black numbers on a white patch. All clubs were told to stop doing this with immediate effect by the FA and League but Herbert Chapman, the great manager of that era, was not happy with this "waste", so he had his reserves wear the numbered kit.

Chelsea then toured South America introducing the numbered kit to their opponents who nicknamed Chelsea as "Los Numerados".

Numbering gradually crept into the game and in the 1933 FA Cup Final Everton players wore 1-11 and Manchester City 12-22. (note there were no subs), presumably to avoid confusion. 

Everton (see below) were not confused for they won 3-0. 

The players lined up in a 5 forwards-3 halves-2 backs + 1 goalie! formation. Starting from the goalie, the numbers were given out serially: Goalkeeper (number one), Right full back (number two), Left full back (number three) were solid defenders who operated behind the HALVES.... Right HALF or defensive midfielder (number four), Centre Half... defensive central midfielder (number five), Left Half or defensive midfielder (number 6). 

Then forwards included a Right winger (number seven), Inside forward on right (number eight), Centre forward (number nine), Inside forward on left (number ten), Left winger (number eleven). There were no subs of course in the early days.

A week later (6th May) Everton, the "Toffees" wore the same kit in the league game v Wolves, but it was not until 1939 that the League Management Committee eventually voted in the official wearing of numbers. 

The war then got in the way so by 1946/7 numbers were used for the first time by all clubs (although the "cost" of providing new numbered kits was a problem and spoilt the colours apparently!).

England's first venture into numbered shirts on the 17 April 1937 in a loss to Scotland at Hampden Park Glasgow.

FIFA did not insist on numbers on World Cup shirts until 1954.

Retiring shirt numbers became a bit of a trend but inevitably a club could end up with "no sensible numbers" to use. However Maradona's shirt for Napoli number 10 was hung up for good, as was Baggio's 10 at Brescia, Maldini's 3 at AC Milan and for Chelsea (to complete the circle) Zola's 25. Understandable.

Some shirt numbers given to modern day players have been totally inappropriate especially when legends such as Pele, Stanley Matthews, Bobby Moore and Johnny White (yes the 1960's Spurs player) might have had their numbers welded onto their backs. Can you number them?

Oops, not him. Doh!!!

Of course, now the numbering system for a club's squad system is decided by commerce, clubs, players and various other individuals.

ANSWER? 10. 7. 6. 8.