Joe Mercer white England international shirt 1938-39, by St Blaize, unnumbered, long-sleeved, three lions badge Joe Mercer became part of the England set up in season 1938-39. This was the season when England began wearing numbered shirts. This shirt is unnumbered and is probably therefore an unworn spare that Mercer kept as a memento. It is possible that he may have exchanged his match-worn numbered England shirt with an opponent, so kept the spare instead.