England started the friendly against Belgium with names on the backs of their shirts – only for them to disappear for the second half.
Back in the day, no names were printed on the backs of shirts. The phenomenon is relatively recent – a Premier League-era feature – with Euro 92 the first international tournament to feature England players on jerseys.
So… have we just binned them off completely halfway through a friendly?
Why have the names disappeared from England shirts?
It's all for a good cause. The names have dropped off the shirts for the second half against Belgium to raise awareness of how those who suffer with dementia can lose memories.
One in three are said to develop the disease in their lifetimes, with no cure for victims. England women have been part of a similar campaign in the past, with the Alzheimer’s Society and the FA having a partnership.
“We hope this striking gesture with the player’s shirts will once again get fans across the country talking, and thinking about the signs and symptoms of dementia,” Kate Lee, the charity’s chief executive.
“By using football to shine a spotlight and increase awareness of dementia symptoms, we hope to not only encourage fans to donate towards our early diagnosis research, but also to support their loved ones just as much as they support their football team.
“This means taking crucial first steps in seeking a diagnosis if they suspect someone they care about may be affected. A diagnosis can be daunting but it’s better to know.”
The custom shirts will be auctioned after the match to raise funds to support Alzheimer’s Society research.
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