From cannon, birds to animals: The story behind Premier League club badges

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A football club badge is more than an identity mark.

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For many Premier League clubs, the symbols, colours and images on their crests tell stories about their origins, local history, nicknames, famous victories and connections with their cities.

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Why does Arsenal have a cannon? Who is the player on Bournemouth’s badge? What does the elephant on Coventry City’s crest represent? And why does Liverpool have a Liver Bird?

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Here is the story behind the badges of the 20 Premier League clubs in the 2026/27 season, based on information released by the Premier League on Sunday.

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1. Arsenal — Why is there a cannon on Arsenal’s badge?

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Arsenal’s current badge was introduced in 2002 and features an eastward-facing cannon.

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The cannon reflects the club’s origins at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, where a group of munitions workers founded the club in 1886. It is also the reason Arsenal became known as the Gunners.

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The crest uses two shades of red, reflecting the club’s traditional colours and those worn during its early years.

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Before the badge was simplified in 2002, it also featured Arsenal’s Latin motto, Victoria Concordia Crescit, meaning “Victory through harmony”, as well as the coat of arms of the Borough of Islington.

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2. Aston Villa — What does the lion on Aston Villa’s badge mean?

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Aston Villa’s current badge, unveiled in 2024, features a lion based on the Scottish coat of arms.

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The symbol is linked to former Villa chairman William McGregor, who was Scottish.

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A white star above the yellow lion represents Villa’s 1982 European Cup victory over Bayern Munich. The club’s founding year, 1874, also appears on the badge.

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The crest uses Villa’s traditional claret and sky blue colours and returned to a shield design after the club used a circular badge during the 2023/24 season.

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3. Bournemouth — Who is the player on Bournemouth’s badge?

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The silhouette on AFC Bournemouth’s badge is former striker Dickie Dowsett.

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Dowsett played for the club during the 1950s and 1960s before later becoming Bournemouth’s commercial manager. He was involved in redesigning the club’s badge in 1972, when his image was used.

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His profile has remained part of the crest, apart from between 1981 and 1983, when a bunch of cherries replaced it.

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The red and black stripes represent Bournemouth’s home colours, which were originally inspired by Italian club AC Milan.

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4. Brentford — Why is there a bee on Brentford’s badge?

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Brentford’s badge features a buff-tailed bumblebee, reflecting the club’s nickname, the Bees.

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The nickname dates to the 1890s. A group of students from Borough Road College attended a Brentford match and reportedly chanted “Buck up Bs”. Journalists apparently heard the chant as “Buck up Bees”, helping to establish the nickname.

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The club’s modern circular badge also carries its name and founding year, 1889.

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It replaced an earlier four-part shield that featured three seaxes from the coat of arms of Middlesex.

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5. Brighton — Why does Brighton have a seagull on its badge?

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Brighton & Hove Albion’s circular badge features a white seagull against the club’s traditional blue and white colours.

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The club were once known as the Dolphins, but supporters adopted the Seagulls nickname in the mid-1970s.

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The change reportedly came after Brighton supporters responded to Crystal Palace fans chanting “Eagles”.

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A seagull has appeared on Brighton’s badge since 1977, except during the club’s centenary season in 2001/02.

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6. Chelsea — What does the lion on Chelsea’s badge represent?

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Chelsea’s badge centres on a blue lion looking backwards while holding a staff.

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The lion was adopted after Ted Drake became Chelsea manager in 1953 and was based on an element of the coat of arms of the former Metropolitan Borough of Chelsea.

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The staff represents the Abbot of Westminster, who were historic landholders in the area.

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The badge also features two red Tudor roses, representing England, and two footballs.

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7. Coventry City — Why does Coventry’s badge have an elephant?

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Coventry City’s badge contains an elephant carrying a castle, alongside a phoenix and an eagle.

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The symbols are drawn from Coventry’s coat of arms.

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The castle represents Coventry Castle, while the elephant is a symbol of strength. A red cross on the elephant is the St George’s Cross, reflecting the historic belief that St George was born in the area.

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The phoenix rising from flames represents Coventry’s rebirth following the devastation of the Second World War.

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The eagle represents Leofric, Earl of Mercia, who founded monasteries in Coventry.

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The football at the centre of the badge uses Coventry’s traditional sky blue and white colours.

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8. Crystal Palace — Why does Crystal Palace have an eagle?

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Crystal Palace’s badge features an eagle perched on top of the iron-and-glass roof of the historic Crystal Palace exhibition building.

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The building was constructed for the Great Exhibition in 1851.

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The eagle has featured on Palace’s badge since 1973, when manager Malcolm Allison changed the club’s nickname from the Glaziers to the Eagles. The change was inspired by Portuguese club Benfica.

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The badge also uses Palace’s traditional red and blue colours.

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In 2022, the date shown on the badge was changed from 1905 to 1861 to recognise the formation of the original football team by cricket players.

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9. Everton — What does the tower on Everton’s badge mean?

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The central feature of Everton’s badge is Prince Rupert’s Tower, an historic lock-up on Everton Brow.

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The tower has been part of Everton’s visual identity for decades.

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Two laurel wreaths flank the tower and represent victory, drawing on the traditional use of laurel wreaths to honour champions.

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The badge also carries Everton’s founding year, 1878, and the Latin motto Nil Satis Nisi Optimum, meaning “Nothing but the best is good enough”.

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The tower, wreaths and motto all featured on the design created by club secretary Theo Kelly in 1938.

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10. Fulham — What do the letters on Fulham’s badge mean?

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Fulham’s minimalist crest was introduced in 2001, the same year the club began its first Premier League campaign.

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The badge features a black-and-white shield, reflecting Fulham’s traditional colours.

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Running vertically through the middle are the initials “FFC” for Fulham Football Club, presented in a red monogram.

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The previous badge drew heavily on the coat of arms of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.

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11. Hull City — Why does Hull City have a tiger?

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Hull City’s badge features a tiger’s head, reflecting the club’s nickname, the Tigers.

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The nickname is linked to Hull’s traditional amber and black striped home colours.

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The tiger sits inside an amber shield above the club’s founding year, 1904.

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The words “Hull City” were added to the top of the current badge, which was introduced in 2019.

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12. Ipswich Town — What is the horse on Ipswich’s badge?

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The animal on Ipswich Town’s crest is a Suffolk Punch, a famous local breed of heavy workhorse.

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The badge also contains turrets representing Ipswich’s Wolsey Gate, while the wavy lines at the bottom reflect the town’s waterways and maritime history.

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The current crest has been in use since 1995 and is based on a design created by John Gammage, who won a supporters’ club competition in 1972.

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13. Leeds United — What does the rose on Leeds’ badge mean?

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Leeds United’s badge features the White Rose of York, a historic symbol of Yorkshire and a badge associated with the royal House of York.

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The shield also carries the letters “LUFC”, representing Leeds United Football Club, across blue and yellow stripes.

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The club’s blue and yellow colours were originally inspired by the coat of arms of the city of Leeds.

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14. Liverpool — Why does Liverpool have a Liver Bird?

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Liverpool’s simplified kit badge features the Liver Bird, a mythical creature traditionally depicted as a cormorant.

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The bird has been associated with the city of Liverpool for centuries and sits above the initials “L.F.C.”

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The branch of laver seaweed in its beak has both a local and linguistic connection, reflecting Liverpool’s coastal environment while also providing a play on the city’s name.

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Liverpool’s full heraldic crest contains additional references to the club’s history, including the Shankly Gates and the Hillsborough Memorial, which commemorates the 97 supporters who died in the 1989 stadium disaster.

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15. Manchester City — What do the ship and three stripes on Man City’s badge mean?

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Manchester City’s circular badge features a golden three-masted ship inside a shield.

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The ship represents the Manchester Ship Canal and the city’s trading history.

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Three diagonal stripes represent the three rivers associated with Manchester — the Irk, the Irwell and the Medlock.

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The lower part of the shield contains the red rose of Lancashire, reflecting the club’s regional identity.

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The outer circle carries the club’s name and founding year, 1894.

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The current badge was introduced in 2016 and replaced the eagle design that had been used since 1997.

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16. Manchester United — Why does Man United have a red devil?

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Manchester United’s badge features a red devil holding a pitchfork.

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The symbol became associated with the club after manager Sir Matt Busby adopted the “Red Devils” nickname in the 1960s. The nickname was linked to Salford, the local rugby league club that had previously used it.

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The badge also contains a three-masted ship, drawn from Manchester’s coat of arms and reflecting the city’s history as a trading centre.

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Two footballs and red banners complete the crest.

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The club simplified the badge in 1998, removing the words “Football Club”.

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17. Newcastle United — What do the symbols on Newcastle’s badge mean?

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Newcastle United’s badge draws heavily from the coat of arms of the city.

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The shield contains the club’s famous black and white stripes, while a castle keep represents the Norman fortress from which Newcastle takes its name.

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A lion carrying St George’s Cross sits above the castle, while two mythical seahorses flank the shield.

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The seahorses represent Newcastle’s historic links with the River Tyne and its maritime heritage.

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The club’s name appears on a scroll below the crest.

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The current badge was introduced in 1988. Newcastle are also in the process of updating the badge, with supporters voting on three proposed designs, according to the Premier League.

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18. Nottingham Forest — Why does Nottingham Forest have a tree?

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Nottingham Forest’s badge features a tree representing Sherwood Forest, the woodland strongly associated with Nottingham and the club’s name.

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The wavy lines underneath the tree represent the River Trent, which runs through Nottingham and alongside the City Ground.

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The badge was designed in 1974 after a public competition. Graphic design lecturer David Lewis won the competition.

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Two stars were later added to celebrate Forest’s European Cup triumphs in 1979 and 1980 under manager Brian Clough.

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19. Sunderland — What do the symbols on Sunderland’s badge mean?

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Sunderland’s badge contains several references to the club’s local surroundings and history.

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The quartered shield features the Wearmouth Bridge and Penshaw Monument, two prominent local landmarks.

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The top and bottom sections use Sunderland’s traditional red and white stripes.

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Two black lions support the shield, reflecting both the city’s coat of arms and Sunderland’s Black Cats nickname.

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A colliery wheel sits above the shield as a tribute to County Durham’s coal-mining heritage and the colliery that once occupied the site of the club’s stadium.

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The badge also carries the Latin motto Consectatio Excellentiae, meaning “in pursuit of excellence”.

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20. Tottenham Hotspur — Why does Tottenham have a cockerel?

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Tottenham Hotspur’s badge features a cockerel standing on an old-fashioned football.

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The cockerel has been associated with the club for more than a century and is linked to Sir Henry Percy, the medieval knight better known as Harry Hotspur.

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Percy was reputed to have attached spurs to his fighting cockerels, a connection that helped inspire Tottenham’s use of the symbol.

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The club simplified its badge in 2006, removing the additional elements and leaving the cockerel and football as the main design.

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It was tweaked again in 2013 and simplified further in 2024, when the curved “Tottenham Hotspur” wording beneath the cockerel was removed.

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From cannons to cockerels

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The badges of Premier League clubs contain references to far more than football.

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They reflect local landmarks, historical figures, nicknames, colours, industries, cities and major moments in club history.

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From Arsenal’s cannon and Coventry City’s elephant to Liverpool’s Liver Bird and Tottenham’s cockerel, each crest carries a story that connects the club with its past.

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