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In honour of Harborough Town FC ’s recent victory over Tonbridge in the 1st round of the FA Cup, which has secured them an exciting 2nd round fixture against former Premier League side Reading on 30th November, we’re taking a look back at the club’s history, its town, and the bold, iconic badge that represents them. Harborough Town FC, based in Market Harborough (sitting halfway between Leicester and Northampton), came together in 2007 when Harborough Town Minis, HT Juniors, and Spencers United merged under a single banner. The club badge, designed by local architect and then-chairman Tim Bale, has as its centrepiece the Old Grammar School building—a famous structure in the centre of Market Harborough—sitting atop a football. The Old Grammar School itself is a strikingly beautiful building (check it out: https://atlasobscura.com/places/the-old-grammar-school… ).   Built in 1614 with funds from a local notable, Robert Smythe, it was constructed on stilts to provide a sheltered butter market area. Originally a school for impoverished boys, students received bibles and studied Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, with many joining the Church of England clergy. Later, it served wealthier families' sons before closing in 1908. Its most famous student, Nobel laureate William Henry Bragg, won the award in 1915 with his son for x-ray crystallography.   The market itself was established in 1204 and has run on Tuesdays ever since 1221—a remarkable record. Market Harborough even played a part in the English Civil War: it served as the headquarters for King Charles I’s army before the fateful Battle of Naseby, after which captured Royalists were held in Harborough's chapel as prisoners—surely the definition of something not going quite to plan. Today, Harborough Town FC has grown into a 3 Star FA Accredited club. This status is awarded to clubs that demonstrate a commitment to an inclusive pathway, allowing everyone who wants to get involved in the game. To that end, they boast over 60 teams across all age groups, for both men and women, including a veterans team, an inclusive team and a walking team —a truly impressive powerhouse of local football.    This month has been full of good news for Harborough. Not only have they reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time and won their first match, securing a draw against a former Premier League team, but—perhaps more astonishingly in today's Britain—they've been granted planning permission to expand their stadium! An extra 175 seats and improved facilities will soon be added to their Bowdens Park ground. Love this story.

I grew up in Suffolk, but my dad's family is all from Grimsby. My dad grew up as a Grimsby Town FC fan and always looks out for them, even today. They've just hit a good spell of league form—last weekend's away win at AFC Wimbledon was their fifth consecutive away win, a record last achieved in 1952!   So, in their honour, let's #GetTheBadgeIn and see what the Mariners have to teach us... .   At its height, Grimsby was the biggest fishing port in the world, a hub of industry that shaped not just the town but British culture itself.   The badge pays homage to this maritime legacy, featuring a fishing trawler as a symbol of the town's historic fleet, along with black and white stripes representing the team's colours. The shape of the crest also is that of a trawler. In the 1950s, there used to be around 400 trawlers operating from Grimsby alone. It must have been a sight to see them all leave or come back—if only Instagram was around then. I bet we'd have some incredible images of this.   Grimsby's impact on British life really took off in 1848 when the railway connected it to London and other major cities. Suddenly, fresh fish from Grimsby could be sold almost anywhere within 24 hours of being caught. Other innovations added to this remarkable industry. The 1880s saw the first steam trawlers operating from Grimsby, allowing them to be bigger, faster, and fish further from shore. The Grimsby Dock Company built cranes and gates that used hydraulic power—supplied by the Grimsby Dock Water Tower, which at a height of 61m dominates the skyline and is tall enough to generate the hydraulic force needed to operate the dock's machinery.   To accommodate this surge in catch, the Grimsby Ice Factory was built in 1901. It used revolutionary methods and produced 1,200 tonnes of ice a day to keep the fish fresh. Though now abandoned, the factory is currently seeking funding to transform into a modern leisure facility, with restaurants and a cinema. Let's hope they achieve it; it would be a remarkable use for the site.   The speedy supply of fresh fish directly contributed to the rise of fish and chips as Britain’s national dish—a status cemented during the Second World War when fish and chips were never officially rationed. Supposedly, the government felt this would cause too much pushback and risk riots or even revolution (George Orwell once wrote that fish and chips acted like a drug, keeping British people happy with their miserable existence!).   That said, prices did rise during the war because thousands of trawlers had been taken into service with the Royal Navy Patrol Service. Tens of thousands of trawlermen served alongside thousands of, usually white-collar, urban professionals from the Royal Navy Reserve, operating within the Royal Navy Patrol Service. I should mention that Lowestoft in Suffolk also became a large base for the RNPS. This branch of the navy was the most dangerous to serve in during the entire war. Grimsby men risked life and limb in those small trawlers, defending Britain’s shores and clearing mines to secure the coasts.   Grimsby Town FC itself also boasts its own pioneering history. Blundell Park, the club’s home ground, is the oldest stadium in the English Football League still in use, and the club was the first in Britain to hire a foreign manager—a Hungarian, long before the Premier League made international managers fashionable.   Today, their mascot, Harry the Haddock, is an inflatable fish that fans have been bringing to games for decades. Their official on-pitch mascot is Mighty Mariner, a white-bearded trawlerman.   The Mariners’ badge is a story of a town that embraced new technology, fed a nation, defended its coastlines, and delivered the greatest and most iconic British dish of all time.   There’s a lot to like in that badge.   My Grandad would be proud.   @officialgtfc, @FPL_Fish, @phillipnorton, @JohnTondeur, @RichMariner, @therealbenno, @onthisGTFCday, @Mightymariner

Ok, so this #GetTheBadgeIn  sees us look across to the Spanish @LaLigaEN and Getafe FC, @GetafeCFen : I fell down a Wikipedia rabbit hole while watching the @ManUtd  v @ChelseaFC  game.   I Googled their striker Garnacho, which then led me to the first team he played for, a Spanish outfit called Getafe FC— which is a city/suburb on the outskirts of Madrid. Their crest has planes on it. Planes! And a flaming heart!   I instantly fell in love with it, so I started digging. The bulk of the crest is taken directly from the Getafe City coat of arms—with the city’s crown replaced by a football at the top of the badge, with an electric blue circle around it containing the club’s name. The badge is split in two.   The most instantly striking feature is the patterned bomber aircraft against the green background. Getafe is home to a large military air base - and the first one built to house the Spanish Air Force back in 1911. It’s therefore known as the cradle of Spanish aviation. Today it still operates, housing a squadron of Spanish-built CN235 transport aircraft. They look like a smaller version of the US C130-Hercules that the British flew until 2023.   The area still has a strong aviation heritage, as the European giant aircraft manufacturer Airbus has a huge manufacturing plant in Getafe, named Campus Futura, which designs and builds many of the electronic components for Airbus planes. But it doesn’t stop there; at their Getafe plant, they also build the upper launch sections of the European Space Agency’s Ariane 6 rocket and the same section for the Falcon 9, owned and operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, as well as the Japanese Space Agency’s H3 rocket.   That's cool. The other side of the crest is perhaps even more interesting, despite not being the half that initially caught my attention. The red and yellow colours of Spain form a traditional Latin/Christian cross, with a burning red heart at its centre. This symbolises the Catholic devotional practice (e.g. a prayer that some Catholics say) of the “Sacred Heart of Jesus.” The connection to the club is the large monument to this devotion in the middle of Getafe, known as Cerro de los Ángeles. It is a tall column featuring a statue of Christ at the top.   Opened in 1919 by the Spanish King and being deeply Catholic, the monument was blown up by Republican soldiers during the Spanish Civil War (Ipswich link: George Orwell fought on the Republican side - but not near Madrid, so don't blame him). After the Civil War, the Spanish dictator Franco had it rebuilt to the exact same dimensions—but on a larger scale—just to prove a point.   So, that’s the cross and the flaming heart explained. I love this crest. There’s a lot packed into it. Religion and Rockets. The old and the new. Much better than a periquito.

This one involves a Thai restaurant in Harwich and a caravan parked just outside Great Yarmouth... There is a football club from one of the most picturesque towns in England. Set in the rolling hillsides of the Cotswolds, it has an ancient history: a Roman settlement, incredible medieval churches, and an old mill town with a history of brewing. It's beautiful. And everyone seems to mock it. But they shouldn't. This club is, of course, Forest Green Rovers @FGRFC_Official . And they're the next #GetTheBadgeIn .   Now, I’m not here to get political. But if a multimillionaire steps in to support a struggling club, that’s a win in my book. If that millionaire happened to make his money from creating a homegrown energy supplier, providing electricity to the grid through wind farms, then I'd argue that's better than a Middle Eastern despot who makes their money pumping crap into the atmosphere. And if that guy started life as a hippy from Great Yarmouth, and if that club was itself founded by a guy from Harwich—well, you've got my attention. So, first—to Harwich, Essex. 9th July. The Half Moon Inn*. Edward Peach is born. His father was an engineer on HMS Simoon, an iron-screw troop ship that served in the Crimean War (one of Harwich's best pubs is called The Alma, after the Battle of Alma in that war...).   Anyway. Edward Peach would grow up and enter the Church, becoming a Congregational minister and serving in the small town of Nailsworth, Gloucestershire. It was here he set up a football team for local youth. He called it Forest Green, after the area of Nailsworth in which it was based. They competed in various local leagues with...not much luck. They finished the 1906–7 season on 0 points (they did win a game but then had 2 points deducted for fielding an ineligible player). Things picked up over the years. They won the FA Vase in 1981, became consistent in the Conference (5th tier) during the 80s and 90s, but struggled at times.   In 2010, @DaleVince  bought the club. Vince, from Great Yarmouth, became a New Age Traveller, bimbling about the country, no doubt munching mushrooms and occasionally confronting the police for his right to party like a druid at Stonehenge (he did—in 1985). He said he installed a wind turbine on his caravan and then had a eureka moment: make more. Many, many more. His company, @ecotricity , currently produces 87.2 megawatts from its own wind turbines—and with the profits, they build more turbines. A plan designed to blow away the competition.   Back to the club: In 2011, the club changed its badge to its current version. The old badge was a copy of the Barcelona badge with some tweaks—a St George's cross, a solid green block, and black and white stripes to reflect the club colours. The new badge included a lion (for strength) and a unicorn (for "some magic"), along with the club's founding date, 1889. It's a good-looking badge, but I feel it missed an opportunity. Plucking two characters out of thin air seems very...American.    Nailsworth, as stated, was a mill town and brewery, but as part of the Stroud District, its history includes famous woollen mills, military uniform production, and two waves of migration: the French Huguenots and European Jews. But they went for a lion and a unicorn. Not even a windmill. Alas.   The club today has big ambitions (somewhat stalled by a double relegation to the National League under a series of "even worse than the last" managers). That said, they've stabilised under Steve Cotterill and are playing some good stuff, sitting second in the league. Vince's impact has been transformational, though. A new badge and kit (black and green, from black and white—which does make sense from a branding point of view) was just the beginning. His decision to label the club the world's first "Vegan Football Team" brought it coverage in global and national papers. Extra money was put into the team and facilities, and an exciting new plan for the future exists: a new 5,000-seater stadium, made entirely from wood but looking sleek and modern, is due to be built in a new eco-park.   Football teams have always been spun out of the economic changes of their time. Most are steeped in the steel mills, coal mines, and railways of the Industrial Revolution. In this context, I think it's only fitting that some start to reflect the modern world (Hashtag United...maybe too crass an attempt). Green Energy is a huge employer across the UK, from ships bobbing up and down off Doggerland to engineers installing smart grids in Somerset.   Forest Green Rovers, and the industry behind them, are here to stay. #UpTheVegans *Today, it is a Thai restaurant called "Thai up on the Quay" and is phenomenal—I used to live right behind it.

The modern ‘FC Halifax Town’ (@FCHTOnline) was formed in 2008 after Halifax Town A.F.C. was dissolved due to over £814,000 in tax debts, the new club began life in the Northern Premier League Division One North, the eighth tier of English football. Under Neil Aspin’s management, FC Halifax achieved three back to back promotions, helped in part by a young striker called Jamie Vardy, climbing to the National League by 2013. The new Shaymen have also enjoyed cup success, winning the FA Trophy twice, first in 2015–16 and again in 2022–23. Their current badge is a modern take on the older shield, featuring blue and white stripes with a prominent white rose in the centre. The white rose, representing Yorkshire (also seen on the Leeds badge and other Yorkshire teams), reappears in the modern design as smaller roundels flanking the circle containing the club’s name. The badge features their nickname, ‘The Shaymen’, derived from their home ground, ‘The Shay’, meaning ‘small wood’ in Old English. The estate, named in 1462, was passed down through nobles and developed for various uses, including the Shay Mansion, built in the 1700s. The mansion was demolished in 1903 after a new road, constructed on gasworks waste, made it unliveable. The waste caught fire in 1905, collapsing the road, which was later rebuilt with safer materials. The Shay Stadium, in use since 1921, has hosted football, rugby, speedway, and ice skating. So that’s the current badge, stadium and nickname, sorted. Digging deeper, we find an earlier badge used by the club, featuring the Halifax Town coat of arms. This one is a bit magical—I’ll include the image in this post. First, let’s address the giant ginger dude on the badge. Who is he? It’s John the Baptist. St John’s Church, the oldest in town, is dedicated to him, and his image appears throughout Halifax. The first church on this site dates to around 1120. Its organist in 1766, William Herschel, used to build telescopes in his spare time – and was the first man to discover the planet Uranus, the first new planet to be discovered since antiquity. The shield itself is chequered blue and yellow; these are the colours of the Warenne family. William Warenne was cousin to William the Conqueror and fought by his side at the Battle of Hastings. Halifax, and a lot of land in Surrey (he was given the title ‘Earl of Surrey’), were his reward. The town grew as a centre for the local wool trade, which explains the sheep atop the crest. However, locals had a reputation for rowdiness, prompting authorities to innovate by introducing the Halifax Gibbet. This early form of the French guillotine was used for public executions, with records showing its use from the 13th to 17th centuries—far longer than anywhere else in England. English poet John Taylor, in the 16th century, penned The Beggar’s Litany , where the beggar exclaims, “From Hell, Hull and Halifax, Good Lord, deliver us!”  (Hull is mentioned for its practice of tying criminals to posts at low tide to drown). In Halifax, men spent three days in stocks, displayed with the goods they were accused of stealing, before execution.   During the Industrial Revolution, Halifax, like many other Yorkshire towns, was central to the wool trade, with large mills employing thousands. In this respect, it shares heritage with Lancashire mill towns like Accrington and Manchester. However, what makes this town’s story a bit different is the success of hits namesake bank - The Halifax. With all the investment in factories and infrastructure (mills, canals, railways), someone needed to provide the capital. Enter the Halifax Bank. The bank became a building society, mutually owned by its members, pooling funds to help with home construction. Initially, it worked with larger philanthropists, funding homes for factory workers, such as Edward Akroyd's Akroydon scheme in today’s ‘Boothtown’ district and John Crossley’s West Hill Park Model Dwellings. Both are still standing as beautiful Victorian-era homes. Later, the bank expanded nationwide, helping individuals with home building and mortgages. My first-ever bank account was opened at the Halifax on Felixstowe High Street in Suffolk. So, FC Halifax: A mixture of Yorkshire mill town grit, a tradition of swift executions and canny long term investments – The #Shaymen are never to be written off.

The more of these I do, the more incredible and interconnected East Anglian history seems. And our next #GetTheBadgeIn is no exception. Today, we explore the current @ThurlowNunnL table toppers, @fakenhamtownfc, also known as The Ghosts.   Let's jump straight into the badge. It's a ghost—or at least, I think it is. The design has changed from an older version that looked more ghostlike. This newer version seems like it’s holding a rolling pin.   After much searching, I’m still unsure about the badge's origins. The club’s website shares two newspaper clippings explaining the nickname. According to the story, a woman in the Suffolk village of Fakenham once ran home after being followed by strange footsteps. The tale spread, and a sports reporter confused the Suffolk Fakenham with the Norfolk one, calling the football team "The Ghosts." The name stuck.   However, there is another... spooky... coincidence here. Fakenham borders Raynham Hall, where, in 1936, the famous "Brown Lady" ghost photo was taken. It shows a distinctly ghostlike figure descending the stairs (though no rolling pin is in sight).   Regardless of the origin, both explanations are excellent—and maybe both are true? Either way, "The Ghosts" is a fantastic name.   What of the club itself then? Formed in 1884, they've won the Norfolk Senior Cup seven times so far. This season, they're riding high again, looking for promotion, aided by @jakeyyyyboy9 , Jake Watts, who has scored 22 goals in 13 games—genuine paranormal activity.   Let’s look a bit at the town itself. Fakenham sits at a strategic crossroads between Norwich, Swaffham, Cromer, and King's Lynn. It had royal connections: before 1066, it was owned by King Harold Godwinson (the fellow who got the arrow in the eye at Hastings). Afterwards, it transferred to the new king, William the Conqueror.   Later, it was gifted to nobleman Guy Ferre, who fought alongside Edward I in the Crusades and later in his wars against Scotland. From him, it passed to the famous John of Gaunt, the first Duke of Lancaster and founder of that House of Lancaster, which would dominate England for centuries.   John fought bravely in the Hundred Years' War against the French, but his campaigns coincided with the Black Death, which claimed more of his soldiers than enemy action. Many of his military expeditions achieved little.   When Richard II was king, John of Gaunt became a key advisor and supported the poll tax in 1381. This unpopular move, also backed by Simon of Sudbury, the Archbishop of Canterbury, led to disaster. Sudbury lost his head (still on display there), and John was fortunate to be out of town when rebellious peasants burned down his London home, the Palace of Savoy.   More recently, Fakenham became known for its printing presses (celebrated on the town’s sign) and its nearby racecourse, specialising in thoroughbred racing.   So, the town is certainly more than a mere apparition. Beneath the friendly ghost is a tale of military might and industrial innovation—a history to be proud of. Fakenham Town FC are printing the next chapter as we speak.

As an Ipswich fan and former academy host, I’ve followed the progress of young players as they advance in their careers. One such talent is Ben Morris, who had a stellar academy goal-scoring record and regularly played for England’s U17s. Despite not making the Ipswich first team, he was loaned to Forest Green and then to the Swedish club GAIS before joining @DetroitCityFC in the @USLChampionship . If that sounds familiar, it’s because this is the same league as Ipswich's sister club, Phoenix Rising. In their honour, let’s take a closer look at Detroit FC, their badge, and their journey - #GetTheBadgeIn To begin with, this club has an inspiring origin story. It began as the Detroit City Futbol League (DCFL), a local community football league founded by Sean Mann, who still serves as CEO. Mann created the league to unite Detroit’s diverse communities through a shared love of football, bringing together teams from various backgrounds. In interviews, he recalls how the league featured groups from all walks of life, bringing together people who might not otherwise cross paths. It doesn’t matter where you come from – you can always argue if something was offside or not. However, to understand the significance of this in the Detroit context, a quick Google search for "Detroit abandoned buildings" shows that this city has not had the best half-century. Once the USA’s "Motor City" that hosted @Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler, Detroit was a magnet for ambitious workers and families from around the world. Ford’s Model T, and arguably the world’s first assembly line, were produced here. It even created its own musical genre – the songs from Detroit would come to be known as #Motown (short for Motor Town). Today, however, Detroit faces huge challenges and is part of America’s Trump-supporting "Rust Belt" – a place where poverty, frustration, and resentment at economic decline can all too easily manifest in negative ways. Enter the heroes: community action groups like the DCFL. Building on their good works in the community and the large numbers attracted to the game, they eventually spawned a more professional flag-bearer team – Detroit City FC. Formed in 2012, they initially played in local leagues (winning the “Rust Belt Trophy” a few times) before joining the USL Championship in 2021. In 2024, they announced the purchase of land for a new stadium in the city, planned to open in 2027. The new stadium will be on the site of a closed hospital – a massive urban regeneration project that will continue the club’s positive impact on rebuilding this once-mighty city. But enough about the club’s history – what about the badge? Starting with the Fleur-de-Lys pattern in the background, this symbol pays homage to Detroit's French roots, as the city was founded by French settlers in 1701. Previously, the area was controlled by the Iroquois, but they had recently been weakened by conflicts with other tribes in the "Beaver Wars” ( smirk ). This opened an opportunity for the French, who established a settlement and named it "Detroit," meaning "strait" in French, referring to the Detroit River, a narrow waterway connecting Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie. The French connection is further honoured through the colour – dark red – taken from the River Rouge, which runs through the city and flows into the larger Detroit River. The river is also home to Ford’s ‘River Rouge Complex.’ Over the years, this mega-factory has produced everything from Model T components to anti-submarine patrol boats during WWI, B-24 Liberator bombers in WWII, and, more recently, electric vehicles. Lastly, the giant golden figure in the centre of the badge – what’s that about? This is the ‘Spirit of Detroit,’ a large bronze statue in the heart of the city that has long symbolised Detroit. In one hand, it holds a ray of sunshine (divine light), and in the other, a representation of the people of Detroit. The figure appears on nearly all civic institution crests, such as those of the police and city council. When Detroit’s sports teams, like the @Lions (NFL) or @DetroitRedWings (NHL), achieve success, someone usually finds a jersey large enough for the statue to wear. So, that’s Detroit City FC: a unifier of people, a powerhouse of urban regeneration, and a club steeped in colonial and industrial heritage. Quite the badge. Let’s hope the Spirit of Detroit is soon proudly wearing the Rouge of the club.

Let's visit the Rams and #GetTheBadgeIn . Let's start with the obvious. The Ram. There is a superb story about the ram that directly ties the club to the modern Mercian infantry regiment. But. Before we get to that, the symbol of the ram has deeper roots than even that. And it's also a bit weird. There is an ancient tradition around Derbyshire, derived from pagan worship, of the "Old Tup". Old Tup was a Christmas tradition where teams, including a butcher, a crossdresser, and Beelzebub (mischievous deamon), carried a wooden ram head on a pole - under a sack, to local houses. They'd knock on the door and perfom the staged slaughter of Old Tup, with the butcher miming its death before the ram fell to the floor. ...Merry f*cking Christmas. This tradition was immortalised in the folk song The Ballad of the Derby Ram which goes back to at least the 16th century. The ballad tells the tale of a huge ram which would dwarf anything seen in nature, a Godzilla of a ram. The locals would struggle to tame it before eventually butchering it - the next verse reads... “the boys of the town begged the butcher for the eyes, to kick about in the streets as they were football size.” That's one way to train. Surely Derby need to sell goggle eyed footballs in their Club Shop. Ok. So far so weird. But now it gets really impressive - and we have to go to Colonial India to pick up the story. In 1858 the 95th Derbyshire Regiment were fighting the Indian Mutiny. After one skirmish a ram was seen wondering around and an officer ordered it killed. Instead, he was spared from being turned into mutton stew, joining the Derbyshires on their 3,000-mile march across India as the regiment's adopted mascot. For his service, the ram was awarded the India Medal with Clasp for Central India. He served bravely in 33 battles. Sadly, his adventurous life ended when he accidentally jumped into a well in 1863.  However, his legacy lives on, with the regiment continously having a ram in service - they accompany the regiment on parade, proudly wearing scarlet coats and medals. Today, the tradition continues with the British Army’s Mercian Regiment, which still maintains the Private Derby mascot as a symbol of the regiment’s heritage and connection to Derbyshire. Private Ram also often appears at Pride Park before the games, alongside "Rammie", the club mascot. The team itself formed in 1884, spun out of a cricket team looking for a winter sport - as so many football teams were. They played at the Baseball Ground for over a century. Originally intended to promote baseball, the ground became a fortress for Derby County until the club moved to Pride Park in 1997. The Baseball Ground’s history is forever linked with memories of legendary manager Brian Clough, who revitalised the club in the 1970s and helped them win two First Division titles. As for the city itself, the origins of the name, Derby, trace back to the Viking settlement Djúra-bý—“village of the deer.” Derby’s history, however, is not just football and folktales. In the 18th century, Derby played a pivotal role in the Industrial Revolution. John Lombe’s silk-throwing mill on the River Derwent is considered one of the world’s first fully mechanised factories, making Derby a birthplace of the industrial revolution. Somewhat sinister Christmas time traditions , suppressing rebellions and silk throwing machinery - Derbyshire and its Ram, can proudly bleat on about a fantastic heritage.

The Daggers (@Dag_RedFC) sliced up AFC Wimbledon in the #EmiratesFACup and now they've drawn @MillwallFC in the next round, which I think is very winnable. But regardless, let's honour them by taking a closer look at this club with an incredible double history: Dagenham and Redbridge. Let’s #GetTheBadgeIn.   The club was formed in 1992 through a merger of Dagenham and Redbridge Forest, the latter itself a merger of Ilford, Leytonstone, and Walthamstow Avenue. The club's traditional colours, red and blue, represent the merged teams—similar to @MaldonTiptreeFC     The club crest blends the two coats of arms of Dagenham and Redbridge, and it’s done magnificently.   Let’s start with the quartered red and blue waves in the background. This is directly taken from the Dagenham coat of arms, which features the same pattern. It also fits well because the Redbridge coat of arms features wavy lines too—common among towns near rivers or the sea (see @IpswichTown  and others). In this case, the waves represent the rivers central to both towns: the Thames for Dagenham and the River Roding for Redbridge. Dagenham's original coat of arms also includes a cog, symbolising the industries that relied on the area's wharfs, jetties, and docks along the Thames - more on which later.   At the top of the crest, we see crossed keys and a sword. The keys symbolise St Peter (gatekeeper of Heaven), while the sword represents St Paul, who wrote about wielding faith like a sword (and was also beheaded by one). The Church of St Peter and St Paul, built in the 13th century, sits at the heart of Dagenham. A century later, —The Cross Keys pub —opened across the road from it, and it remains open today.   The oak tree at the base of the crest is from Redbridge’s coat of arms. It represents the Fairlop Oak, a massive tree in Hainault Forest with a recorded circumference of 66 feet. For centuries, it served as a meeting point, and in 1725, the first Fairlop Fair was held under its branches. Organised by local landowner Daniel Day to celebrate (distract from?) rent day with his tenants, it grew into a massive event, attracting 200,000 attendees by the early 19th century. Unfortunately, the fair ended when the common land was enclosed, sold off, and blocked from communal use—a sad end to the 18th centuries answer to Glastonbury.    What about the red birds on the crest? These are martlets, which appear on Redbridge’s coat of arms and reference King Edward the Confessor. Edward, the last Saxon King, passed away without an heir, sparking the succession crisis that led to the Norman Conquest in 1066. However, while Edward’s heraldic birds were doves, not martlets, his influence lives on in other coats of arms. Edward had loose connections to the area—he owned a palace at Havering-atte-Bower, not far from Redbridge. A Catholic Church in Romford bears his name, possibly connecting him to Redbridge and, ultimately, the Daggers.   Dagenham's Saxon connections run deep, the name derives from the old Saxon name Dacca’s Homestead (Ham).   More recently, the geography of this area attracted the Ford Motor Company to Dagenham, where they built a factory in 1931, having previously operated in Manchester. The Thames' deep waters allowed for larger shipments, making Dagenham the ideal location. Over the decades, the factory has produced nearly 11 million cars. It also gained fame in 1968, when the women of Dagenham, ever a feisty group, went on strike over unequal pay. They sewed car seats and had been subjected to a pay cut. Their demands for equal pay eventually succeeded, inspiring the 1970 Equal Pay Act as women across the UK followed their example.   So, there you have it—the Daggers. Blessed by Christianity’s two greatest saints, home to Saxon kings, industrial innovators, fierce proponents of equality, and legendary party-goers of the 18th century. The Daggers can cut through history—and I'm sure, Lions.

This year's FA Cup winners (yes, you read that right...) So let's #GetTheBadgeIn! First, why the Eagle? Why Crystal Palace? Why do they sound like they’re from the Wizard of Oz? Let’s take a moment to #GetTheBadgeIn #CPFC   Palace themselves aren’t entirely sure when they began, if we’re honest. Until two seasons ago, their badge read 1905, with the story being that the team was formed by workers from the Crystal Palace in Sydenham, London. However, local historian Peter Manning unearthed evidence suggesting the team dates back to 1861. If true, this would make Palace older than Notts County ( @Official_NCFC , 1862) and allow them to claim to be the oldest team in England.   So, what is their claim? The story of Crystal Palace Football Club begins, unsurprisingly, with the Crystal Palace itself. The Palace originated with the Great Exhibition of 1851, a visionary project led by Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s husband. Nicknamed “The Crystal Palace,” it showcased British industry and ingenuity, at the height of our Imperial heyday. Visitors could marvel at treasures like an Egyptian mummy, the Koh-i-Noor diamond (still controversially part of the Crown Jewels), mini steam engine rides, and Charles Goodyear’s rubber tyre technology. Ransomes of @IpswichTown exhibited their "artificial stone" material, while Richard Garrett III’s visit inspired the development of Leiston’s Long Shop assembly line. The exhibition drew 6.2 million visitors in six months—a staggering number given Britain’s population of 27 million and the relatively new railway system. However, controversy surrounded the Palace. Built in Hyde Park, it faced local opposition, leading Parliament to order its removal by June 1852. To preserve it, the Brighton Railway Company bought, dismantled, and relocated it to Sydenham, Surrey (at the time).   The new Crystal Palace, much larger than the original, opened in June 1854 with 200 acres of parkland (now Crystal Palace Park). Today, you can run around its foundations at a Park Run each weekend. My boys did it during the summer. The Crystal Palace Company turned it into London’s premier attraction and used the parkland for sport. Archery and cricket were introduced first, with a cricket pitch laid in 1857. That same year, football was played on the grounds for the first time. By 1859, the company established the Crystal Palace Cricket Club, whose players formed a football team in 1861.   Like many others, these cricketers sought fitness during winter. They were nicknamed The Glaziers, referencing the Palace’s plate glass, and played in claret and blue. So, that’s the Palace and the team. What about the eagle? That’s a more recent invention. In 1936, tragedy struck—the Crystal Palace burned down, possibly due to an electrical fault. Strong winds spread the flames, and the Palace collapsed in cascading sheets of glass and flame. Fast forward to March 1973. New manager Malcolm Allison decided the club needed a reboot. Taking inspiration from Barcelona, he introduced red and blue stripes ( @FGRFC_Official copied Barcelona’s badge at the same time). The bird, initially imagined as a phoenix rising from the Palace’s ashes, became a bird of prey symbolising speed and aggression. The Glaziers became The Eagles. New plans for a stadium renovation look mighty impressive, with echoes of the original Crystal Palace architecture built in. So, a club that captures the best of British: imperial industry, collapse, and rebirth through the community organisation of the worker's entrusted with working in a theme park paying homage to the nation's former glory. If that isn’t British history in a nutshell, what is?

In 1967, Albert Lant and his mates formed a team and began playing friendly matches near Canvey Island's Concord Beach in Essex. Later that year, they made it official, calling themselves @ConcordRangers. Known as the "Beach Boys," their appearance split the island's footballing loyalties with the older Canvey Island FC. The club steadily grew, reaching the National League South in 2013, the sixth tier of English football. They won the Essex Senior Cup and achieved strong league finishes. Highlights include their first FA Cup first-round appearance in 2014 and reaching the FA Trophy final in 2020. Not bad for a group that began as a beachside kickabout. After a couple of recent relegations, Concord now competes in the Pitching In Isthmian League North Division. They are a powerhouse in youth football, running 27 teams for players aged U7 to U18, both male and female. The club’s badge reflects Canvey Island’s unique history. Its waves represent the sea, while the crenellations at the top depict the island’s famous sea wall, a defence built to combat the flooding that has plagued Canvey for centuries. The 1953 North Sea Flood devastated the island, killing 58 people, mostly holidaymakers trapped in caravans. In the 17th century, Dutch engineers were invited to reclaim Canvey’s marshland and build dykes and sea walls under the guidance of Cornelius Vermuyden. Their expertise, honed in their homeland, helped make the island more habitable. Remnants of these 400-year-old defences can still be seen today. Dutch influence also lingers in local architecture and road names like "Zeeland Avenue." This Dutch connection was later reinforced by Frederick Hester, who sought to develop Canvey into a seaside resort in 1899. He built hotels, a promenade, and a "winter palace" for events, marketing the area as "Ye Old Dutch Island." Streets were given Dutch names, and free rail tickets lured Londoners. However, the project failed due to financial difficulties, and Southend-on-Sea soon emerged as the preferred getaway. For much of its history, Canvey thrived on oyster fishing, with the Thames Estuary providing ideal conditions. The island’s historic inn, the Lobster Smack, opened in the 17th century and became a hub for smuggling along the Thames. Its proximity to the water allowed ships to discreetly unload contraband, and tales of secret tunnels leading to St. Katherine’s Church abound. Charles Dickens even mentioned the Lobster Smack in 1880, referencing its reputation for smuggling. With Brexit reinstating tariffs and paperwork on imports, one wonders if smuggling will make a modern comeback—not just for illicit goods, but everyday items. During World War II, Canvey Island played a crucial defensive role. Encircled by 11 pillboxes and anti-aircraft batteries, it housed a Royal Navy base specialising in degaussing ships. This process, still used today, demagnetises hulls to protect against magnetic mines and torpedoes. In 1953, the island’s defensives were finally penetrated – but by something a bit more mysterious – The "Canvey Island Monster." A mysterious creature washed ashore, described as 76 cm (2.4 ft) long with reddish-brown skin, gills, and hind legs suited for walking. Though many believe it was a large anglerfish, the body was swiftly removed and cremated  - what were they hiding? Nothing. It was a fish. But in today’s world it would probably inspire an online anti-government cult of some sort. Today, Canvey’s economy is driven by a different sort of bulbous creature – LNG Gas Carriers. The island hosts a major gas terminal. Ships from the Gulf of Mexico and the Middle East regularly berth to supply Britain’s energy grid, keeping homes warm and lights on. Concord Rangers’ badge, with its dual symbols of waves and crenellations, represents Canvey Island’s double edged existence: The sea, long the island’s greatest threat, has also been its greatest opportunity. Will Concord Rangers, like the seas around them, continue to rise?

Second in a new series looking at the History of Sports Badges and what they can teach us! – this time, Ipswich’s cousins down the A12, Colchester United. #GetTheBadgeIn @ColU_Official Just down the road from Ipswich is Colchester United. Their ground, the JobServe Community Stadium, is a neat 10,000-seater right next to the A12, across from a BP garage with an excellent McDonald’s drive-through (I used to work opposite it…don’t judge me). However, this area was once far more romantic. Known then as Camulodunum (the city, not the drive-through), it served as the Roman capital of Britain. Founded by Emperor Claudius in AD 43 after his conquest of Britain, it became the administrative centre of Roman Britain. In Claudius’s honour, a massive "Temple of Claudius" was built, which today forms the foundations of Colchester Castle. The name Camulodunum means "Fort of the God of War"— Camulos  was the Celtic god of war, and dunum  meant “fort.” Over time, "chester" evolved from the Latin for “fort,” as seen in names like Chester, Manchester, Winchester, and even Leicester. As for the “Col” in Colchester, its origins are debated, with some linking it to Constantine's mother, Helena (also the namesake of Colchester’s St. Helena School), while others suggest a link to the legendary Old King Cole. There’s no definitive answer. So, what about the football crest? It’s a large shield with a golden Roman Eagle in the centre, with a blue and white stripped background. Colchester United adopted a badge featuring the Roman eagle on a staff in the 1970s and modernised it to the current design in 1994. This eagle, or aquila , is a fitting symbol for a town with such a strong Roman heritage. The Roman eagles were golden “standards” each legion carried into battle, symbols of honour and loyalty. Losing the eagle was a disgrace. According to Roman accounts, during the invasion of Britain, soldiers hesitated to disembark and face the fierce Britons, who had a reputation for roughness (and questionable hygiene). It was only when the soldier bearing the eagle waded ashore, leading the charge, that the rest of the legion piled in afterwards, guilt-tripped into protecting the Eagle. Colchester (fittingly called the "city of the God of War") is now a garrison town full of paratroopers and home to the ‘Glasshouse’ – the British Army’s military prison. I have fond memories of my university days in Colchester, waiting for taxis outside the Hippodrome nightclub, where the regular police left the "squaddies" well alone, knowing the red-capped Military Police would arrive to man handle the worse for wear soldiers into the back of a van. So, a military symbol for the football team seems appropriate, and a few years ago, Colchester United even had a green camouflage “Military” third shirt, which I was tempted to buy, despite not strictly being a U’s fan. In 2014, during renovations of the William and Griffen department store, builders uncovered the charred remains of several people who had perished in AD 60 when Queen Boudicca’s Iceni army attacked the town. Boudicca’s forces stormed the city, and the Romans barricaded themselves in a building along what is now the High Street. Boudicca’s army burned it, and them, to the ground. This detail, once thought to be partly myth, was confirmed by these remains, proving that the story is likely true. Boudicca didn’t mess around. What she would make of today’s Colchester United squad is uncertain.