0 used to refer to the supporters at a game between two teams of eleven players, when they give such good support to their team that they have as much value as an extra player might have: --
With an uncertain monotony that has long since made game forecasters exceedingly skittish, these two win where their twelfth men help most.
It was the daring twelfth man who, though escorted unceremoniously off the field and out of the stadium without further ado, gained a nationwide football reputation in a single play.
Soccer-inspired nationalism even resulted in tragedy when a man lit himself on fire to become the teams twelfth man.
The most common number for this practice is 12, from descriptions of the fans as the twelfth man.
The number 12 is retired in honour of the fans, also known as the twelfth man.
Then when all else fails, it is too often the case that it is the poor commercial attaché abroad, the proverbial twelfth man, who is blamed.
Is there any provision in regard to a twelfth man?
Even though I was twelfth man, I was so proud of the team; there was no jealousy. I kept scampering on to the pitch with drinks after every Aussie wicket fell, geeing up our bowlers.
