Player names on jerseys

[dukey]

Just watching the Storm boys run out with their names on the back (even Billy Slate) and started thinking about it.

Would you support players surnames as a regular thing? Additionally, would you like to see player-specific numbers, rather than positional? It's a natural progression of names on jerseys; someone like Ben Te'o who switches between positions a lot, or Darren Lockyer who split his career between 6 and 1 would be able to maintain the one number.

 

[Alec]

I like it the way it is. I HATE player specific numbers. And I'm happy with the surnames being reserved for rep matches only.

 

[Kimlo]

I would like the names to be printed on all jerseys, I think it's a nice touch.

 

[Fozz]

I like names but not super league style numbering.

 

[Meat77]

I agree with Fozz - names are fine but the super league/cricket style numbering was just stupid when they did it in '97

 

[Coxy]

Doesn't bother me either way. I'd be happy with the status quo, or with names on current shirts, or names and player-specific numbers.

These days with sponsors across the upper back it makes it hard for clubs to fit names on :P

 

[Porthoz]

Would like names on jerseys, which would pretty much imply player-specific numbers...

 

[Broncoman]

Having your name on your jersey makes that jersey a great thing to hang up and show off to everyone after your playing days. Yeah Meat I have that Super League grand final on DVD and it's all bloody Americanised.

 

[Mister Wright]

Speaking of players' numbers. I miss the days when a bloke from reserve grade would run out with 43 on his back when he was a last minute selection for the 1st grade team.

 

[Je$ter]

I could go either way with the names.

With the numbering, say in your top 35 everyone gets a number (1-35) and they keep that number for the year.

 

[Twiztid]

I think the only reason the Storm have it on their jersey is so any new fans can put names to faces faster. Frankly I don't really care as you wouldn't be able to read the name from the stands anyway.

 

[Anonymous person]

player names + positional number for me.

theres absolutely no downside to having names on jerseys, so i dont see why every team doesnt do it.

 

[Jeba]

player names + positional number for me.

theres absolutely no downside to having names on jerseys, so i dont see why every team doesnt do it.

I think it's because it'd be a bit of a pain in the arse, because of different team lineups each week. It's easy to do in Origin or International games because it's only 3 games and I think the player keeps the jersey anyway. NRL club jerseys get recycled each week (apart from milestone ones like debut, 100th game etc)

 

[Anonymous person]

I think it's because it'd be a bit of a pain in the arse, because of different team lineups each week. It's easy to do in Origin or International games because it's only 3 games and I think the player keeps the jersey anyway. NRL club jerseys get recycled each week (apart from milestone ones like debut, 100th game etc)

hadnt thought of that, nice catch. that more than likely is a very big reason.

 

[ningnangnong]

I'm not sure why it hasn't caught on yet, it's another way for clubs to make money (on top of the ridiculous cost of jerseys), as there'll be plenty of people who would want to get the name and number of their favourite player on their back.

I think if you wanted it to work though, you'd need to have set numbers for each player in the squad, otherwise as Jeba said, it'd just be too much of a hassle.

 

[Kimlo]

Jeb raises a good point, I guess names + positional numbers wouldn't work, it would just have to be name + player number.

Still I think adding names is great.

 

[Nashy]

I see no advantage of having names. If you want a name on the jersey you just bought, you can get it.

I also see no disadvantage except the changing team thing listed above.

 

[Twiztid]

I'm not sure why it hasn't caught on yet, it's another way for clubs to make money (on top of the ridiculous cost of jerseys), as there'll be plenty of people who would want to get the name and number of their favourite player on their back.

I think if you wanted it to work though, you'd need to have set numbers for each player in the squad, otherwise as Jeba said, it'd just be too much of a hassle.

Souths did it when I was there with some old cotton style jerseys with stylised numbers and names on the jerseys, actually stitched in and not heat pressed. As soon as we released them almost every players number ended up being different and due to this it made it harder to move some jerseys.

If you check out http://www.districtfootball.com.au/ go to Mens - Jersey and use the scroll bar to see what I mean. This is not spam that is an old website that I created and it is no longer active but the website is still online as the club moved away from using the District Football merchandise idea and never took down the site.

If you are that desperate to get names and numbers on the back there are plenty of stores that do the heat transfer for a few dollars a letter and number. That way you get a number and name you want and the club is not running risks of holding stock.