In the fast-paced world of gambling, bookmakers are always on the lookout for captivating new ways to part you from your cash. One such method that was widely popular in the past was betting on shirt numbers.
Shirt number betting involves placing wagers on the combined sum of the shirt numbers of the players who score goals during a match. This type of betting was prevalent in the era when shirt numbers were limited to numbers 1-11, with only a few outliers in larger squads. The idea was to predict the sum of the numbers of the goal scorers and place your bet accordingly.
How Shirt Number Betting Works
For instance, in a match between Arsenal and Manchester United, a bookmaker may set the shirt spread at 27-30. You can bet on whether the goal scorers’ shirt numbers will add up to less than 27 or more than 30. For instance, if you anticipate a high-scoring match, you may place your wager on over 30. If the sum of the shirt numbers of the goal scorers is greater than 30, you win.
Shirt number betting was a challenging market. As modern squads grew in size, shirt numbers became increasingly unpredictable. The requirement for starting line-ups to use numbers 1-11 no longer exists. Players can now wear any number between 1-99, provided it is unique within the team.
Consequently, some players have high shirt numbers, particularly if they are not part of the regular squad. The highest number worn in English football was during an EFL cup match between Aston Villa and Liverpool, with Tom Hill wearing the number 99 shirt.
Shirt Betting No Longer Available with Traditional Bookies
Regrettably, bookmakers have struggled to provide accurate spreads for shirt number betting due to the unpredictable nature of shirt numbers. With potential goal scorers donning anything from 1 to 99, offering realistic odds has posed a significant challenge.
As a result, shirt number betting is now almost impossible to offer as a betting option by most traditional bookmakers.
However, specialized spread betting companies offer shirt number betting as a viable option.
Shirt Number Wagers with Spread Betting Firms
In traditional fixed-odds betting, the punter places a bet on a particular outcome, and if the outcome occurs, they receive a payout based on the odds at the time the bet was placed. In contrast, spread betting involves placing a bet on the outcome above or below a spread set by the spread betting firm. The payout is determined by the size of the stake and the distance between the outcome and the spread.
The potential losses and gains in spread betting are unlimited and can be significantly greater than the initial bet amount, while in fixed odds betting, the potential losses and gains are predetermined at the time the bet is placed.
Additionally, spread betting companies may require punters to deposit margin money, which is a percentage of the total stake, to cover potential losses. This means punters may have to deposit more money than the original stake, increasing the potential for larger losses.
In summary, while spread betting offers the potential for higher payouts than traditional fixed-odds betting, punters can lose more money due to the potential for unlimited losses and the requirement for margin money. It is crucial for punters to understand the risks involved in spread betting and to manage their positions carefully.
The History of Shirt Numbers
The use of numbered jerseys in football dates back to 1911, when Sydney Leichardt and HMS Powerful, two Australian teams, were the first to introduce squad numbers on their backs. A year later, numbering in football became mandatory in New South Wales.
In Europe, the first recorded use of numbered shirts occurred on 25 August 1928, when The Wednesday played Arsenal, and Chelsea hosted Swansea Town at Stamford Bridge. The players were assigned numbers based on their field location, with the goalkeeper wearing number 1.
When Chelsea toured Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil at the end of the season in the summer of 1929, they also wore numbered shirts, earning the nickname “Los Numerados” (“the numbered”) from locals.
BOYLESPORTS OFFER
BET £10 GET £20 IN FREE BETS
New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile exclusive. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Payment method restrictions. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. Full T&Cs apply. 18+ begambleaware.org. #ad. Please bet responsibly.
A similar numbering system was used in the 1933 FA Cup Final between Everton and Manchester City. However, it was not until the 1939-40 season that The Football League mandated using squad numbers for each player.
Modern Shirt Numbering
In 1993, The Football Association (The FA) made a significant change to their numbering system for football players. They moved away from the mandatory use of the 1-11 numbering system for the starting line-up and introduced persistent squad numbers instead. This meant that players were assigned a specific number they would keep throughout the season, regardless of whether they were in the starting line-up or on the bench.
The first league event to feature persistent squad numbers was the 1993 Football League Cup Final between Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday. This change became standard in the FA Premier League the following season, with players’ names printed above their numbers.
This new numbering system made it easier for fans to identify their favourite players and provided more stability for the players themselves. It also allowed for more personalized shirts, as fans could now have their favourite player’s name and number printed on the back of their jersey.
Overall, the switch to persistent squad numbers was a positive change for English football and has become the standard across many leagues worldwide.
[insert page=’x-snippets/betfairsport_mainpagesofferbox’ display=’content’ av_uid=’av-2sppqb’]
