Tamworth FC

Tamworth FC was established in 1933, replacing an older team that had folded called Tamworth Castle FC. The club’s nickname is ‘The Lambs’, which at first seems a bit confusing given that there are no sheep on the badge (my mind immediately went to Derby’s ram and I was looking for something similar). However, the name actually comes from the Lamb Inn pub, which once stood next to the ground and doubled as the clubhouse and changing rooms in the early days. The ground today is still called the Lamb Ground – adding to the irony, as it was built on land that was once a pig farm. But hey-ho, I won’t bleat on about it.

Starting from the top, the gold on blue ‘Saltire in Chief’ derives from the arms of the Kingdom of Mercia. When the Anglo-Saxon King Offa came to the throne of Mercia in 757 AD, he made Tamworth his chief residence and built a palace there. This is significant, as Mercia was one of the largest and most powerful Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, even overshadowing my hometown kingdom, East Anglia (where King Raedwald had been buried at Sutton Hoo about 100 years before King Offa settled in Tamworth). So, it’s quite a claim: Tamworth was the capital of one of the greatest ‘empires’ England has ever seen within its borders.

The patterned horizontal band (known as a Fess of Vair, apparently) originates from the arms of the Marmion family, who were the Lords of Tamworth from 1014 to 1291. They had come over with the Norman invaders (1066 and all that), and as such, this reflects a nice narrative chronology – the Saxons were eventually replaced by the invading Normans.

The badge continues this theme with the castle and crossed swords. The Normans, as occupiers of Saxon lands, built castles called Motte-and-Baileys – quickly constructed wooden fortifications atop mounds made from the earth dug to create the moat. In effect, these operated rather like FOBs (Forward Operating Bases) used by British and American forces in Afghanistan! From these medieval FOBs, Norman soldiers could venture out to quell Saxon uprisings, collect taxes, and administer justice.

Tamworth Castle’s Motte and Bailey was built in 1070 on top of the ruins of Offa’s former palace – a logical place to base oneself when seeking to dominate the region. The castle was given to Robert Despenser, whose surname came from his role as ‘Dispenser’ (or Royal Steward) for William of Normandy. Essentially, Robert was William the Conqueror’s butler, and Tamworth was his reward as part of the spoils of war. The castle was later upgraded to stone and still stands in the middle of the town today (Google it – it’s a beauty!). Six centuries later, it briefly featured in the English Civil War when it was held by Royalist soldiers who capitulated after a two-day siege by Parliamentarian forces in 1643.

The Staffordshire Knot is another icon on the badge. It is the traditional symbol of the county of Stafford, where Tamworth is located. Legend has it that the knot symbol originated when an innovative hangman at Stafford Gaol solved an argument over which of three prisoners should be hanged first by coming up with this knot, which could hang all three men simultaneously. However, the knot’s image actually predates Stafford Gaol and was used by Offa’s Mercian kingdom in some of their heraldry. The knot is also on the coat of arms of the county of Stafford.

At the base of the badge sits the French ‘Fleur-de-lys’, which is also found on the Tamworth Council badge, though I cannot trace its exact origins. I would assume it refers to the Norman origins of Robert Despenser.

Regardless, this is a fantastic badge, rich in medieval heritage. I certainly hope every history teacher within a hundred miles of Tamworth explains this badge to their students – it covers almost the entire Year 7 History curriculum in one go!