Traditional Squad Numbers: A Comparison with the Present
Squad numbers at the back of player’s backs were first used on August 25, 1928, in a match between Wednesday (now Sheffield Wednesday) and Arsenal. From then on, until as late as 1993, squad numbers were assigned according to the position on the field that the player played on a match day and were usually ranging from 1-11 for the starting line-up and from 12-16 for the substitutes. The following was the traditional method of squad numbers:-
1.Goalkeeper
2. Right full back (right side center back)
3. Left full back (left side center back)
4. Right half back (right side defensive midfield)
5. Centre half back (centre defensive midfield)
6. Left half back (left side defensive midfield)
7. Outside right (right winger)
8. Inside right (attacking midfield)
9. Centre forward
10. Inside left (attacking midfield)
11. Outside left (left winger) When substitutes were introduced to the game in 1965, the first substitute wore the number 12 before going on to the field, the second number 13 or 14 and so forth. Substitutes were no compelled to wear the number 13 if they were superstitious.
The late great George Best had played wearing various numbers. He wore the numbers 8 and 10 often whilst playing just behind the strikers as an attacking midfielder. In his debut season and the last couple of seasons at United, he wore the number 11 shirt usually playing as a left winger. He even wore the number 9 jersey once for United, with Bobby Charlton injured, on 22 March 1969 at Old Trafford, scoring the only goal in a 1–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday. Though his most famous squad number known till date is the number 7 which he wore during the 1966-68 period, playing as the right winger. This was the time United won the famous first European Cup under Sir Matt Busby in 1968 at Wembley. This squad number has passed on to many of the most talented and prosperous players who played at Manchester United, such as Steve Coppell in the 1970s, who anchored United through the
1.Goalkeeper
2. Right full back (right side center back)
3. Left full back (left side center back)
4. Right half back (right side defensive midfield)
5. Centre half back (centre defensive midfield)
6. Left half back (left side defensive midfield)
7. Outside right (right winger)
8. Inside right (attacking midfield)
9. Centre forward
10. Inside left (attacking midfield)
11. Outside left (left winger) When substitutes were introduced to the game in 1965, the first substitute wore the number 12 before going on to the field, the second number 13 or 14 and so forth. Substitutes were no compelled to wear the number 13 if they were superstitious.
The late great George Best had played wearing various numbers. He wore the numbers 8 and 10 often whilst playing just behind the strikers as an attacking midfielder. In his debut season and the last couple of seasons at United, he wore the number 11 shirt usually playing as a left winger. He even wore the number 9 jersey once for United, with Bobby Charlton injured, on 22 March 1969 at Old Trafford, scoring the only goal in a 1–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday. Though his most famous squad number known till date is the number 7 which he wore during the 1966-68 period, playing as the right winger. This was the time United won the famous first European Cup under Sir Matt Busby in 1968 at Wembley. This squad number has passed on to many of the most talented and prosperous players who played at Manchester United, such as Steve Coppell in the 1970s, who anchored United through the