Last time, I was talking about “The Tiger Album of Football Club Badges” and I made the point that, back in 1961, lots of football clubs turned straight to the local town’s arms for their own badge. Here’s Aldershot, their nickname is “The Shots”. They’re not that bad, though:
Here’s Barnsley and Birmingham City which both refer back to their industrial heritage:
There are lots of animals used. Glamorgan Rugby play like dragons and Leicester Rugby Club are actually called “Leicester Tigers”.
In football, Newcastle United are close to the sea which is probably full of seahorses at that point and Rotherham United must have had lots of deer in the area at one time:
Lions are always popular as ‘supporters’, in heraldic terms really, rather than sitting behind the goal, roaring on their team. Here’s Halifax Town and Plymouth Albion rugby club. Funny how both pairs of lions have learned to dance:
Some don’t fit into any category. Perhaps Fulham have the waters of the nearby River Thames on the shield:
Wolverhampton Wanderers supporters obviously have their cross to bear:
Other badges are derived from their local town’s coat of arms but in a less elaborate way. Luton Town, Pontypridd Rugby Club, Torquay by the sea and Tranmere Rovers:
Grimsby is by the sea and the team are nicknamed “the Mariners” and Falkirk supporters look very fierce indeed:
Most interesting are the old Manchester City and Manchester United badges:
Despite their century or more of rivalry, both clubs wanted clearly to reflect their city. Here is the city’s coat of arms:
And what about those Bristols, I hear you shout. Bristol City, the Robins with a bright red breast and Bristol Rovers, “the Black Arabs”. I looked that up, and apparently when they were first founded, Rovers played in all black because they very much admired the Arabs rugby team who also played in all black. Here are the old badges of the two clubs:
And here is the badge of the City of Bristol:
The idea even seems to have influenced Gloucester Rugby Club:
Next time, football and a bunch of animals.
John Knifton 