Cursed shirt numbers

[shoddycollins]

Does anyone have any shirt numbers that seem to befoul the career of all who wear them? I remember a couple of years ago reading about Arsenal's number 9 shirt, worn by players who failed to live up to expectations such as Davor Suker and Francis Jeffers and also by Eduardo who was good but whose career was almost ended by injury, and in more recent years worn by Lucas Podolski (who probably didn't get the opportunities he deserved).

For us I can say that the number 15 shirt is definitely cursed. The curse seemed to begin in 2008 with the release of Paul Arnison, who had been a good servant to the club and had a decent career with us, however since then it has had the following incumbents.

Gavin Rothery - former England U19 international who signed from York hailed as some kind of wonderkid. Started two games in as many seasons, spending much of his second season on loan before being released on a free to Guisborough.

Craig Curran - His time at Carlisle may not have been disappointing for him, he was given ample opportunity, with 57 games in his 2 seasons, but with only 8 goals it was certainly disappointing for us, one of the most wayward strikers I've ever seen at Carlisle... good workrate though.

Mike Edwards - Greg Abbot's marquee signing in his last summer was Notts legend 'Steady Eddy'. Put in some particularly dire performances in a dreadful start to the season where we conceded something like 20 goals in 5 games, up until Abbot got sacked. Shortly after was told by Graham Kavanagh he had no future at Carlisle, eventually returned to Notts.

Courtney Meppen-Walter - England U18 captain and Man City youth product whose career had been halted by a prison stretch following the deaths of two people in a road accident he caused. Offered a second chance at Carlisle and his time here started well (while wearing a different shirt) however was then given the number 15 and suffered a marked decline in fitness and attitude before Curle released him in January.

Shaun Brisley - we have to hope that the curse ends with Brisley, however his career at United hasn't gotten off to the best of starts, starting the season injured and allowing other players to cement their places in the back four he's had to be content with coming off the bench so far, but fingers crossed as it's still early days.

 

[thewwfc]

We didn't give the number a chance to be cursed, but No. 14 was officially retired from being a Wycombe squad number as a tribute after our young player Mark Philo died in a car crash.

It later transpired it was his fault through drunk driving, but the number's still probably best retired in any case.

 

[George Reilly's Hairpiece]

I hope the number 13 isn't cursed.

It was the number of the "Bee Army" last year and we've lost 20% of them this season.

 

[shoddycollins]

I hope the number 13 isn't cursed.

It was the number of the "Bee Army" last year and we've lost 20% of them this season.

The plight of Britain's bees even affecting Barnet fans? sad.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Bit of a random number, (because how often do you get a really good number 19?!) but no one has ever managed to fill Steve Howard's number 19 in my opinion and we've had a string of pretty average forwards try, including Adam Boyd, Danny Crow, Ricky Miller. The current incumbent Olly Lee isn't exactly a highly rated player here either.

 

[shoddycollins]

Bit of a random number, (because how often do you get a really good number 19?!) but no one has ever managed to fill Steve Howard's number 19 in my opinion and we've had a string of pretty average forwards try, including Adam Boyd, Danny Crow, Ricky Miller. The current incumbent Olly Lee isn't exactly a highly rated player here either.

I think what stands out with our 15 (because I'm sure a lot of the higher numbers have been filled by squad players who never really made the cut) is that our 15s have often come with great expectations and are considered failures as opposed to players that just didn't make it, often reflecting badly on the manager who signed him (or insisting on naming him as a lone striker despite only scoring 8 goals in two seasons).

I actually feared the worst when the numbers were announced and I saw Brisley had been given 15.

 

[Youpies]

Our number 9 shirt seems particularly cursed over the years having had very few strikers who can actually score. Whether its the strikers fault or the players around him though has been up for debate.

I remember Dan Chillingworth, Spencer Weir Daley, Kevin Rapley *shudders*. Problem is, there's been so many of these kind of freeloaders that you could say it about pretty much our 2-11. We've generally always had a decent keeper since I supported Notts starting with Cherry. I cant remember ever going into a season thinking our keeper was poor

 

[shoddycollins]

I cant remember ever going into a season thinking our keeper was poor

give it time

 

[Grecian O'Grecian]

I'd say if any shirt number was cursed for us, for the past 5 years alone, it would be the number 3 shirt.

Alright, yes, Craig Woodman has been the only player to have worn the shirt in that time but for the majority of it he's been woeful.

 

[Si Robin]

I'd argue the number 3 shirt as well, especially since Jamie Victory went. He was our record appearance maker in the Football League and is a bonafide Cheltenham legend. Since him though we've had the following:

Lee Ridley - Panic buy by John Ward, had a long throw and nothing else

Alan Wright - Not too bad, but not great

Billy Jones - Decent dead ball specialist, but slow and not a great defender

Craig Braham-Barrett - Arguably the worst Cheltenham player in the last 20 years

George McLennan - Decent player, can't find fault with him

James Jennings - With us a month before going on loan to Morecambe