<P> Most competitions only allow each team to make a maximum of three substitutions during a game, although more substitutions are often permitted in non-competitive fixtures such as friendlies . Allowing a fourth substitution in extra time is currently being trialed at several tournaments, including the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup final . Each team nominates a number of players (typically between five and seven, depending on the competition) who may be used as substitutes; these players typically sit in the technical area with the coaches, and are said to be "on the bench". When the substitute enters the field of play it is said they have come on or have been brought on, while the player they are substituting is coming off or being brought off . </P> <P> A player who is noted for frequently making appearances, or scoring important goals, as a substitute is often informally known as a "super sub". </P> <P> The origin of football substitutes goes back to at least the early 1860s as part of English public school football games . The original use of the term "substitute" in football was to describe the replacement of players who failed to turn up for matches . For example, in 1863, a match reports states: "The Charterhouse eleven played a match in cloisters against some old Carthusians but in consequence of the non-appearance of some of those who were expected it was necessary to provide three substitutes . The substitution of absent players happened as early as the 1850s, for example from Eton College where the term "emergencies" is used . Numerous references to players acting as a "substitute" occur in matches in the mid-1860s where it is not indicated whether these were replacements of absent players or of players injured during the match . </P> <P> The first use of a substitute in international football was on 15 April 1889, in the match between Wales and Scotland at Wrexham . Wales's original goalkeeper, Jim Trainer, failed to arrive; local amateur player Alf Pugh started the match and played for some 20 minutes until the arrival of Sam Gillam, who took over from him . </P>

When were subs first used in english football