Although everybody is now used to soccer players wearing their name and squad number on the back of their jerseys[female soccer jersey], this was not always the case. In the early days of the game, it was normal practice for players to take to the field with nothing emblazoned on the back of their shirts.
Adding numbers – player names would come much later with the advent of squad numbers – was an innovation intended to help spectators understand the exact position on a field of a particular player.
There is some dispute about when the practice was first introduced. There are examples of it being used in Australian soccer as early as 1911, and in a pre-war amateur match in England between the English Wanderers and the Corinthians.
Argentina is believed to be the first country to adopt the practice locally, but the first recorded use in an accredited league was in August 1928, when Sheffield Wednesday played Arsenal.
Numbers were strictly allocated according to the location of a player on the field. Number one was the goalkeeper, two and three reserved for the two full-backs and four and five used by the centre-half pairing. Number nine was always the centre-forward, whilst seven and eleven were associated with the right and the left-wing, respectively.
Until the mid-1960s this simple system sufficed because there were no substitutes allowed. Even when they were introduced, they would be allocated higher numbers – 12, 14, 15, for example. Many clubs and players refused to allow a player to take the field wearing the number 13 shirt, though, because it is associated with bad luck.
Numbering jerseys in sequential number order was practical. It meant that if a player was injured or out of form, a player could be slotted into a team in his position, either wearing the same shirt or at least with the same number.
And, in the days before commercialisation of the game, there was no money to be made selling replica shirts with any particular number on it. Indeed, parents would often sew children’s favourite numbers on the back of jerseys themselves.
Squad numbers – 1 to 23 – were first used in the 1950 World Cup, although Argentina chose an unusual method of assigning numbers to players for the World Cups between 1974 and 1982, with numbers allocated according to surname order, with the exception of Diego Maradona who was given the number 10 shirt.
And, when Brazil forgot to give their players squad numbers for the 1958 World Cup, a FIFA official randomly did it for them, handing the number 10 shirt to a 17-year old called Pelé.
In 1993 the FA decided to abandon the traditional system in favour of squad numbers, with Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday again the pioneers in the League Cup Final of that year. By 1999 it was compulsory through the Football League in England, and leagues around the world followed suit.
Now players may wear any number on the back of their jersey, provided it falls within the range 1 – 99.
However, some players have worn numbers higher than that for commemorative purposes. For example, Mexican player Jesus Arellano took to the field with the number 400 on is back in 1998 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the city of Monterrey. A number of players – Martin Jørgensen of Denmark, Andreas Herzog of Austria, and Aaron Mokoena of South Africa – have donned 100 to celebrate a century of international caps for their country. And when Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt took part in a charity match at Old Trafford in 2018, his shirt number was 9.58, in honour of his 100 meters world record time.
Certain shirt numbers are more popular than others, with number seven, nine and ten amongst the most enduring, because they have been worn by some of the most skilful players of the game in the past. They often generate the most in merchandising revenue as a result also.
At a club like Manchester United, for example, some of the greatest players in the club’s recent history have worn the number seven shirt – George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona, David Beckham, and Cristiano Ronaldo. Seven is also popular because in a number of cultures it is traditionally associated with luck – soccer players are notoriously superstitious.
Meanwhile number nine is always associated with strikers, like Alan Shearer, Samuel Eto’o and, from the current generation of players, the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema. As for the number ten that has been graced by some of the greatest players ever to play the game – Maradona, Pelé, Lionel Messi, Zinedine Zidane, and Dennis Bergkamp to name but a few.
Another jersey number that has become synonymous with skilful players is number 14. This was first popularised by Johann Cruyff when he was at Ajax, and he insisted on wearing it when he went to Barcelona and whilst playing for the Dutch national team. Later, Thierry Henry chose the number when he went to Arsenal and broke the club’s goalscoring record, and his successor, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, has also opted to wear it.
A recent fashion for star players is to wear the number 23. This is in homage to basketball legend Michael Jordan and is the number that he wore for the Chicago Bulls in his playing days. David Beckham, Thiago Motta, and Wesley Sneijder are just some of the many men who have chosen this number.
Finally, there are certain numbers which have been retired by certain clubs in honour of players who have had long and glorious histories with the team. This practice, which has been borrowed from North American sports, only became possible when sequential numbering was abandoned in favour of squad numbers.
Some of the best-known examples are West Ham and the number six shirt, associated with Bobby Moore, who captained England to World-Cup success in 1966; number three as AC Milan retired it to honor club legend Paolo Maldini; and the number 10 shirt at Napoli, forever associated with Diego Maradona’s time at the club.
CHIGO makes its mark on the regional take-out/delivery foodservice model, offering its popular fresh, local, and organic Chinese cuisine to over 20 towns throughout lower Westchester and Fairfield Counties, including Greenwich, Bedford, Rye, and Dobbs Ferry. The CHIGO concept is created by the same team that brought real Chinese cuisine into the area in the form of China White, WUJI, and LuLu restaurants originally introduced in Greenwich, CT and Rye and Scarsdale, NY.
CHIGO’s authentic, and highly researched recipes utilize traditional preparations and incorporate only organic, hormone-free chicken, pasture-raised pork, grass-fed beef, wild-caught fish, cage-free chicken eggs, Chinatown noodles, and organic vegetables. The food is as pure and natural as it can get, ensuring no MSG and high-fat fallout. Instead, CHIGO presents a more vibrant and fresh approach to Chinese cuisine for how people are eating today.
Favorites include; organic Heritage pork spare ribs with honey-plum glaze; spicy beef bao buns with crispy onion and wasabi mayonnaise; lo mein noodles stir-fried with vegetables and sesame ginger sauce; Cantonese roast chicken with crispy garlic and shallots; spicy fried rice topped with a soft egg; ginger and scallion wok lobster; and classic Peking duck served with green onion, cucumber, hoisin sauce, and pancakes.
OPEN EVERYDAY 5PM-10PM
Download the CHIGO App: CHIGO Chinese
Website: www.eatchigo.com
Place your order for pick-up/delivery: (914) 495-3323
Pick-up: 58 Saw Mill River Road, Hawthorne, New York 10532
UberEATS is available too!
Many cancer symptoms mimic the symptoms of other diseases, so it is easy for anyone to be misled. All doctors agree on one thing though: Get to know your body and if you notice any unusual pain or change that gets worse, see your doctor. If you have already had a diagnosis then you may want to spread further awareness to other women. Here are some signs you should not ignore.
Photo: Unsplash
Bleeding after menopause
It is not uncommon for some women to have some bleeding after menopause. But if menstrual bleeding starts suddenly and persists, then it could be a warning sign of uterine cancer. The good news is that women diagnosed with stage 1 uterine cancer and while the cancer had not metastasized had a five-year survival rate of up to 88%.
Breast discoloration, or other changes
Women usually panic when they grab something in their breast. However, any change in the breast can be a symptom of cancer. If you notice that the skin of the breast changes color, gets a deeper red or pink, then you should consult your doctor, says Rich Wender of the American Cancer Society. “Not all signs are necessarily cancer but that is why women are slow to seek help because they hope it is nothing.”
Stomach pain or nausea
Stomach aches are so common that it rarely means that one of them is a sign of cancer.
But if you notice persistent stomach cramps or suddenly feel nauseous all the time and have no signs of improvement, then consult a doctor. It can be a simple ulcer, but it could also be a symptom of leukemia or cancer of the esophagus, liver, pancreas or colon.
Frequent fevers or infections
If you are healthy, but notice that you often get sick often, or have a fever often, this could be an early symptom of leukemia. In any case, a fever that does not go away for days must be examined where it comes from and treated. Do not put any of the symptoms down to poor mental health.
Difficulty swallowing
A sore throat can cause difficulty swallowing, but if you notice that it persists for a few weeks and gets worse, see your doctor. This is a common sign of stomach cancer and can also be an early sign of lung cancer.
Types of treatments you may encounter
Depending on the type of cancer you have, you may have some treatment choices, aside from chemotherapy and radiation as well as surgery, there are some other options. Proton cancer treatment has been used for many years and can be a preferred choice – you should look into its benefits and how it could help. Immunotherapy is also another option. Immunotherapy stimulates the patient’s immune system and teaches it to target and attack cancer cells. This is achieved by immunostimulating the patient’s body with agents that act in various ways, such as e.g. vaccines that train the body to recognize cancer cells and destroy them. Our body’s immune system functions as a monitoring system to protect against what it perceives as foreign substances. For example, when our immune system detects harmful bacteria or a virus in our body, it reacts by producing specific proteins (antibodies) that attack and destroy the invaders. Our immune system also treats cancer cells as foreign invaders, but due to some system failure it often does not recognize the cancer cells. For years, researchers have been looking for ways to improve the body’s natural defense response to cancer cells.
The wait is over….Wegman’s is opening in Harrison in 2 Days!!!! The doors will open on Wednesday, August 5th at 9:00. I just got back from a tour of the new store and you are going to LOVE it…It is 121,000 square feet with every isle offering “choice, quality and value”. Wegmans is committed to bringing items, with their brand name, that are either organic or food that you feel good about meaning, no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. The store is full of plenty of “EZ Meals”; ones that will help you bring home, delicious and healthy food choices when you are short on time. And lastly Wegmans’ is a trusted partner with over 400 local family farms to bring you the freshest and best quality ingredients. The Wegmans team wants every shopping experience to be a genuine pleasure for its customers.
Here is a note on the store’s safety procedures during these challenging times:
To ensure a safe environment for all our employees and customers, we’re committed to going above and beyond what is required. We have enhanced our sanitation of high-contact touchpoints and increased the frequency of our everyday sanitation practices. Hand sanitizer stations are available throughout the store and our cashiers are asked to sanitize their workspace and hands regularly. Plexiglas® shields are also installed at all our registers and will be installed in additional areas, as well. We encourage all customers and employees to be respectful of social distancing guidelines. To help, we’ve placed visual indicators at our registers and throughout the store.
Here is a sneak peak of the new store:
I was so impressed with all the produce choices…
Look at all the chopped Veggies….
And bagged Veggies…….
Fabulous lettuces…..
Everyone told me about the amazing prepared foods…they were still setting up but OMG>>>>Look at these yummy salads…and there were tons and tons….
All types of cooked chicken, fried, baked, BBQ……
And entire section of Asian entrees….
Italian..including a Pizza oven….
The Bakery smelled so good..they were making the cutest mini tiered wedding looking cakes, unfortunately, they put them in the kitchen for packaging when I went back to take a photo..you have to check them out!!!!
I loved that there were cooking gadgets available all around the store…this is going to be dangerous!!!
The Cheese and Charcuterie section was BEYOND……..I cannot wait to go back and sample somethings!!!!!
LOVED this section….
This photo does not do the isles justice but everything was arranged so perfectly and neatly….it must have taken HOURS!!!
There is a massive section devoted to all types of craft beers including ones esp from NY State!!! I see a beer tasting in my husband’s future!!!!
No shortage of cleaning supplies here…
There was another section devoted to home decor and table top/cooking products. I was told it changes for the season…OMG!!! I cannot wait..Right up my ally!!!!!
These mixing bowls were dreamy…I am going back just for this set…..
The Bambu bamboo plates have been a favorite of mine for years..I am obsessed!!!!
Back to the food….OMG!! These ice cream sandwiches….
There is a Burger Bar at one end of the store and I hear it is delicious…..and a great dinner spot..
The seating area was clean and well spaced…its a great meeting place and place to get some work done…
Very smart….they skip every other table for distant seating…
Here is the coffee bar…..
Who wants to meet me for a Lavender Latte?
Stephanie Hoover…LOOK at these flowers…..OMG!! I can see your incredible arrangements now……Cannot wait for the videos…check them out at @stephanie_asher
And these were only $4
Safety measures in action…
For companies big and small, one of the most important factors of effective marketing is to reach your target market. Your products and services are designed for a certain group of people, but you must reach them to get their support. This takes a lot of time and effort, but here are three creative steps to help you reach your audience with more accuracy.
1. Know Who They Are
Start by knowing who you should be targeting. Create a persona for your target market. Look at ages, income brackets, ethnicities and education. Also, look at shared hobbies or interests. Once you have a solid idea of who and where your target market is, you can dig deep.
2. Be Engaging
Even if you know how to reach your audience, you must get their attention too. Do this with creative marketing strategies. Sending a postcard for real estate marketing is a great way to catch the attention of leads. Social media is another marketing platform where you can drop ads, build up a following and interact with potential clients.
3. Add a Personal Twist
In anything you do, help customers and leads know that you care. The more “human” side you show in the business helps build trust and develop relationships. Refine your brand voice, build up the image of the company and interact as much as you can with the people you are catering to. It’s important to have a strong customer service team that can answer questions and help customers with their needs.
As you actively seek ways to reach your target market, you will also be improving your brand image. People will start to recognize who you are, and you can slowly become an expert in your industry. Find creative ways to show your customers that you care.
Photo by Jasmine Carter from Pexels
If you know a couple that have just got engaged or you are invited to a shower or an upcoming wedding, you might be wondering what gift you can give them to help celebrate the milestone. Even though on their birthdays or Christmas you get them each a special gift, because it’s a couple gift and the start of their lives together, it needs to be that bit more magical.
But it can be hard to find the perfect gift that you know they’ll love. So to give you some inspiration, here are 15 wonderful ideas you can use – no matter what your preferences or your budget!
- A ‘Wedding Fund’ Box
As the couple is now engaged and planning a life in the future together, it’s likely that they will want to start to save for their dream wedding. Which is why it’s a fabulous idea to get them a ‘wedding fund’ box. These stylish and practical gifts are the perfect gift, allowing them to put dollar notes or whatever money they want into it throughout the years.
Then, when it comes time to finalizing all the details, they will have the money within easy reach! There are a variety of options available online – from money boxes that are ideal for Disney fans to more subtle ones for the more minimalist couple.
- A Wedding Planner
Not an actual person (although you could technically gift them a physical wedding planner if you want to!) this book is not only a wonderful gift, but very useful leading up to the wedding day. It can also be kept as a memory of the milestone for many years to come!
You could even customize the book to include the brides and grooms names if you wanted to add an extra special touch to it.
- A Weekend Away
Although this is probably only suitable if you’re close to the couple, that doesn’t mean that it won’t go down a treat! To give them some time away just the two of them after this event, this gift will be one that they cherish forever.
No matter whether you book accomodation and travel separately to a romantic destination or a more affordable package, there’s plenty of options out there for you to choose from.
- Champagne Glasses
To toast this fabulous occasion a great gift is champagne glasses. To mark the date of their engagement, you could even opt for a personalized version – but the choice is up to you!
Whatever style glasses you opt for, they are bound to have the happy couple grinning ear to ear when they open them. And to accompany them, you could purchase some prosecco or champagne!
- A Photobook
If you have known the couple for several years, you could gather together photos of them and all the adventures that they have been on and put them all together in a photobook.
Complete with a heartfelt message, this is a gift that’s sentimental. And it’s also one that’s more budget-friendly, as you can easily create the whole book by yourself – all you need is a blank scrapbook and printed pictures!
- A House Plant
A fabulous engagement gift idea for the modern couple is a houseplant. Whether you opt for a traditional snake plant, yukka or a chinese money plant (find guidance on the chinese money plant care here), the couple will love the quirkiness of the idea!
Something that they can keep in their home for years, they are available from a variety of online florists and can be delivered straight to their door!
- Engraved Cheese Board
Who doesn’t love cheese? A practical and extraordinary engagement gift is an engraved cheese board. Something that they will proudly display in their home and bring out when guests come to visit, you can pair it with cheese cutting utensils or a bottle of delicious red wine.
Available in various sizes and styles, a cheese board is an item that every couple will love to have.
- Countdown Sign
Even though they’ve only just gotten engaged, that doesn’t mean that wedding bells aren’t ringing in the near future! To get them in the spirit, a countdown sign is just the ticket.
And when they’ve planned their wedding and have a date, they can use it to get the festivities started! There are so many variations of this gift idea, from chalkboards, to movable blocks and signs with an erasable white board to choose from.
- Treasured Location Poster
No matter where they got engaged – whether it was on a romantic weekend away or doing an activity they love, you can commemorate this occasion through a poster that displays the exact location. A gift that’s not only special not but will be fondly admired in the future, it’s a keepsake that they will undeniably appreciate.
- Candles
Candles aren’t just great gifts at christmas – they are also a wonderful engagement gift too! When they are in a jar that’s got the date or the couple’s names on, it’s something that they can keep and reuse throughout the years. Plus, it will make their home feel cosy and welcome while giving off a beautiful scent!
- A Personalized Cushion
Another great gift and addition to their living room/bedroom would be a personalized cushion! You can be as creative or as subtle as you want with this
gift – and it’s one that you know they will make use of!
- A Gift Experience
If you want to treat them to an experience that they will never forget but you don’t have the budget for a full weekend away, why not opt for a gift experience instead?
No matter whether you choose a magical hot air balloon ride, a delicious wine tasting, a delicious food tour or another type of experience, the couple will love the thought that you put into this gift. Also, because there are so many different experience days on offer across the world, you’ll be able to find the perfect one for the couple in question.
- Vow Journals
If you’re looking for a gift that will knock it out of the park, then vow journals are the gift for you. Something that the couple will love to use on their special day if they plan to recite their own vows, they typically come in both ‘his’ and ‘hers’.
- Personalized Photo Frame
If the happy couple captured their engagement on camera, then they will need a frame to put the special photo in! This is where a personalized photo frame comes into play. Similarly to the other personalized gift ideas on this list, you could put their engagement date, their names and any other special details onto it!
- Unique Love Story Print
Another gift for if you’re very close to the couple is a print that details all of their unique special events on – ending with their engagement. From holidays they took together, to the date that they purchased their first home, it’s a gift that will act as a beautiful memory for them.
Final Thoughts
So, there you go! Those are 15 extraordinary gift ideas for those looking for inspiration. Wonderful gifts that the happy couple will love to open and cherish throughout the years ahead of them, it’s a way of commemorating the special memory ahead of their big day.
No matter what gift you opt for, it’s bound to go down a treat! So don’t worry, even if you don’t have the biggest budget, it doesn’t mean you aren’t able to get a gift that’s magical and truly special to them.