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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.

Next up on #GetTheBadgeIn is... @BarnetFC!   I've started following them quite closely on National League TV. They also have an amazing badge that will be instantly recognisable to anyone who remembers Year 8 History - The Wars of the Roses. So many clubs feature either the white rose of York (Think: Leeds) and dozens feature the red rose of Lancaster on their badge (Think: Man City). Barnet shows both together with crossed swords in reference to the 1471 Battle of Barnet.   But before we go down that foggy road, let’s look behind the scenes at the club’s foundations. Once again, it is another ‘company team’ from the Industrial Revolution that helps get the ball rolling (I do wonder, if football had been invented today, where would the teams come from? Internet start-ups? (Hashtag United), Lidl Athletic? Tesco Metro FC? Deliveroo United (known for great deliveries into the box…?).   Anyway. Barnet.   Originally, the club began as New Barnet FC, formed by ex-scholars of Cowley College and Lyonsdown Collegiate School and known as “The Hillmen” (Barnet sits on a ridge that overlooks London – hence the ‘High’ in High Barnet). However, it was Alston Works AFC that would go on to cement Barnet’s footballing legacy.   Alston Works AFC was established by the employees of Alston Works, a dental manufacturing giant in Barnet. By 1891, they had grown into Europe’s largest producer of dental equipment, renowned for quality innovations such as the “Twentieth Century Chair,” the UK’s first pump chair. The team, therefore, were known as "The Dentals" and wore amber and black kits, representing the company colours. These distinctive colours would be retained to the modern day. In a neat coincidence, their current kit sponsors are TIC Health, a private provider of medical screening and diagnostic services. An echo of an echo here. Sort of.   In 1907, Alston Works AFC moved to Underhill Stadium, where they played their debut match—a 1–0 victory over Crystal Palace—a positive start at a ground that would serve as Barnet’s home for over a century (and may host them again – see the end).   So that’s the team – what about the badge? The club’s crest, designed in the 1950s, is packed with imagery. The green hill on the crest is a nod to High Barnet, with the yellow and black flags referencing the club’s colours.   As already mentioned, the rest of the badge symbolises the rival Houses of Lancaster and York and the 1471 Battle of Barnet. During the battle, King Edward IV led Yorkist forces against the Earl of Warwick, who had betrayed Edward and switched to fight for the Lancastrians. On the morning of the battle, Warwick ordered his men to attack through dense fog – and ended up brawling with a friendly unit who were flying the flag of the Earl of Oxford (a large yellow star) that looked too much like Edward IV’s flag (a large yellow sun) for their liking. The Yorkists looked on with amusement. This, understandably, unnerved the remaining Lancastrians, who accused each other of treason, and many simply gave up and left the field.   In the confusion, Warwick himself decided to make a run for it. However, before the battle, he had been persuaded by his younger brother, ‘the Marquess of Montagu,’ that it would be more inspiring to their men if they left their horses behind and fought on foot alongside the rank and file. This decision proved fatal. Both brothers were caught and killed by the Yorkist army. Lesson: Never listen to your younger brother.   So that explains the battle. As for the club’s nickname, ‘The Bees,’ opinion is split, but it is almost certainly due to a) their black and orange colours inherited from the Alston Works dental factory, and b) the presence of several large apiaries (beekeeping farms/hives, apparently – I had to Google that word) near their original Underhill ground. Their stadium today, located in Harrow, is called ‘The Hive,’ in a neat reference. That said, the move away from Barnet was never popular, and there are plans afoot by many of the team’s fans to move ‘Back to Barnet’ and redevelop the old Underhill site. The plans for the new stadium look great – let’s hope it all goes through.     They’ve just achieved promotion to League 2 – I’m sure they’re buzzin, #BarnetFC🐝

Let’s take a closer look now at @altrinchamfc, known as the biggest "giant killers" in football history, have outfought and outclassed many a higher league opponent throughout the years. So let’s #GetTheBadgeIn, because theirs has an absolute tonne going on. At the top, the lion waves a flag featuring a cornucopia (a goat's horn), a traditional symbol of plenty and wealth. This badge certainly reflects that.   Based in Greater Manchester and founded in 1891, the club began as the Rigby Memorial Club, formed from a local Sunday school. They later merged with another club, the "Grapplers" (a former wrestling or boxing club—anyone know?) to form Broadheath F.C., a founding member of the Manchester League in 1893. In 1903, they moved to Pollitt's Field, adopted the name Altrincham AFC. With two National League and FA Trophy wins, along with their reputation for giant killings, they’ve built a devoted fan base.   Their badge, drawn from the Altrincham Coat of Arms, is packed with symbolism. Let’s break it down:   The wheatsheaves on the shield represent the Earldom of Chester, which traditionally features three wheatsheaves. Altrincham replaced the bottom wheatsheaf with a cog—a clever nod to their industrial history. The Earldom of Chester was a semi-autonomous region under William the Conqueror. Even Magna Carta in 1215 required a separate set of notes for Chester's exceptions. The earldom eventually became a Crown possession and was used by Edward I as a logistics hub for his conquest of Wales. Today, it remains tied to the Prince of Wales, the title given to the heir to the throne.   The two characters flanking the shield represent major local families. The lion, bearing the arms of Massey, represents the Barons of Dunham Massey. Hamon de Massey, one of the barons, granted Altrincham its charter in 1290. Dunham Massey also had a Norman Motte and Bailey castle, though today its moat is a duck pond. Quackers if you think about it.   The unicorn comes from the heraldry of the Earl of Stamford, whose arms (of the Grey family) hang from its collar. The first Earl of Stamford was a staunch Parliamentarian during the Civil War, even signing Charles I's execution order. His rebellious, anti-establishment legacy adds an edge to Altrincham’s heritage.   Altrincham’s industrial history is equally compelling. The 1765 Bridgewater Canal connected the area to Manchester and the wider world, sparking economic growth. Warehouses sprang up to house vegetable production, and the arrival of the railway in 1849 supercharged the town’s development.   One notable company was the Linotype and Machinery Company, which started in Altrincham and made printing presses for newspapers. Their operations spanned cities like Calcutta, Bombay, and Hong Kong, with a head office in London.   Another was the Budenberg Gauge Company, which supplied precision pressure gauges during the steam age. Originally a German firm, its British operations were confiscated during WWI and continued independently.   In 1879, American inventor Benjamin Tilghman brought further innovation to Altrincham. A veteran of the American Civil War, Tilghman observed the effects of wind-blown sand on buildings in the South. Inspired, he invented the sandblaster and set up Tilghman’s Sand Blast in the town. Today, the factory operates as part of the Wheelabrator Group, making high-end sandblasting machines.   So, Altrincham: castle builders, invasion launchers, pressure builders, machine toolers, sandblasters, and giant killers. One of my new favourite teams.

Let’s #GetTheBadgeIn for Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth). It’s a story of smugglers, sand, and a Sudbury lad. At first glance, Bournemouth’s badge seems simple: a figure heading a ball with the club colours as the background. No complex coat of arms to decode—just a dude and a ball. But as it turns out, there’s a bunch more to the stories of the Cherries than meets the eye. The club began in 1898 as Boscombe FC, named after an area of modern-day Bournemouth. They moved into Dean Court (now Vitality Stadium) in 1910, located near a cherry orchard that inspired their nickname. Initially wearing red and white, the Cherries played mostly in the lower leagues, but they had their moments. One such moment came between 1957 and 1962 when a striker named Dickie Dowsett, who started his career at @AFCSudbury, scored 79 goals for the club. Dowsett became a local legend and even worked in the club’s back office from 1968 to 1983. When Bournemouth rebranded in 1971, switching their colours to AC Milan-inspired red and black, they placed Dowsett heading a ball on their badge. They also became AFC Bournemouth, reportedly to appear first in alphabetical lists. During the 90s they did have one other incredible player, which should be named, @IpswichTown legend @mattholland8, who was with them initially on loan and then permanently between 94 and 97 before he made the switch to Town. After a period of struggle, the club hit rock bottom in 2008, entering administration and dropping to League Two. Enter Eddie Howe, who at 31 was the youngest manager in the EFL at that time. Howe achieved three promotions in six years, taking the club to the Premier League by 2015. If Bournemouth hasn’t yet built him a statue, they certainly should. In 2022, American businessman Bill Foley purchased the club, adding it to his Black Knight Sports empire, which includes Lorient FC, Hibernian (minority stake), and the Las Vegas Golden Knights NHL team. So, that’s the club and its badge. But what about Bournemouth itself? Bournemouth, a coastal town, rose to prominence after railway links to London were established in 1870, much like East Anglian resorts such as Southend and Clacton. It quickly gained a pier, hotels, bandstands, and the all glass Winter Gardens concert hall. In 1841, the superbly named Augustus Bozzi Granville wrote a bestselling book about England’s best health spas, praising Bournemouth’s clean air and waters. This sparked a health tourism boom, and that legacy is echoed today in Vitality, the team’s stadium sponsor, who specialise in health insurance and healthy living plans. But Bournemouth’s most intriguing story involves Lewis Tregonwell, its unofficial founding father. A landowner and Justice of the Peace, Tregonwell built homes in and around modern day Bournemouth in the late 1700s when the area was largely uninhabited. During the Napoleonic Wars, he served in the Dorset Yeomanry, tasked with patrolling the coast to prevent smuggling and watch for a French invasion. By all accounts, he did a splendid job—except for one twist. Tregonwell had a house built for his butler, Portman’s Lodge, an impressive coastal home. Over a century later, during its demolition, builders uncovered a network of secret rooms and tunnels leading to the beach. Records revealed that Tregonwell and his butler never left the site unattended—one was always present. While some historians suggest these passages were for storing ice, others argue Tregonwell himself was involved in smuggling. The man charged with stopping contraband may have been running a smuggling operation of his own. “Tregonwell the Trafficker” sounds like a TV show waiting to happen— The Cherry Cartel ? So, there you have it: Bournemouth, a tale of smuggling, sand, spas and scoring a lot of goals.

“Accrington Stanley (@ASFCofficial), who are they?” If you’ve ever heard this question from the legendary 1980s Milk Marketing Board advert, you might already know the response: "Exactly!" But behind this unfortunate reference—which I’m sure annoys every true Accrington fan every time it’s brought up—lies a team and a history steeped in the very essence of Britishness. They face the mighty Mariners (@officialgtfc) on 3rd December, so let’s visit the Crown Ground and #GetTheBadgeIn. In 1891, a group of Lancashire workers met in the Stanley Arms pub and formed a football team. They took the name of their hometown and the name of the pub. Accrington Stanley was born (according to legend). Their story has never been a straightforward one. Financial struggles forced the original club to fold in 1966, but a new version of the club emerged in 1968, starting from scratch and clawing its way back up the leagues. The Milk Board advert in 1989 brought Stanley into the national spotlight, but the real turning point came in 2001. The club benefitted from a clever sell-on clause when former Stanley star Brett Ormerod was sold to Southampton for over £1 million. Ormerod had begun playing for the club part-time while working in the local cotton mill—this lad couldn’t be more Lancashire if he tried. The windfall from his sale was enough to propel the club into the Football League in 2006, where they’ve proudly competed ever since. What about the badge, then? Well, it’s another club that borrows from its town’s Coat of Arms. Accrington Stanley’s crest, though, is a beauty—it isn’t just a badge; it’s a visual history book of a badge. There’s a lot to investigate here. Let’s start near the top of the shield with the lion. It is the family symbol of the De Lacy family, mates of William the Conqueror who fought with him at Hastings. As a thank-you for their help, they were awarded huge chunks of England—Accrington was swept up in their holdings. To the right of the lion sits the stag with the green background, and this links directly to the printing rollers and paper at the base of the badge. This is the family crest of the Hargraves family and is much more modern. This family founded the Broad Oak Printworks in 1792 near Accrington and quickly turned it into an industrial powerhouse. They pioneered the art of calico printing, which printed colourful styles and patterns onto women’s cotton. The Hargraves didn’t stop there and busied themselves with all sorts of innovations: from printing blocks to printing rollers, from a seven waterwheel-powered machine to a steam one, and using sodium hydroxide to alter the cotton to give it more reflection and a softer finish (called mercerisation, after local lad John Mercer who discovered it). Accrington was the Silicon Valley of the 19th century. The strange-looking ship-shaped thing in the middle of the badge is also linked to the cotton industry. It is a spinning cotton. Innovators like John Bullough improved the Lancashire Loom, making weaving more efficient and accessible using spinning devices like this one. These advancements helped mills in Accrington become the powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution—the beating heart of Britain’s power. Above the knight’s helmet at the top of the shield sit some oak branches, which is a nod to the town’s name—Accrington is derived from Old English meaning "acorn farmstead." The red branch is twisted over into a rough A shape, just to firmly plant the point in your mind. What I love most about the crest is how modern it is—and by modern, I mean within the last 200 years. Most heraldic badges like this hark back to the Normans and the De Lacys’ lion. This one does too, but the rest of it is pure Accrington industrial might. Accrington, and the men and women who worked its mills, were the workhorses of Empire. No Hargraves, no Hong Kong. No Accrington, no Auckland. Innovation, resilience, and sheer hard graft. This team is more than just a milk advert. @AccStanDC, @Samileasmithson, @ben_kay8,  @jessicafarry, @RawMilkZine, @ASFCcommunity, @LivTaylorxx_, @ASWFCofficial, @DarrylPorrino, @AccyForza, @clarkyinjury

On a quiet road in Nottingham, England, sits the Kilpin pub. It is named after a local lace worker.   A local lace worker who moved to Italy.   A local lace worker who moved to Italy and set up a football club.   That club was called AC Milan. This was in 1899.   So, let's cross over to Serie A, retrace the steps of old Kilpin, and #GetTheBadgeIn for @acmilan .   The St George's Cross on the emblem is the clearest nod to its English founder. That said, its adoption is more of a happy coincidence, as the flag is also the city symbol of Milan itself! Surely then, it was a no-brainer that Kilpin’s new team should adopt it.   To trace the origins of the red cross in Milan, we have to go back a bit. About 2,200 years.   Milan was a growing city in 222 BCE when it was captured by an expanding power to the south from a place called Rome. By all accounts, these "Romans" (for want of a better word) did rather well for themselves. So much so that, eventually, they needed to divide the administration of their vast empire among the Italian cities under their control. Milan—or Mediolanum, as they called it—was made the capital of the Western Roman Empire, overseeing regions such as Gaul (France), Britanniae (England), and Hispaniae (Spain).   It flourished as a political and economic centre and later became the heart of the Lombardy region of northern Italy, following its conquest by the Lombards, who descended from Germany to pick at the remains of the fallen Roman Empire.   The city-state of Milan first adopted the red cross on a white background around 500 years later, when it appeared on something called the Carroccio. This large wooden platform, which resembled a float at a village fair, began life as a chariot before evolving into the symbolic emblem of Milan's government. For centuries, it was wheeled into battle as a rallying point for Milanese soldiers.   In the Battle of Legnano (1176), the Carroccio played a central role. The Holy Roman Emperor, the famous Frederick Barbarossa, had marched his armies into northern Italy to seize control of its city-states. Determined to remain independent, the city-states hastily formed an alliance under Pope Alexander III, known as the Lombard League.   At Legnano, the two sides clashed in fierce combat around the Carroccio, draped in red and white. According to legend, it was defended by the "Company of Death"—900 young knights who pledged to die rather than see the Carroccio fall into enemy hands.   Milan won. The red and white cross of Milan still flew proudly over the blood-splattered battlefield. Barbarossa withdrew and later sued for peace.   Now, while I appreciate a good lace worker from Nottingham as much as the next man—you have to admit, this is a far cooler origin story.   That said, the truest nod to AC Milan's English roots is the very name—AC Milan. Milan is the English spelling of the city's true name, Milano. They kept the English version.   As for the red and black stripes, these were simply chosen to represent the team’s fiery spirit (red) and the fear (black) they struck into their opponents. Their nickname, the Rossoneri, simply means "the red and blacks." In the 1960s, they even adopted a devil logo to complement the colour scheme.   So, that’s AC Milan—a club that packs out the 80,000-seater San Siro every weekend, built on a foundation of English devils and Milanese Companies of Death, all willing to die for the badge.

Southend United FC Next up for #GetInTheBadge, we move a bit further down the Essex coast to Southend United—a club with a great badge and rich meaning behind it. Their traditional-looking crest is divided into four sections, each telling a unique story. Southend United was founded on 19 May 1906 at the Blue Boar pub, which still stands today and proudly displays a sign declaring it the "home of the Shrimpers" in the window. Initially, Roots Hall Stadium in Prittlewell was their home. Then came World War I, which, among other disruptions, meant dismantling parts of the ground to support the war effort. After the war, with Roots Hall in tatters, the team relocated to The Kursaal, Southend’s famous amusement park. I’m not sure how long they played beside the bumper cars and candyfloss, but they eventually moved back. Now, onto the badge itself—a proud symbol that encapsulates the club’s identity. It’s quartered, like a classic English badge, featuring a football, three wavy lines representing the sea (similar to Ipswich’s crest), the Essex swords, and the shrimp that gives them their nickname. Sticking with the sea motif, the town itself is essentially a tourist resort. Southend was built up from a small settlement in the 1800s by businessmen hoping to entertain wealthy Londoners over the weekends. Visitors would sail up on Thames barges in search of a good time. However, the shallow coastline often prevented the barges from docking, so most ships bypassed Southend and continued to Margate. In 1830, a group funded the construction of a pier, which was upgraded to solid iron in 1889. Today, it remains the largest amusement pier in Britain and even boasts a mini metro line to its end. This solved the issue of inaccessible barges, and soon thousands of affluent Londoners descended on the town each weekend. Many spent their time in the now Grade II listed Kursaal entertainment park, built by American investors in the early 1900s (though now, it’s mostly occupied by a Tesco metro, I believe). Given the pier's significance, it’s surprising there isn’t a nod to it on the badge. The shrimp on the badge, and hence the nickname, is a nod to Leigh-on-Sea’s once-booming shrimping industry, back when fishing boats crowded the waters, and shrimp were plentiful. Today, the shrimping industry has all but vanished, leaving behind Sammy the Shrimp, Southend’s loveable, googly-eyed mascot, who has arguably preserved the shrimp tradition better than the waters of Leigh have managed. The badge also features the iconic three Essex seaxes(Saxon short swords). These seaxes pay homage to the East Saxons, who ruled the area, with "Essex" deriving from Ēastseaxe, meaning East Saxons. The three swords match those on the county badge and are also sported by the county’s cricket team. The story wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Southend’s recent financial rollercoaster. In the 2000s, a plan emerged to move the club from Roots Hall to a new, purpose-built 17,000-seater stadium, called Fossetts Farm, complete with restaurants and a hotel. It was the kind of ambitious project the town (and country) might have once embraced—back when they were building the nation’s longest pier and a new amusement park. Sadly, Britain has zero ambition these days- the project stalled in the planning stages, investors withdrew, and the site is now destined to become housing. Then things got worse. Since 2019, the club has struggled with unpaid wages, winding-up petitions, and a less-than-glamorous drop to the National League. With chairman Ron Martin barely keeping the lights on, fans took to the streets in protest as debts ballooned to £17.4 million, and HMRC came calling. By 2023, Southend had accumulated a 10-point deduction and an unwelcome transfer embargo—a checklist no club wants to complete. Finally, in July 2024, the Custodians of Southend United (COSU), led by Justin Rees, an Australian businessman who stumbled across an article detailing the club’s struggles while holidaying in Europe, swooped in and bought the club by lunchtime (sort of). Hopefully, things will turn around. Essex, arguably the most populous county in England, only has one ‘professional’ football team in the Football League (Colchester). Both Southend the town, and the club, need some serious work, perhaps the work has already begun.

Today, our journey through Italian football takes us to Serie B outfit Cesena FC (@calciocesenafc). So, let’s #GetTheBadgeIn! Nestled in the mid-northeast of Italy, a stone's throw from the Adriatic Sea and just above San Marino. They play in the very neat-looking Stadio Dino Manuzzi, which can seat 20,000. In 2011 it became the first Italian club to switch to an artificial pitch, with fans entering the pitch on the last day of the original to cut bits up and take them home. Cesena has historically bounced between Serie A and Serie B, with a sixth-place finish in 1976 earning them their one and only UEFA Cup run. In 2014 they won the playoffs to get back into Serie A, with remarkably—only four players. Well, four players under contract; the rest of the squad was made up of loanees. As this would suggest, not all was well with the underlying finances of the club, and in 2018 it was forced to declare bankruptcy and fold. However, the same year a phoenix team emerged, acquiring the historical badge for €78,000 from creditors and under new American ownership, began its ascent from Serie D. They quickly climbed through the ranks and are now competing back in Serie B. At the heart of Cesena FC's badge, and identity, are their two nicknames—the Cavallucci Marini (The Seahorses) and the Bianconeri (The White and Blacks), each clearly represented on their badge. Let’s start with the seahorse. At first glance, it seems a bit tricky to trace down its roots to the city of Cesena. It doesn’t seem to appear on any prominent landmarks or crests (please shout if I have missed something obvious). The city itself is also not directly on the coast, so its maritime heritage is a bit unclear. Unclear that is, until you go back a bit in history. Though Cesena lies inland, it historically encompassed the port town of Cesenatico for nearly five centuries. This port, surveyed by none other than Leonardo Da Vinci to fortify Cesena against attacks, now hosts a maritime museum and a vibrant fishing fleet, linking the town—and by extension, the club—to its maritime roots. The seahorse symbol is also very common throughout the 'upper Adriatic' and appears across various regional symbols. The actual sea itself is home to two species of seahorse, both endangered. The club's colours, and second nickname, 'the white and black', are lifted directly from Cesena's coat of arms. The coat of arms features a black and white flag under a set of fleur-de-lys and a crown. The town itself has seen some fascinating periods of history. It was fortified by the Romans initially and made an important garrison town during the Roman Empire. Post-Roman era, Cesena found itself at the frontier of the Lombardy region, a battleground for the feuds between the Holy Roman Emperor and various Popes. In one of the city's darkest hours, the 'Cesena Bloodbath' of 1377 occurred when Cardinal Robert captured the town and ordered the massacre of thousands of its residents. During the Renaissance, Cesena flourished as a centre of culture and intellect. The town established Europe's first civic-owned library in 1454, a testament to its progressive ethos during a time when most libraries were owned by the church or private individuals. The town can also claim to have raised three different pontiffs and is often called the 'City of Three Popes'. World War II left an ugly mark, literally, on Cesena. It had the misfortune of comprising part of Hitler’s 'Gothic Line', the last line of defence against the Allied forces as they liberated Italy. The city underwent severe bombing by British and American forces as they forced their way through. So, there you have it, what looks at first glance like the Grimsby or Notts County of Italy is in fact a town that has hosted Popes, Battles, Leonardo Da Vinci and been bombed to bits by the Brits. The Seahorses, sat comfortably in Serie B, with a long heritage, clear identity and sound financial backers – look set to continue their gallop up the leagues.

What do Ipswich, Oldham and Swindon all have in common? All were original members of the Premier League. Of the three, the team to have fallen furthest has been Oldham. The Blues, the Owls, the Latics (as in "Ath-letics", Latics). They were the first former EPL club to tumble from the EFL into non-league, and now, today — after a dramatic 3–2 extra-time win over Southend United at Wembley — Oldham Athletic are back in the Football League. It is richly deserved (as hard as it was to see equally deserving Southend not make it – when will the National League get the three promotion spots it deserves?). Oldham have a storied past. In 1915 they almost became champions of England, finishing one point behind Everton. They won Division 2 in 1992, securing a place in the Premier League's inaugural year (and becoming a cherished sticker book team for an entire generation — that shiny owl badge was one of my favourites back in the day!). But unfortunately, that was the last promotion they ever had. Until today. The Glorious First of June. Their painful, slow puncture of a decline has finally come to an end. They're on the up. And with a fanbase as large as theirs (the Wembley attendance was 50k+, a record for a National League play-off final), who would bet against them establishing themselves and moving up even further? Their revival has, in part, been down to local businessman Frank Rothwell and Darren Royle, son of legendary manager Joe Royle. Their leadership has not only stabilised the club but also initiated a £70 million Sportstown development around Boundary Park — aiming to revitalise the area with new sports facilities and a further education college. Fantastic to see. I love it when football teams like this become centrepieces of urban regeneration. But enough of all that. What the hooting heck is that badge all about? So, let's #GetTheBadgeIn and find out. It's an owl. A big one. On a ball. Why? Well, it comes from the Oldham Coat of Arms, which features three owls and three red rings. Turn one of the rings into a ball and steal one of the owls — and you've got yourself a ready-made badge! Why is there an owl? Well. It’s a pun. Of course it is. In Old English, "Oldham" sounds a lot like… "Owldham". "Ham" in Old English simply means homestead or village. So, "Oldham" is a pretty bog-standard name — "Old Village" or "Old House". Someone clearly needed to jazz it up a bit — and the English love a good pun. Even centuries ago, when the coat of arms was being made, the owls found their way onto it. The club and city’s motto, Sapere Aude ("Dare to be wise"), reinforces this connection. Oldham was at the centre of the Industrial Revolution — and therefore, of football. It came to dominate cotton spinning. At its height, it had 16 million spindles working across its factories. For comparison, the whole of the USA had 30 million at the same time. Oldham had more spindles than any other city on Earth. It was the mill towns around Manchester, like Oldham, that had thousands of young men living in close proximity to each other, with the odd day off to drink, fight — and try their hand at some snooty game that the fancy boys of Eton had just started playing: football. But unlike polo or fencing, you didn’t need much upfront investment. Just two jumpers for goalposts and a pig’s bladder to kick around a field. The Northerners quickly came to dominate the game — and, as already said, Oldham were well established as far back as 1915 as one of football’s heavy hitters. And so it is that Oldham Athletic are back in the 92. Which is exactly where a club their wize (pun intended) undoubtedly belongs. Chaddy the Owl (their mascot – called Chaddy because the ground, Boundary Park, sits on the border between Oldham and Chadderton) will be outdoing Hedwig next season in spreading the good word of the Latics. Congratulations, Oldham. 🦉💙⚽ --- #GetTheBadgeIn #OldhamAthletic #ChaddyTheOwl #EFL #NationalLeague #PromotionParty #FootballLeague #UpTheLatics #WembleyWinners #BackInThe92 #FootballHistory #oafc