Lowestoft Town FC

There’s a town on the Suffolk/Norfolk border that often gets a bad rep—but I’d argue unjustly so. We’ve all been there, we all know it, and increasingly, more of us are working there. That town is Lowestoft, and it’s on the rise.

From becoming a hub for offshore jobs to landing the county’s first Taco Bell, Lowestoft is making waves. Its football team, Lowestoft Town FC (@OFCLTRAWLERBOYS), topped the Isthmian League North last season and now competes in the Southern League Premier Division Central. The Trawler Boys are riding the high tide, so let’s #GetTheBadgeIn and see what we can find.

Let’s start with the sunrise. This references Lowestoft as England’s most easterly point, home to Lowestoft Ness, where the Euroscope points to far-off places (and behind you, a Birds Eye frozen food plant churns out a million potato waffles every 24 hours—surely a strategic national asset worthy of a few Patriot air defence batteries?). The rising sun motif also appears on Suffolk’s Coat of Arms.

The three white plates on the blue chevron represent the Lowestoft Porcelain Factory (1757–1802), famous for its blue-and-white teapots and jugs. Inspired by Chinese designs, the factory sold nationwide and to tourists visiting the town, with a large shop in Cheapside, London. One celebrated artist was the mysterious Tulip Painter, known for intricate floral designs. Surviving pieces, often inscribed with "A Trifle from Lowestoft," sell for up to £30,000 at auction.

Now, the roses and crown. Some claim these symbols reference Saint Margaret of Scotland, but that seems mistaken. The actual patron saint of Lowestoft is Saint Margaret of Antioch (also the patron of pregnant women, exiles, the falsely accused, and kidney disease… make of that what you will).

If anyone knows the real purpose of the roses and crown (Tudor on the town’s crest, red on the Football Club’s badge—closet Lancastrians, perhaps?), do let me know. Back to Margaret: legend says she was swallowed by a dragon but emerged unscathed after her crucifix choked the beast. Some versions say she smashed its head in with a hammer—having met women from Lowestoft, this sounds plausible.

But there’s more to Lowestoft than its badge. In 1665, James, Duke of York, led the Royal Navy to victory over the Dutch, sinking or capturing 30 ships. It's also been an economic powerhouse: The Trawler Boys’ herring fleet fed East Anglia and, with railways, reached major cities. Inside St Margaret’s Church, a roll of honour remembers sailors lost at sea. Railways also brought tourists, and by the 19th century, Lowestoft boasted fine hotels and restaurants.

In 1831 engineers joined Lake Lothing to the Noth Sea, creating a large harbour for ships. Shipbuilding took off and facilities to maintain the fishing trawlers sprung up. Much like Grimsby’s Mariners (@officialgtfc), it’s fishing town cousin further round the coast, it had its own ice factory that operated for over 100 years – delivering fresh fish to the nation.

During WWI, the fishing trawlers became armed patrol boats, defending Britain’s coasts. For its troubles, the town was bombarded by German forces, which destroyed 200 homes before being driven off by the Royal Navy and poor visibility. In WWII, Lowestoft became HQ for the Royal Naval Patrol Service (RNPS) at Sparrow’s Nest Gardens. Lowestoft’s fishermen and Navy Reservists bravely cleared mines and hunted submarines in the war’s most dangerous naval branch.

Today, Lowestoft serves the country still, combining its maritime legacy with renewable energy. The Greater Gabbard Offshore Wind Farm, with 140 turbines, and ongoing developments see tugboats leaving daily to service them, powering millions of homes. More turbines are being built today in the same harbour that once fixed up the herring fleets. From porcelain to power, from fighting Germans to fixing generators, Britain’s most easterly town keeps working for us all in the early light. The Trawler Boys are on the up, just like their hometown.