We are (just about) aware that shirt numbers are not the most important thing about football. In their most basic terms, they are merely functional, helping to identify players, though history has helped to build a mystique around certain numbers.
An acceptance of which numbers are right for certain positions mean that instances of the ‘wrong’ numbers can jar, while first-team regulars who wear, say, 31 or 37 (Bastian Schweinsteiger and Martin Skrtel, even though you may not have asked) can evoke irrational feelings of ire.
On this blog, we will look at notable incidents involving numbering as they happen and also run ‘archive’ pieces.