The Meaning Behind Premier League Club Badges

A football club badge means more than just a logo.

For many Premier League clubs, the symbols, colors, and images on their badges tell stories about their beginnings, local history, nicknames, memorable wins, and ties with their cities.

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

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

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

Arsenal’s current badge came out in 2002 and shows a cannon facing east.

The cannon reflects the club’s roots at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, where munitions workers founded the club in 1886. This is also why Arsenal is known as the Gunners.

The badge uses two shades of red, showing the club’s traditional colors from its early years.

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

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

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

This symbol links back to former Villa chairman William McGregor, who was Scottish.

A white star above the yellow lion marks Villa’s 1982 European Cup win over Bayern Munich. The founding year, 1874, is also on the badge.

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

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

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

Dowsett played for the club in the 1950s and 1960s and later became Bournemouth’s commercial manager. He helped redesign the club’s badge in 1972, using his image.

His profile has been part of the crest, except from 1981 to 1983, when a bunch of cherries replaced it.

The red and black stripes represent Bournemouth’s home colors, inspired by Italian club AC Milan.

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

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

This nickname started in the 1890s when students from Borough Road College went to a Brentford match and chanted “Buck up Bs.” Journalists heard it as “Buck up Bees,” and the nickname stuck.

The modern circular badge also has the club’s name and founding year, 1889.

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

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

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

The club was once called the Dolphins, but fans adopted the Seagulls nickname in the mid-1970s.

This change came after Brighton fans responded to Crystal Palace fans chanting “Eagles.”

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

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

Chelsea’s badge centers on a blue lion looking backward while holding a staff.

The lion was adopted when Ted Drake became Chelsea manager in 1953 and comes from the coat of arms of the former Metropolitan Borough of Chelsea.

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

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

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

Coventry City’s badge shows an elephant carrying a castle, along with a phoenix and an eagle.

These symbols come from Coventry’s coat of arms.

The castle represents Coventry Castle, while the elephant stands for strength. A red cross on the elephant is the St George’s Cross, which reflects a belief that St George was born in the area.

The phoenix rising from flames shows Coventry’s rebirth after the devastation of World War II.

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

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

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

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

This building was made for the Great Exhibition in 1851.

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

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

In 2022, the date on the badge changed from 1905 to 1861 to recognize the original football team formed by cricket players.

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

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

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

Two laurel wreaths flank the tower and represent victory, as laurel wreaths traditionally honor champions.

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

The tower, wreaths, and motto all appeared in a design made by club secretary Theo Kelly in 1938.

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

Fulham’s simple crest came out in 2001, the same year the club started its first Premier League season.

The badge features a black-and-white shield, showing Fulham’s traditional colors.

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

The previous badge had drawn heavily from the coat of arms of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.

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

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

The nickname is tied to Hull’s traditional amber and black striped home colors.

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

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

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

The animal on Ipswich Town’s crest is a Suffolk Punch, a well-known local heavy workhorse breed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The bird has been tied to the city of Liverpool for many years and sits above the initials “L.F.C.”

The branch of laver seaweed in its beak connects to the city’s coastal environment and plays on the city’s name.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The current badge came out in 2016 and replaced the eagle design used since 1997.

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

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

This symbol became tied to the club after manager Sir Matt Busby adopted the “Red Devils” nickname in the 1960s. This nickname linked back to Salford, the local rugby league club that used it before.

The badge also has a three-masted ship, from Manchester’s coat of arms, showing the city’s history as a trading center.

Two footballs and red banners finish the crest.

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

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

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

The shield has the club’s famous black and white stripes, while a castle keep stands for the Norman fortress that gave Newcastle its name.

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

The seahorses reflect Newcastle’s historic ties with the River Tyne and its maritime heritage.

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

The current badge came out in 1988. Newcastle is also updating the badge, with fans voting on three proposed designs, according to the Premier League.

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

Nottingham Forest’s badge shows a tree that represents Sherwood Forest, the woodland linked with Nottingham and the club’s name.

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

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

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

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

Sunderland’s badge has many references to the club’s local area and history.

The quartered shield shows the Wearmouth Bridge and Penshaw Monument, two important local landmarks.

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

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

A colliery wheel sits above the shield as a tribute to County Durham’s coal-mining history and the colliery that used to be where the club’s stadium is now.

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

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

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

The cockerel has been linked to the club for over a century and connects to Sir Henry Percy, the medieval knight known as Harry Hotspur.

Percy was said to have attached spurs to his fighting cockerels, which helped inspire Tottenham’s use of the symbol.

The club simplified its badge in 2006, removing extra elements and focusing on the cockerel and football.

It was adjusted again in 2013 and simplified more in 2024, when the curved “Tottenham Hotspur” wording below the cockerel was removed.

From cannons to cockerels

The badges of Premier League clubs hold more than just football references.

They show local landmarks, historical figures, nicknames, colors, industries, cities, and key moments in the clubs’ histories.

From Arsenal’s cannon and Coventry City’s elephant to Liverpool’s Liver Bird and Tottenham’s cockerel, each badge tells a story connecting the club with its past.