Altrincham FC

Let’s take a closer look now at @altrinchamfc, known as the biggest "giant killers" in football history,

have outfought and outclassed many a higher league opponent throughout the years. So let’s #GetTheBadgeIn, because theirs has an absolute tonne going on. At the top, the lion waves a flag featuring a cornucopia (a goat's horn), a traditional symbol of plenty and wealth. This badge certainly reflects that.

Based in Greater Manchester and founded in 1891, the club began as the Rigby Memorial Club, formed from a local Sunday school. They later merged with another club, the "Grapplers" (a former wrestling or boxing club—anyone know?) to form Broadheath F.C., a founding member of the Manchester League in 1893. In 1903, they moved to Pollitt's Field, adopted the name Altrincham AFC. With two National League and FA Trophy wins, along with their reputation for giant killings, they’ve built a devoted fan base.

Their badge, drawn from the Altrincham Coat of Arms, is packed with symbolism. Let’s break it down:

The wheatsheaves on the shield represent the Earldom of Chester, which traditionally features three wheatsheaves. Altrincham replaced the bottom wheatsheaf with a cog—a clever nod to their industrial history. The Earldom of Chester was a semi-autonomous region under William the Conqueror. Even Magna Carta in 1215 required a separate set of notes for Chester's exceptions. The earldom eventually became a Crown possession and was used by Edward I as a logistics hub for his conquest of Wales. Today, it remains tied to the Prince of Wales, the title given to the heir to the throne.

The two characters flanking the shield represent major local families. The lion, bearing the arms of Massey, represents the Barons of Dunham Massey. Hamon de Massey, one of the barons, granted Altrincham its charter in 1290. Dunham Massey also had a Norman Motte and Bailey castle, though today its moat is a duck pond. Quackers if you think about it.

The unicorn comes from the heraldry of the Earl of Stamford, whose arms (of the Grey family) hang from its collar. The first Earl of Stamford was a staunch Parliamentarian during the Civil War, even signing Charles I's execution order. His rebellious, anti-establishment legacy adds an edge to Altrincham’s heritage.

Altrincham’s industrial history is equally compelling. The 1765 Bridgewater Canal connected the area to Manchester and the wider world, sparking economic growth. Warehouses sprang up to house vegetable production, and the arrival of the railway in 1849 supercharged the town’s development.

One notable company was the Linotype and Machinery Company, which started in Altrincham and made printing presses for newspapers. Their operations spanned cities like Calcutta, Bombay, and Hong Kong, with a head office in London.

Another was the Budenberg Gauge Company, which supplied precision pressure gauges during the steam age. Originally a German firm, its British operations were confiscated during WWI and continued independently.

In 1879, American inventor Benjamin Tilghman brought further innovation to Altrincham. A veteran of the American Civil War, Tilghman observed the effects of wind-blown sand on buildings in the South. Inspired, he invented the sandblaster and set up Tilghman’s Sand Blast in the town. Today, the factory operates as part of the Wheelabrator Group, making high-end sandblasting machines.

So, Altrincham: castle builders, invasion launchers, pressure builders, machine toolers, sandblasters, and giant killers. One of my new favourite teams.