Also match if it is at the end or in the middle of a sentence.

config/initializers/1_settings.rb

@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ rescue ArgumentError # no user configured
 end
 Settings.gitlab['signup_enabled'] ||= false
 Settings.gitlab['username_changing_enabled'] = true if Settings.gitlab['username_changing_enabled'].nil?
-Settings.gitlab['issue_closing_pattern'] = '^([Cc]loses|[Ff]ixes) #(\d+)' if Settings.gitlab['issue_closing_pattern'].nil?
+Settings.gitlab['issue_closing_pattern'] = '([Cc]loses|[Ff]ixes) #(\d+)' if Settings.gitlab['issue_closing_pattern'].nil?
 Settings.gitlab['default_projects_features'] ||= {}
 Settings.gitlab.default_projects_features['issues']         = true if Settings.gitlab.default_projects_features['issues'].nil?
 Settings.gitlab.default_projects_features['merge_requests'] = true if Settings.gitlab.default_projects_features['merge_requests'].nil?