The story behind the GAA’s magic numbers

It’s not just a jersey they hand you, but one with a number, and often that number counts.

In America, there’s so much reverence attached to particular numbered jerseys, they retire them so that no one else has to follow. No 23 is not just any number in Chicago; ditto No 16 in San Francisco, and No 3 in New York; they belong solely to Jordan, Montana, and Ruth.

In soccer, the number and the tradition that goes with it is passed on. At England’s two historically biggest clubs, Manchester United and Liverpool, the No 7 shirt is the object of particular affection. At Spurs, it’s No 10. At Everton and Newcastle, it’s 9; Alan Shearer was so insistent on following in the lineage of Gallagher, Milburn, and McDonald that upon signing for the club he got Kevin Keegan to tell Les Ferdinand, the reigning PFA Player of the Year, that he’d have to hand over his jersey and settle for the No 10 instead.