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@ChelseaFC , flying high in the Premier League this season, are next to grace the pitch at Portman Road. So, let's do them the honour and #GetTheBadgeIn.   Their first crest, adopted when the club was founded, featured a Chelsea Pensioner, symbolising the British Army veterans residing at the nearby Royal Hospital Chelsea. This design, which inspired the club’s original nickname, “The Pensioners,” was used for 50 years but never appeared on the team’s shirts (most clubs didn't bother with a badge on their shirts at the time).   In 1952, manager Ted Drake sought to modernise the club and replaced the pensioner crest. In 1953, a new design was introduced: a blue lion holding an abbot's staff, adorned with red roses representing England and footballs. This crest, with some adaptations over the years, remains the badge used today.   Before we delve into its meaning, let’s salute the service of the pensioners who gave the team its first nickname:   The Chelsea Pensioners are British Army veterans residing at the nearby Royal Hospital Chelsea, a historic institution founded in 1681 by King Charles II. The hospital building is another masterpiece by Sir Christopher Wren, who also designed St Paul’s Cathedral and rebuilt much of London after the Great Fire. The veterans themselves are instantly recognisable by their striking scarlet uniforms and tricorn hats (these should be brought back into the regular military - they are awesome). These Pensioners embody military tradition and British heritage and are often seen walking the local streets and are regular attendees at Chelsea’s games.   Returning to the current badge, the blue lion originates from the coat of arms for the Metropolitan Borough of Chelsea. The arms include a crozier (bishop’s staff), a boar’s head, a stag’s head, and a lion. The lion, chosen for the badge, represents Earl Cadogan, the first mayor of Chelsea (why didn't they go for the boar!?).   The Cadogan family, with their noble heritage, still own much of Chelsea’s property through the Cadogan estate. Their ancestor, Sir Hans Sloane, was a renowned scientist and explorer who was President of the Royal Society (he was succeeded by some chap called Isaac Newton). He was a keen collector of scientific and cultural trinkets - he left over 71,000 items on his death that became the foundation for the British Library, The British Museum and the London Natural History Museum. His name remains prominent in landmarks like Sloane Square. However, most importantly, Hans is also credited with introducing chocolate milk to England - after seeing something like it on his travels in the Caribbean.   A sweet CV.   There is also a Suffolk link here, as the Chelsea squad make their way up the A12 they will come close to Culford Park, a mind-bogglingly impressive stately home near Bury St Edmunds - which was bought by the Cadogans in the 1800s. Today it is the home to Culford School, one of the most prestigious boarding schools in England.   Back to the badge: The badge’s lion holding a staff symbolises the Abbots of Westminster, who historically controlled Chelsea and collected rents to fund their monastic operations. As such, I feel it represents a shift in power in England. The lion, representing a family of property, science, and innovation, firmly holds the power of the church in its paws. Henry VIII would be proud.   What initially seemed like a simple badge reveals some of the best aspects of England’s past, a nod to the former power of the church, a lion that symbolises exploration, science and hot chocolate - and a club with a tradition of honouring veterans. Very noble indeed — though let’s hope they have a poor day out in Suffolk!

In the heart of Essex sits its county town of Chelmsford (@OfficialClarets). Despite its size, economic strength, outstanding schools, and cultural institutions, Chelmsford has long been overshadowed in football by its Essex neighbours, Colchester and Southend, and even rivals Braintree, who currently play a league above them. Situated within London’s commuter belt, Chelmsford faces the challenge of losing support to the allure of London’s football giants. Nevertheless, they are a popular second team for many and deserve a much higher place in the footballing pyramid. They currently sit 15th in the National League South. With Southend and Colchester struggling, the title of Essex’s footballing crown is up for grabs. Could Chelmsford City finally step out of the shadows and claim it? Unlike most clubs, which emerged from bored cricketers in winter, Chelmsford was founded in 1878 by the city’s ‘Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club,’ - very fancy. In 1938, they turned professional, and their inaugural FA Cup run saw them beat Southampton 4–1 before bowing out to Birmingham City. Chelmsford has been a consistent non-league contender, most famously participating in the Anglo-Italian Cup in the 1970s and 1980s, facing clubs like Cremonese and Bari. With non-league football gaining attention thanks to Ryan Reynold’s Wrexham and a lucrative DAZN deal, perhaps it’s time to bring back the Anglo-Italian Cup? An Easy Jet flight for the squad would probably be cheaper than a cross-country coach trip and I’m sure it would draw patriotic crowds. So, let’s #GetTheBadgeIn. The football club’s badge is based on the city’s old coat of arms. While an updated version was granted in 1975, the original from 1889 remains its foundation. At the top, the badge features a circle with a bishop’s staff (crosier) and crossed swords. The circle, originally a ring of oak leaves, symbolises the civic authority of Chelmsford’s role as Essex’s county town since 1218. The swords represent the Bishop of London, who in the 1100s rebuilt a Roman-era bridge over the River Can. This bridge was a significant step and is also the main focal point of the badge (complete with the waves of the river underneath). Nearly 600 years after the Romans left Britain, the Normans revived this vital trade route to East Anglia. The badge also symbolises Chelmsford’s role as a gateway from London to the East of England—a role it still plays today, as anyone stuck at the station during a signal failure can confirm! The two crossed crosiers represent the Bishop of London, who held the Manor of Chelmsford, and the Abbot of Westminster, who held the Manor of Moulsham. At this time, England’s churches and monasteries wielded enormous power, collectively controlling over 50% of the country’s land. Rents paid from Chelmsford and Moulsham funded these institutions, enabling the construction of England’s breathtaking churches and cathedrals (like Chelmsford’s own)— these medieval mega-projects sprouted from the land on the backs of the peasant farmers’ graft. The badge also tells the story of Henry VIII’s break with Rome. The two lions flanking the crosiers are symbols of the Mildmay family (who have three upright lions on their shield), who were granted Moulsham Manor after it was confiscated from the Church. Thomas Mildmay, a loyal servant of the Tudors was made ‘Auditor of the Court of Augmentations’, which was the fancy name for the group that oversaw the redistribution of Church lands. Having thought long and hard about the best way to do it, Mildmay conveniently awarded himself the manor. There’s an interesting parallel here with Hornchurch to the south, whose FC badge features red roses linked to William de Wykeham, another Tudor official involved in redistributing Church lands to themselves. Also, both Mildmay in Chelmsford and Wykeham in Hornchurch used their newfound wealth to establish colleges at Cambridge University—Wykeham founded New College, while Sir Walter Mildmay, Thomas’s son, founded Emmanuel College. The modern University team should play Chelmsford in a friendly each year for a ‘Mildmay Medal’… just a thought. So, there we have it. Initially, I thought this badge, which was largely tied to religious orders, would make for a boring story. Instead, what you have is one that showcases the importance of trade to the nation (and infrastructure to facilitate it) and the transfer of power from Church to State. There could be little more English than this. Back in the 1970s, when non-league teams were sent to Italy to compete, sending Chelmsford, who’s badge tells the story of the seizure of Rome’s authority, could hardly have been more fitting. Let’s send them again. #ClaretsTogether #ManyMindsOneHeart

For our next #GetTheBadgeIn, we turn to another third-round FA Cup participant, @bromleyfc. On the 11th of January, this League Two team will travel north to take on Newcastle (@NUFC) at St James' Park. Not a bad away day!   So, let’s look more closely at Bromley. There’s a lot going on in this badge.   Firstly, Bromley is in South London—but only since 1965. Before that, it was part of Kent, and many people still call it Kent today. Their nickname is the Ravens, for fairly obvious reasons: they play in black and white, and there are three ravens across the middle of the badge. But why?   Note that the ravens are placed inside a wavy, river-esque line across the shield. They represent the River Ravensbourne, which flows through Bromley and into the Thames. It begins at Caesar’s Well—a natural spring with its own legend. Roman soldiers, searching for water, reportedly noticed a raven frequently visiting the same spot. Investigating further, they uncovered the spring, which remains there to this day and is still called Caesar’s Well.   The sun in the top-right quadrant symbolises the Manor of Sundridge, a nearby estate purchased by Sir Claude Scott in 1796. Scott made his fortune in grain imports and multiplied it further by investing in the East India Company—the Bitcoin of its time.   The shell in the bottom-right quadrant comes from the See of Rochester, which once held religious authority over the area. Saxon King Æthelberht, after becoming a Christian, established dioceses across his lands. The See of Rochester, which included Bromley, was the second diocese created, after Canterbury. Bromley itself became a site of pilgrimage after the construction of St Blaise’s Well, whose iron-rich waters were said to have healing properties. People travelled from far and wide to pray there and partake of the waters.   Interestingly, after the Norman Conquest, the area was seized by Odo of Bayeux, half-brother of William the Conqueror and the man who commissioned the Bayeux Tapestry. However, he eventually returned the land to the diocese, which was a rare concession—Normans didn’t tend to take many prisoners during their invasion.   The sprigs of broom (those corn-like features) are a nod to Bromley’s name, which derives from Old English for “a field where broom grows.” Broom is a type of wildflower.   The horse, which looks a bit like the Ferrari logo, actually comes from the white horse of Kent. Despite Bromley now being a London borough, the badge still harks back to its Kentish roots.   Bromley was also home to Charles Darwin, who formulated his theory of evolution and wrote On the Origin of Species while living there. It feels like the club is missing a trick by not making the three ravens part of an evolutionary chain. Oh well.   Bromley then—the Ravens—the sons of Roman legionaries, iron-rich pilgrims, successful grain merchants, and the authors of world-shaping theories. They’ve got more than enough about them to beat Newcastle. Come on, you Ravens!

The Black Arabs, The Poachers, The Pirates, The Gas… @IpswichTown  #FACUP opponents are @Official_BRFC They have an iconic badge and a great history. We also share a love of Marcus Stewart, a hero at both clubs. Let’s #GetTheBadgeIn for tomorrow’s visitors to Portman Road.   Let’s start with the nickname, The Black Arabs. When the club was founded in 1883 by five schoolteachers, they named themselves after a local rugby team, the Arabs. Wearing black kits with a yellow stripe, they became the Black Arabs.   Later, they renamed themselves Eastville Rovers after their area of the city. Playing on Purdown Hill, they gained the unflattering nickname "Purdown Poachers" for allegedly stealing players from rival clubs.   So, where does the pirate on their badge come from? Bristol’s port played a significant role in British history, launching both adventures and atrocities. (It was in Bristol that protesters famously threw Edward Colston’s statue into the harbour.) Much of the city’s wealth came from the Empire, through goods, maritime services, and slavery. Its high standards gave rise to the phrase “shipshape and Bristol fashion.” With the port’s massive tidal range, ships would rest on the muddy seabed when the tide was out. To survive this, they had to meet the strictest standards.   But why a pirate, and not just a sailor or anchor?   Bristol was home to many pirates, especially in the Elizabethan era. Early English "privateers" were state-backed insurgents who attacked enemy ships for plunder. Bristol’s port and skilled shipbuilders made it a prime base for these ventures, and streets brimmed with wealth when privateers returned to spend their riches.   Edward Teach, aka "Blackbeard," was a Bristol local who later moved to the Caribbean and became a notorious pirate. Another famous privateer, Peter Easton, attacked Spanish gold ships under Elizabeth I but later turned full pirate when peace was made under James I. He set up a base in Newfoundland, commanded a sizeable fleet, and retired wealthy in Italy under the protection of the Duke of Savoy.   Then there’s Lundy Island in the Bristol Channel, which became a pirate haven in the 1600s. Most famously, it was controlled by Moroccan "Barbary" pirates for five years, who preyed on Bristol-bound ships and even captured locals for slavery. While this was on a small scale compared to the transatlantic slave trade, it may explain the origins of the Arab nickname.   Ok, pirates, Arabs, empire… that all tracks.   But why are they now called The Gas? Their Eastville Stadium was next to Stapleton Gas Works, whose smell earned them the taunt "Gasheads" from visiting fans. The name stuck, and Rovers fans embraced it. Eastville was also notable for a greyhound track around the pitch. In 1939, Rovers sold the ground to the Bristol Greyhound Company, leasing it back to stay afloat. It later hosted the Bristol Bulldogs Speedway team and the Bristol Bombers American Football team.   In another strange twist of history the club today is owned by an Arab with very different intentions to the ones seem before. Kuwaiti investor Hussain AlSaeed now owns the club and has been channeling in money to upgrade facilities and keep the team afloat - in Bristol fashion.   Let’s welcome the Gasheads to Portman Road on Sunday.

The Seagulls are playing the Tractor Boys this evening. The last time the two met, back in September, they played out a goalless draw, and Ipswich picked up their second point of the season. Brighton and Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) have a very straightforward badge – but there's a lot more to it than meets the eye, along with a great backstory. So, let's do the South Coasters the honour and #GetTheBadgeIn.   Let's get straight to the point – why a Seagull? Clearly, there are a lot of seagulls in Brighton, but it actually derived from their long-standing rivalry with Crystal Palace. Playing them in the '70s, the Palace fans would chant ‘Eagles’. In response, and perhaps in jest, the Brighton fans began chanting back ‘Seagulls’. The name stuck, and a few years later, it made it to the badge.   That rivalry itself is worth looking at, as it's probably one of the strangest in football: Known as the "M23 derby," it originated in the mid-1970s, fueled by a series of intense matches, including five in one season, and the personal competition between managers Terry Venables of Crystal Palace and Alan Mullery of Brighton. The conflict between the two sets of fans was so fierce that the animosity has stuck and become entrenched as part of both clubs’ identities.   Prior to this, the team had actually tried to adopt a more fan-friendly nickname, and ‘The Dolphins’ was adopted after a fan poll – but it never really clicked.   So that’s the badge and the club. Let's look a little closer at the legacy of the towns they represent (both of them – Brighton and Hove, which are now basically just one giant urban blob, with the same council).   Firstly, Brighton’s real beef should be with the French, not Palace fans. In 1514, French raiders burnt much of Brighton (then known as Brighthelmstone) to the ground and the place had to be more or less rebuilt from scratch.   In 1651, Brighton again was at the forefront of international relations when, during the English Civil War, Charles II, having just seen his father's head get chopped off, escaped to the port and caught a boat to France for safety. This event is still commemorated every year with the ‘Royal Escape Yacht Race’ that starts in Brighton and ends in Fécamp, France.   But it was in the 18th and 19th centuries that Brighton really took off. Like many seaside resorts (think: Southend, Felixstowe, etc.), the arrival of the railway opened up the town to wealthy day-trippers from London. Brighton’s tourism boom was also helped, in part, by the belief, like in Bournemouth, that the local waters were good for health. An industry in health spas blossomed to cater to the mental and physical health of the prim and proper (and people complain today about people being woke... try a health retreat in Brighton in the 19th century, proper quack stuff going on).   Brighton became the favoured health retreat of the Royals, beginning with King George IV, who loved parties, women, and palaces – and accordingly commissioned Brighton’s famous Royal Pavilion as his holiday home (although it was under Queen Victoria that it was refurbished to include the beautiful oriental style frontage of pillars and domes).   During the First World War, the Royal Pavilion was transformed into an army hospital for Indian soldiers from the Commonwealth who were serving on the Western Front. Almost 140,000 Indians served in the trenches alongside the Brits during the First World War – their sacrifices are today honoured by The Chattri war memorial in Brighton.   Throughout the twentieth century, Brighton shifted away from tourism and more towards academics, hosting two large universities. Hundreds of thousands of students, added to Brighton’s existing industry of health resorts, created a climate with a lot of long-haired people pushing the boundaries of society  . As such, the local politics of the town have reflected this. There is a famously large LGBT community in Brighton, and since 2010, it has been home to Britain’s only Green MP, Caroline Lucas (despite the Greens actually receiving millions of votes, the voting system keeps them shut out in most places across the country, so it is nice that they at least get one voice in Parliament).             The seagulls come to Town today representing a history of seaside squabbles, sumptuous spas and sacrificing Sikhs. Let’s welcome them to Town while politely hoping they leave empty handed. Uppa Towen.

Braintree Town FC Next up in the History of Sports Badges and what they can teach us – is Essex National League team, Braintree Town FC . #GetTheBadgeIn @braintreetownfc , @BraintreeTownSS , @TheIronChat With the Vanarama National League now being covered by DAZN this has allowed me to watch a lot more NL than I ever had previously. I have a soft spot for Forest Green Rovers (I like Dale Vince, the owner) and I also have half an eye on Barnet (great badge – but also their keeper, Nick Hayes, is an Ipswich academy product). So ,it was a few days ago that I began watching some Braintree Town FC games, thinking that they’re about as local a National League team as there is to Ipswich. I also really like their third strip with the badge printed in large in the background. That’s a belter. I was even more interested when I saw their nickname was The Iron. Maybe a true rival to those ‘orrible hammers down the A12. I also enjoy their stadium sponsor name – the Rare Breed Meat Co Stadium. Now that’s a name. A bit more digging and I stumbled across a really interesting story, and sadly one that is set in Britian’s long-lost industrial past. The club began as a company team, Manor Works FC on 24 September 1898, serving as the works team for the Crittall Window Company, a firm known for its pioneering steel-framed windows. The nickname “Iron” stems from this connection, as Crittall was a major player in the iron and steel industry, even supplying windows for renowned buildings like the Houses of Parliament and the Tower of London, as well as the famous RMS Titanic. During both World Wars, Crittall factories shifted production to support the war effort. Women workers made munitions and crucial war supplies, including Bailey bridges, wing spars for planes and windows for military buildings. I wonder if there is a war memorial anywhere for the efforts of both the women - and many of the men/club's players who undoubtedly served? The badge of Braintree Town FC reflects this heritage. Designed in 1987 by Paul Claydon and Jon Weaver, the crest captures elements of the Crittall legacy. The centrepiece is an image of a factory, modelled after the Crittall Garage that once overlooked the club’s Cressing Road ground. This garage’s distinctive roof design is echoed in the badge, along with a factory chimney on one side and a floodlight pylon on the other, symbolising both the club's industrial heritage and its football ambitions. Between the chimney and floodlight hovers a football. Even though Braintree Town FC no longer maintains a formal link with Crittall Windows, Braintree Town FC’s badge and nickname serve as enduring reminders of a time when sport and industry were closely intertwined, and they continue to connect the club to its unique past as “The Iron” of Essex.

Time to take a look, then, at the Pilgrims—not the Wayne Rooney’d hair plug Pilgrims, but the OG Pilgrims: Boston United @bostonunited. They currently sit in the relegation zone of the National League and play host to table-toppers @FGRFC_Official at the weekend. However, as their history shows us, Boston can punch above their weight in more ways than one. So, let’s #GetTheBadgeIn.   Team-wise, they’ve mostly floated around the higher echelons of non-league football, with a 2002 appearance in League Two. They’ve had some great moments—most notably in 1955, when they beat Derby 6–1, and later achieved an unbeaten streak of 64 games, lasting two and a half years. They appointed Paul Hurst as joint manager in 2010, and he got them into the Conference North. Paul Hurst has a cracking record at this level and above—just not so much in the Championship...   Boston United stayed at this level until last year’s playoff final against Brackley Town, where they secured a 2–1 comeback victory to return to the National League after 14 years. This capped an incredible playoff run, with penalty shootout wins over Alfreton Town and Scunthorpe United.   So that’s the club. Let’s look a bit at Boston’s backstory before we get to the badge and the iconic name.   The land that is currently Boston was owned by the superbly named Ralph the Staller before the Norman invasion of 1066. Probably a handy guy to have around to block a solar farm or see out the game in extra time. Although, in reality, it just meant he literally looked after the King’s stall and was therefore a close advisor in the Royal Court.   Its strategic location, where freshwater rivers met tidewaters, made it an important port. It joined the Hanseatic League, just like Ipswich, benefiting from free and low-regulation trade with Europe. When King John levied a 7% tax on all ports in 1204, Boston returned the highest amount after London. Like Ipswich, it was a gateway for English wool: Ipswich took East Anglian wool; Boston took it from Lincolnshire/Yorkshire.   All was going well until Boston suffered its own "Hansexit" by arguing with foreign merchants and quitting the group. They timed this quarrel with the Haven silting. Trade collapsed, and the town shrunk. So, they quit a trading bloc, suffered a natural calamity, and endured an economic collapse. Who says history doesn’t repeat itself?   One successful industry that survived was fowling—hunting ducks and geese in the fens for meat and feathers. The Fogarty bedding company formed on the back of this trade, making luxury pillows and quilts known worldwide. Sadly, they closed in 2018, with Dunelm taking the brand name and manufacturing elsewhere.   Right then, now to the Pilgrim bit and that ship.   After Henry VIII’s break from Catholicism, there was debate about the direction of the new Church of England. In Boston, Lincolnshire, many favoured radical Puritan reforms, clashing with royal decrees. Many migrated to the Netherlands, and from there, in the early 1600s, to the Americas. Boston’s harbour acted as an exit point for Puritans across the Midlands seeking freedom of worship. Faith joined feathers in Boston's exports.   Among these reformers was John Cotton, a Puritan vicar at St Botolph’s Church, nicknamed "The Stump" because of its squat tower visible for miles - and also where the name Boston originated. A respected theologian from Cambridge, Cotton advocated for simpler worship practices and grew his congregation significantly, making him difficult to remove. However, after 20 years, he was forced out and fled to New England in 1633, joining Puritans who emigrated earlier, including those aboard the Mayflower.   In Massachusetts, Cotton became the first "Teacher" of Boston’s First Church. The city had already been named after Boston, Lincolnshire, by John Winthrop and others who shared ties to the English town. Cotton settled in the New World, and his grandson, Cotton Mather, became a key figure in American religious history.   So that’s Boston: Duties, Ducks, and Deacons; Feathers, Faith, and Football. For a small town, these guys have punched way above their weight.   Something Boston United FC need to relearn if they are to retain their National League status.

With all the excitement of the FA Cup at the weekend, it jogged memories of @BOREHAM_WOODFC's incredible cup run in 2020/21, which saw this National League South (and soon to be National League thanks to their 2025 promotion) outfit defeat @AFCWimbledon  and Premier League's @afcbournemouth before falling to @Everton in the last 16.   So, let's belatedly do them the honour, and #GetTheBadgeIn for @BOREHAM_WOODFC The team started in 1948 as a merger between Boreham Wood Rovers (formed 1919) and the fantastically named Royal Retournez FC. The two teams played next to each other, with the Royal's pitch jutting out from the Rovers' one. The Royals were a new team, formed by returning service personnel after the Second World War.   There was a bit of drama when rumours began to spread that the Royals were going to change their name to Boreham Wood FC and thereby become the de facto team of the town. Rovers, who felt they had more right to the name, called an emergency meeting of the two clubs.   A compromise was made – they'd both have the name – under one roof. The two teams merged, and Boreham Wood got its team.   Boreham, sitting today firmly in Hertfordshire's London commuter belt, doesn't have the most glamorous of starts. The first written record of the area in 1188 is the Pope (who owned large tracts of English land through the Church) gifting the wood at Boreham to the kitchens of the Abbey (presumably St Albans?) as a place to "feed their swine".   That said, its fortunes have improved in recent years. The railway arrived in 1868, connecting it to London and the Midlands, making it an attractive place to manufacture and later to live.   After the Second World War, its location was seen as the perfect place for the construction of council homes to rehouse those from London whose homes had been lost in the Blitz, and then later as part of the post-war slum clearances. The population grew rapidly, and it became a desirable location for London professionals.   But the real magic of Boreham Wood began further back, before the original Rovers team was made – in 1914. This is when the Neptune Film Company opened a studio. Drawn by the relative space of the area, combined with proximity to London, it became the perfect place for film studios to open up. And open they did. Many studios have operated from what are collectively known as the Elstree Studios (Elstree is the village next door, but most of the studios have been within Boreham Wood itself). It is sometimes known as the British Hollywood. You name it – it has probably been made in Boreham Wood.   Hitchcock, Kubrick, Lucas, Spielberg – to name a few who have worked there.   The Dambusters, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Where Eagles Dare, The Shining, Star Wars and Indiana Jones – to name a few of the movies.   And it might be easier to mention which British TV classics weren't made there, but to sample a few that were: EastEnders, Morecambe and Wise, The Muppets, Top of the Pops, Grange Hill, 'Allo 'Allo, Holby City.   Borehamwood quietly became the beating heart of British culture during the latter half of the 20th century.   And so that brings us more or less up to date. The football team currently sit 3rd in National League South. They develop not just movie stars but also football ones. Boreham Wood's academy has become a notable hotbed of footballing talent, repeatedly winning accolades for its work with youngsters on and off the pitch.   It is quite a history. From swine to the silver screen. Few towns have a bigger claim to embody the heart and soul of modern Britishness. I just wonder if the badge couldn't have encapsulated some of this heritage. Make the round badge a film reel? Feature the comedy and crying masks of drama? Heck – Star Wars was filmed there – have some crossed lightsabers! Do something with this remarkable heritage.   While that debate could go on, they have a fine team with a fine history, who every Saturday, look to put the town on the map for exploits on the pitch, not just at the pictures.

Bayern Munich. The most successful team in Germany. 33 Bundesliga titles, 20 German Cups, 6 Champions League titles, 2 UEFA Super Cups and 2 FIFA Club World Cups. These guys know what they’re doing. So, let’s #GetTheBadgeIn and take a proper look at one of the most recognisable crests in world football — and the rich story behind it. Beneath the polished squad and professional infrastructure lies something older and more grounded — something that’s visible in the club’s badge itself. At the heart of the crest is the blue-and-white diamond (lozenge) pattern, lifted directly from the Bavarian state flag. It’s the emblem of the House of Wittelsbach, Bavaria’s ruling dynasty for over 700 years. In the 19th century, these blue-and-white diamonds became the official symbol of the Kingdom of Bavaria, and have since been carried through into modern Bavarian statehood — and into the shirt of Germany’s most successful football club. Bavaria was never just another German state. When the German nation was formed in 1871, Bavaria only agreed to join under special conditions. These “reserved rights” meant Bavaria kept its own army, which remained under local control in peacetime; its own state railway system; its own postal and telegraph services; and, for a time, even its own diplomatic presence abroad. In short, Bavaria retained a level of autonomy within the country that reflected its historical weight, religious independence, and regional pride. Political movements for full Bavarian independence still exist and routinely poll well (especially when times are bad). One of the region’s most famous features are its architecture — most famously Neuschwanstein Castle. Built in the 19th century by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, it was designed as a personal retreat and a tribute to the composer Richard Wagner. Although it was never fully completed due to Ludwig’s mysterious death in 1886, its striking silhouette has become an icon of romantic German architecture. In fact, Neuschwanstein Castle inspired the design of Disney’s famous Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty castles — a real-life fairytale towering over the Bavarian Alps. Bavaria itself has undergone a transformation just as dramatic. From medieval principalities and baroque courts to a region defined by innovation, it has become a major industrial and economic hub — particularly in Munich, home to engineering firms, biotech labs, and world-class universities. BMW, Siemens and Allianz SE amongst others call the place home - and Allianz are obviously also the long term stadium sponsor. Culturally Bavaria and Munich are distinct in their own right too – such ‘German’ things as Lederhosen, Weißwurst sausage and the Oktoberfest are all from this region. Historically they retained their Catholic identity while the rest of Germany dabbled with those heretic protestant reformer folks. They consider themselves as distinctly distinct from the rest of Germany – and fiercely proud of it. Anyone that has been in Munich on gameday can attest to the energy and passion in the city as the beerhalls fill with fans before they move onto the games – usually with flags flying and in good chorus. The city's role in West Germany’s post-war economic boom mirrored the rise of FC Bayern, whose golden era in the 1970s made them a fixture in European football. Founded in 1900, Bayern Munich began as a breakaway group of footballers and slowly grew into a club that would come to dominate both domestically and abroad. The crest has evolved over time, but its core has remained the same — a modern ring of red and white around that traditional Bavarian centre. The club’s colours bordering the flag of Bavaeria: Bayern is proud of its roots, but outward-facing in its ambitions. Importantly, Bayern has also remained majority fan-owned, operating under Germany’s 50+1 rule. This structure allows it to retain its identity in an increasingly commercial world, while also funding world-class infrastructure and youth development. So, while others chase glamour, major foreign investors and global branding, Bayern’s badge stands firm — a symbol of tradition, pride, and relentless excellence built on the foundations of Bavaria itself.

There’s one team at this year’s FIFA Club World Cup that had to do something no other club did — ask their bosses for unpaid leave just to attend. That team is Auckland City Football Club. A squad made up of PE teachers, factory workers and accountants is now preparing to face global giants like Bayern Munich. No pressure, right? So let’s #GetTheBadgeIn and take a closer look at this remarkable bunch of legends. First things first — how on earth did they make it to the finals? The answer is simple: by being crowned Champions of Oceania. Auckland City FC won the OFC Champions League, a competition featuring the best sides from across the Pacific islands. That victory booked them a place in the Club World Cup, putting them on the same platform as the biggest clubs in the game. Now, just to clear things up — this isn’t Auckland FC. Yes, they’re from the same city, but they’re an entirely different beast. Auckland FC are fully professional and backed by Black Knight Football Group, the same ownership behind the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL and Bournemouth in the Premier League. Their badge looks like something out of Gotham City, dipped in Inter Milan colours. It’s slick, well-funded, and very modern. But let’s not get too carried away — the owner is a Trump-supporting clown, so we’ll keep our admiration in check. Because they’re a professional outfit, Auckland FC play in the A-League — the trans-Tasman top flight made up of clubs from across Australia and New Zealand. Winning that league sends you to the Asian Champions League, not the Oceania one. Auckland City FC, on the other hand, play in New Zealand’s Northern League. They’ve dominated regional football for years and, by conquering the Oceania route, they’ve ended up on football’s biggest stage. Interestingly, Auckland FC have just won the A-League and will represent New Zealand in Asia next year. That raises the mouth-watering possibility that the city of Auckland could one day send two separate clubs to the same Club World Cup — one as champions of Oceania, the other of Asia. Could we see a future FIFA World Cup hosting an Auckland Derby? Let’s hope we get to see that one day. Not bad for a team that had to file holiday forms to get there. So, let’s take a closer look at this badge – and what a beauty it is. It’s exactly the kind of badge I love: there’s an absolute tonne going on, and every element tells a story. Let’s start with the most obvious feature – the anchor. Or… is it? Yes, it is an anchor – but it’s more than that. The anchor pays tribute to Auckland’s identity as a maritime city. Its nickname, after all, is “The City of Sails,” and with good reason – roughly one in three Auckland households owns a boat (yes, really). Geography plays a huge part in that: Auckland sits on a narrow isthmus with the Tasman Sea on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. You’re never far from a harbour, and the city regularly hosts major events like the America’s Cup yacht races. But look again – the top of that anchor is shaped like the Sky Tower, Auckland’s most iconic landmark. It dominates the skyline, rising above the business district, complete with a rotating restaurant and glass-floored viewing platforms. Including the Sky Tower in the badge brings a modern edge to the club’s identity. It reflects Auckland as New Zealand’s economic powerhouse, home to major international firms and the gateway for most visitors arriving in the country. Now shift your eyes to the background – behind the anchor is a green silhouette. That’s Rangitoto, the volcanic island that looms just offshore from the city. Rangitoto is Auckland’s youngest and most recognisable volcano – now extinct, but one of more than 50 volcanic cones scattered across the region. Featuring Rangitoto on the badge is a tribute not just to Auckland’s striking natural landscape, but to New Zealand’s volcanic origins – remember, this is Middle-earth terrain we’re talking about. But Rangitoto also carries deeper meaning. It’s a nod to the land and the history of the Māori people. On 20 March 1840, Apihai Te Kawau, paramount chief of Ngāti Whātua–Ōrākei, signed the Treaty of Waitangi in nearby Manukau Harbour. Seeking protection from rival iwi, Te Kawau made a strategic gift (tuku) of about 3,500 acres around Waitematā Harbour to Lieutenant-Governor William Hobson. That act opened the way for the founding of the European settlement that would become Auckland. Rangitoto, in this sense, represents the land, legacy, and layered history of the city. And finally – check the pattern behind it all. That yellow and white checkerboard? It’s a direct tribute to the club’s roots. Auckland City FC was born from Central United, a team formed by Croatian migrants from the Dalmatian Coast. While their kits were yellow and white, the checkerboard design echoes the red-and-white Croatian flag – a proud nod to the club’s community origins and cultural heritage. So there you have it. Probably my favourite badge in the whole competition. It’s bold, it’s meaningful, and it’s packed with history – a badge that doesn’t just look good, but says something real about the place it represents. Let’s hope this bunch of amateurs can put on a good show and enjoy the experience – certainly the guaranteed $3.58 million they’ll get just for qualifying will help them enjoy themselves – (and an additional $1 million if they can steal a draw). What is perhaps best about Auckland City however is that because they compete in amateur leagues – that money cannot go on player salaries and transfer fees – so instead it will all be ploughed back into the club’s infrastructure, youth teams and community outreach programmes. Auckland will benefit from the legacy of this competition for decades to come. Choice, bro. As they say.

It is 1907. Egypt is nominally a free state under the Ottoman Empire. Only it isn’t. Having invaded Egypt in 1882 to secure their interests in the Suez Canal, the British ruled from behind the scenes. British military, business, and political officials lived in and around the Garden City district of Cairo, where Lord Cromer, the British Consul-General, resided. This ‘veiled protectorate’, as it has since been known, brought British, Italian, and Greek communities into the Egyptian capital. With them, they brought football – that fast-growing game of the industrial cities of Europe. British soldiers and officials formed their own teams and created mini-leagues to entertain themselves during their downtime. The locals were excluded. Watching on, however, was a group of patriotically minded Egyptian students. Chief among them was a young lawyer named Omar Lotfy. He had the idea of forming an Egyptian club, for Egyptians. A team to represent the working men of Cairo – one that would serve a dual purpose: to offer local young men a healthy pastime, and to provide a forum for discussing political unity and independence. And so, that is what he did. Al Ahly was founded with the explicit aim of furthering Egyptian independence. The Eagle of Saladin became its emblem – Saladin being the legendary military leader who reclaimed Jerusalem from the Crusaders, striking fast and with precision. The team played in the red and white of the Egyptian flag. Even the name, Al Ahly, means The National Club . The club grew quickly, and in 1917 it was invited to join the British-sponsored Sultan Hussein Cup. As a gesture of protest, they declined, joining a year later instead. But once they started playing, they really  started playing. Al Ahly is now the most successful football club in Africa. They have claimed 45 Egyptian Premier League titles, dozens of national cups, and been crowned African champions a record 12 times. The club has long been based on Gezira Island, in the heart of Cairo. This island in the middle of the Nile is an oasis of sports fields and parks in an otherwise frantic city of over 20 million people. The original Al Ahly stadium stands, fittingly, just across from the colonial-era Gezira Sporting Club – a deliberate decision by the club’s founders. Just minutes away are the Cairo Tower and the Cairo Opera House, landmarks that help define this affluent and culturally rich district. That said, this is no team for the elites. Ever since its inception, Al Ahly has represented the working class of Egypt. Known as The People’s Club , it stood firm against colonial and royalist teams and enjoys passionate support from Egypt’s vast diaspora around the world. It is the team of the taxi drivers, street vendors and shop owners of Egypt. It bleeds Egyptian pride and identity. Today the team has moved into the much larger Cairo International Stadium a few minutes drive away over the river, it can hold more than 70,000 fans. That said, as part of the huge investment pouring into Cario (and 'New Cairo - a new city being built with Gulf investment to house the government) Al Ahly are set to get a new home. The proposed 42,000 seater stadium will be the anchor tenant and attraction of a new Al Ahly Sports Club Sports City district. The stadium has a beautiful archway dominating the skyline, welcoming guests to the new district. Al Ahly’s influence extends far beyond the football pitch. Its ultra-passionate fan group, the Ultras Ahlawy, played an active role in the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, standing on the frontlines of protests in Tahrir Square and defending fellow demonstrators. Their organisation and unity, forged in the terraces, became a force for social change – a powerful example of how deeply the club is embedded in the community. In times of tragedy too, such as the Port Said stadium disaster of 2012, where dozens of Al Ahly fans lost their lives, the supporters have come together in mourning and solidarity, calling for justice and remembrance. To this day, Al Ahly remains more than a football club. It is a symbol of national pride, resilience, and resistance. Rooted in Egypt’s history, carried forward by the people, and always standing for something greater than the game itself – Al Ahly is not just a team; it is a movement, a community, and a beating heart of Egyptian identity.

This summer in the USA there will be one team, playing in a regal purple that most global fans probably are unaware of. That said, their colours and badge – a fort – are probably the most striking of all the teams on show during this years’ FIFA Club World Cup. The fort in question is Al Jahili Fort and it has become the symbol of the Abu Dhabi’s second city (for local residences it is familiar from ‘Al Ain Water’ – the most popular brand of bottled water in the country) and for being on the 50-dirham bank note. The fort’s silhouette on the badge has deep historical and cultural meaning: it was once the home of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE’s founding father. It doesn’t get much more rooted than that. The badge’s colours – royal purple trimmed with gold and white – further echo this legacy ( the colours were actually inspired by RSC Anderlecht – who Al Ain once played in a friendly tournament in Morrocco – the owners loved the look of their purple kits so much they adopted the colours). Top it off with two golden stars celebrating their two Asian titles. The story of Al Ain FC begins in 1968, when a group of local players, foreign students, and expats in the oasis city decided to form a team. They had passion in spades, but in those early days, resources were as scarce as rain in the desert. Enter the Al Nahyan royal family. The young club found a patron in Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan (who later became UAE’s President), who quite literally put them on the map – he provided a permanent clubhouse in Al Jahili neat the fort and even gifted them a Land Rover to shuttle players around. By 1971, Al Ain got a modern stadium courtesy of Sheikh Khalifa, and other members of the royal family took the helm in club leadership. (Fun fact: the current UAE President, Mohamed bin Zayed, served as Al Ain’s club president in 1979) Those early years weren’t all smooth sailing, though. The club faced typical growing pains, even a local rival breakaway at one point, until merging with a smaller club in 1974 to unite Al Ain’s football efforts. But by the mid-1970s, Al Ain FC had found its footing. They entered the national UAE league in 1975/76 and, incredibly, won their first championship in 1977. From a desert outpost team to national champions in under a decade – not too shabby for a club born in an oasis. Thus began the era of the “Purple Reign.” And reign they did. Al Ain is the  dominant force in Emirati football, with a record 14 league titles to date. On the Asian stage, Al Ain have achieved what no other UAE club has: becoming kings of the continent. In 2003, Al Ain stunned Asia by winning the AFC Champions League, defeating Thailand’s BEC Tero Sasana in the final. Fast forward 21 years and the Boss (as Al Ain are nicknamed) did it again – in 2024 they claimed their second Asian Champions League title. After a narrow first-leg loss in Japan, Al Ain roared back at home, thumping Yokohama F. Marinos 5-1 in the return leg to win 6-3 on aggregate. This summer Al Ain will be competing with fresh memories of their last FIFA Club World Cup performance – where they went up against the legendary River Plate in the knock out stages and beat them on penalties before falling to Real Madrid in the finals. So Al Ain are no strangers to playing – and defeating – the best the world has to offer. So that’s the club, what about the actual city – because you need to understand that to truly understand why this club is unique. Al Ain is often dubbed the “Garden City” of the UAE, a stark contrast to the glittering skyscrapers of Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Here, life flourished, with human settlements from 4,000+ years ago discovered. Their success in the desert came mostly thanks to the locally developed and ingenious falaj irrigation system which channels water to palm groves. In fact, the Al Jahili Fort on the badge was strategically built to defend the city’s precious oasis and its falaj water channels. The city’s very name means “The Spring” in Arabic, and its sprawling oases, fed by those underground aqueducts, were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2011. The British briefly used it as an outpost for the Omani Scouts in the 1960s and it was those British trained and equipped scouts that became the foundation of the UAE’s armed forces after Sheikh Zayed led the unification of the Emirates in 1971. This city was also the formative stomping ground of the Sheikh himself. He served as the governor of Al Ain in the decades before uniting the UAE. Under his guidance, Al Ain got the nation’s first wildlife park (Al Ain Zoo, opened in 1968 – the same year the football club was founded). He planned the city out with his advisors, using date palms to line and map out the road network before the roads were even built! So, there we have it. Al Ain, the Spring, from where the modern-day UAE has sprung. From innovative irrigation, to unifying Sheikhs, to inspiring interplay on the pitch – Al Ain are not to be underestimated.