h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Which two teams played the first FA Cup final with shirt numbers, and what was unusual about the numbering?

I have a feeling that the shirt numbering was in alphabetical order of player's name e.g. Brown wore no.1, Chadwick no.2, Cole 3, ... Zebra no.11.

As for the teams I think this occurred back in about 1937 so how about Huddersfield and Portsmouth.

BBS

PS Good question, no looking it up anyone

Well Sunderland won the Cup in 1937, but I don't think it was that year! Ihave a feeling one of the teams was Everton

edmundo's ideas are right, BBS's aren't.

Was it the FA Cup Final of 1932 between Everton and Manchester City?

close.

Ok so it was 1933 - Everton vs Man City. The shirts were numbered from 1 to 22, not 1-11 for each team ...

Yes. Do you know which team wore what numbers?

At a guess Everton wore 1-11 and Manchester City wore 12-22? 50/50 chance of getting that right!
I was informed recently that Celtic have always refused to number the players shirts, though they do carry numbers on their shorts. Except in Europe, where UEFA insist on shirt numbers. Don't know if this is true?

I haven't watched a Celtic match for a while but that always used to be true. i've a sneaking suspicion they wear numbers on their shirets now.

and yes, everton were 1-11 and City 12-22 ( http://www.evertonfc.com/gold/hundred.asp?id=4700 )

Celtic do now have numbers on the back of the shirts, they tried to get around the rule by putting the numbers on the shirt sleeves but some jobsworth (probably from the S.F.A.) told them they had to be on the back.

Do you remember when arsenal tried to get out of squad numbers by numbering the players 1-11 every match BUT putting their names on as well. They got rid of it after Kevin campbelll was 7,8,9,10,12 and 14 in about two months, because it was costing them too much!