Football Shirts - A brief history of the Football Shirt
Football shirts have changed dramatically since the early days
of the game in 1863.
Then, they were made of heavy duty cotton with buttoned collars and
no numbers! Numbers on the back of football shirts were only introduced
76 years later in 1939, though they were used previously in matches between Arsenal and Chelsea back in 1928.
In that game, player’s shirts were numbered to a specific plan:
- Goalkeeper
- Right full back (right side centre back)
- Left full back (left side centre back)
- Right half back (right side defensive midfield)
- Centre half back (centre defensive midfield)
- Left half back (left side defensive midfield)
- Outside right (right winger)
- Inside right (attacking midfield)
- Centre forward
- Inside left (attacking midfield)
- Outside left (left winger)
This was the number pattern that was to more or less stay the same on football shirts till the present day.
FIFA adopted football shirt numbers for the 1954 World Cup, insisting all team players were numbered, and the rest was history.
There have been changes though. In 1965 a change in football rules allowed the use of substitutes for the first time (though only to replace injured players - changed in 1966 to allow substitutes for any reason). These substitutes would use the numbers 12 and 14 on the back of their shirts. There was also allowed a substitute goalkeeper who was assigned the number 13, though they are allowed a different shirt number if they are superstitious!
In the 1993 League Cup Final, the final change occurred when player’s names were allowed to be added along with the number on the back of football shirts. This was adopted by FIFA at the 1994 World Cup, so that today; you can not only tell the position of the player by their number, but also their name by a quick glance to the back of their football shirt.
Being one of the most popular (if not the most popular) watched sport in the UK, the evolution of the numbering system on the back of football shirts, and the changing designs and team sponsors, has made a massive industry in souvenir football shirts and the rest of the kit. 
Originally, all you could was to wear your team’s favourite colours, today, you can profess your love and admiration for individual players in your favourite football teams by buying replica football shirts. Indeed, the sale of football shirts and kit is an important part of the way football teams make money. As well as adult football shirts, you can buy football shirts for your children, and hopefully guide them to follow your team (though it doesn't always work out that way!).
Whether you are an ardent and passionate football devotee, or a casual fan, wearing your team's colours has become an integral part of the game.
More Football Shirt and Football Kit Info:
Football Shirts - A brief history of the Football Shirt
New Football Kits
A Short History of Football Kits
Retro Football Shirts
Cheap Football Shirts