Fluminense Football Club. Owners of the most iconic and impressive kit colours at this year’s Fifa Club World Cup. The Tricolor Carioca. A club who predates Brazilian football itself – one born in the rhythms and flows of Rio de Janeiro itself—so let’s #GetTheBadgeIn and see what we can discover. Fluminense was founded on 21 July 1902 by Oscar Cox, a young man from Rio’s privileged class. Born to a wealthy Anglo-Brazilian family, Cox had studied in Switzerland, where he discovered the newly codified game of football. On his return to Brazil, he brought with him a ball and introduced the game to his mates – who formed a team, Fluminense. Based in the leafy, refined neighbourhood of Laranjeiras, the club was embraced by Rio’s educated elite—bankers, civil servants, merchants, and intellectuals. These were people who saw football not just as a pastime, but as a mark of sophistication, a link to the modern styles and trends in Europe – a modern sport for a modern city. The club’s name, Fluminense, comes from the Latin word flumen , meaning river, combined with the Portuguese suffix -ense , meaning “from” or “belonging to.” It literally means “from the river,” and is the official demonym for people from the state of Rio de Janeiro (while Carioca  refers specifically to the city). Choosing this name gave the club an identity tied not just to one neighbourhood, but to the broader spirit and pride of the state itself. That sense of civic pride quickly turned into something concrete. In 1919, Fluminense became the first club in Brazil to build its own football stadium—Estádio das Laranjeiras—funded entirely by subscriptions from its own members. It quickly became the focus point for all thing soccer in Brazil, in fact, it had already begun hosting important matches even before completion. In 1914, the stadium was the setting for the Brazil national football team’s first ever game—and first ever goal—against Exeter City who were on tour at the time. Quite the claim for today’s League 1 Grecians (do they honour it? I’d have a Brazilian inspired away kit almost every year if I were them! And a club store in Rio!) Five years later, it was where Brazil won their first title, the South American Championship of 1919. By 1922, Fluminense had over 4,000 members, a stadium with space for 25,000 fans, and facilities so impressive that they drew praise from visiting European teams. Fluminense’s early story also shaped one of world football’s great rivalries. In 1911, internal disagreements among Fluminense players led to a group leaving to form Flamengo’s football team. The arguments centred over the team’s managements approach to discipline and team selection, which many of the players from more laid back and bohemian parts of the city felt were unfair and unnecessary. 11 players split and approach a local rowing club – Flamengo – and asked it they fancied opening a football team. They did. And so they did. Here in lie the origins of the famous Rio “Fla-Flu” derby. The match became more than just a football fixture—it was a clash of identities. Over time, it came to reflect the social, cultural, and geographical contrasts within Rio itself. That said, the two teams needed a stadium fitting to host such a large scale and passion event. In step The Maracanã. Constructed for the 1950 World Cup, the first one after the Second World War and an opportunity for Brazil to showcase itself to the world. The government invested and built the mighty (almost) 200,000 seater stadium. Unfortunately, in the final Uruguay shocked Brazil and won 2-1. In 1966 the stadium took on the name The Maracanã, in honour of local journalist Mário Filho. Filho led the world in developing sports’ journalism and his writing, covering the management, the players and the games in more detail than anyone else had ever done set the standard for modern sports’ journalism. The Rio in which the team was based was a boom town during this period. That story begins centuries earlier. In the 1600s and 1700s, Rio was a key hub in the Portuguese colonial economy. It exported sugar to Portugal, which then re-exported it to England, France, and the Netherlands. Gold from inland mines passed through Rio to Europe, helping to fund the Portuguese crown. And Rio played a tragic role in the transatlantic slave trade, receiving enslaved Africans—particularly from Angola—as part of the wider imperial triangle. In the 1800s, coffee took over as Brazil’s dominant export. With the rise of the Industrial Revolution, countries like the United States, Germany, and Britain became hungry for caffeine, and Rio became the engine room of the global coffee trade. By the early 1900s, Rio was expanding rapidly, and so too was Fluminense. The club’s badge reflects all this—the refinement of its European influences. The interlocking FFC monogram, inspired by Swiss-style design, sits within a classic shield – honouring the Swiss influence that began with Oscar Cox. The colour scheme—maroon, green, and white—is entirely unique in world football. While adopted right from the very beginning of the team the colours have in later years been attributed to symbolises nature (green), peace (white), and dignity(maroon). Through the ages the club’s youth academy in Xerém has developed modern stars such as Marcelo, Thiago Silva, and Fabinho. And while its image was once reserved and refined, today it carries the nickname Time de Guerreiros —Team of Warriors—a tribute to the spirit shown in comebacks like the dramatic relegation escape in 2009. That nickname sums up something vital: a club that was born of Rio’s elite has become part of its popular soul. So, when you see the Fluminense badge—its sharp monogram, noble colours, and graceful design—It’s a window into Rio’s story: from sugar port to global city, from aristocratic pastimes to working-class passions. A story that continues to flow, like the river it’s named for.

Juventus Football Club. Juve. La Vecchia Signora—the Old Lady. A name that carries weight across Italy and far beyond. So let’s get the badge in for one of the most famous teams on Earth. Founded in 1897 by a group of students on a bench along Corso Re Umberto in Turin, Juventus began as a modest schoolboy team but grew into a club that would come to represent an entire city—and much of a nation. Turin, before becoming home to Juve, has had a long history y- beginning life as a Roman army camp 2000 years ago, housing the powerful House of Savoy which for centuries dominated Italian politics was central to the unification of Italy in the 1880s. Turn was even the capital of Italy from 1861 to 1865. Modern Turin, Juventus’s home, was at the heart of Italy’s industrial boom in the early 20th century. Known as “the Detroit of Italy”, it became the centre of car manufacturing, mechanical engineering, and steelworks. At the heart of that transformation stood FIAT (Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino), founded in 1899 by Giovanni Agnelli—whose family would go on to own Juventus and tie the club’s fate to the economic development of the city.   As FIAT expanded, drawing workers from southern and rural Italy to fill factory floors, the city itself changed. Turin became a magnet for migrants and a hotbed for industrial labour movements. Juventus, initially a club of middle-class students, became a bridge between old and new Turin—its appeal stretching from the classroom to the assembly line.   It’s no surprise that Juve’s early growth mirrored that of the city’s factories. FIAT eventually became Juventus’s financial backbone, giving the club access to resources that many rivals lacked. As Turin became the country’s economic engine, Juventus positioned itself as its footballing counterpart. In the early 1900s, Juventus, who were previously playing in pink, wanted to change their kit colors. Tom Savage, a Nottingham-born player for Juventus, arranged for a set of black and white striped shirts to be sent from Notts County to Juventus. Juventus adopted these colors and have worn them ever since. The Juventus badge has gone through many changes—each one capturing something about the era it represented. Early versions featured the bull of Turin, a reference to the city’s coat of arms. The mural crown that sometimes appeared above the crest was a symbol of the city’s status. In 1958, Juventus became the first Italian club to add a gold star above the badge, celebrating their tenth Serie A title—a tradition now common around the world.   In 2017 the traditional shield was replaced with a minimalist black and white “J”—a modernist symbol aimed at reflecting the club’s brand in a digital, globalised age. It was a controversial move. For traditionalists, it removed the team from the city’s proud heritage. For others, it was a sign of confidence—a club ready to lead again, not just on the pitch, but in how football presents itself to the world.   And lead they have. Juventus have won over 30 Serie A titles, more than any other Italian club, along with two European Cups and dozens of domestic trophies. From Giampiero Boniperti to Alessandro Del Piero, Zinedine Zidane, and Cristiano Ronaldo, Juventus has been home to some of the game’s most iconic names. But it has also retained a strong connection to its city, particularly through its supporters— the working people of Turin who filled the old Stadio Comunale, and now gather in the state-of-the-art Allianz Stadium. It is a club shaped by factories and family, by migration and modernity, by a belief in progress tempered by a respect for tradition.

Ulsan HD FC. Known for years as Ulsan Hyundai, the clue is in the name, but this team is from a city built on industry and an economic miracle.   The club was founded in December 1983 as Hyundai Horang-i, backed by Hyundai Heavy Industries and originally based in Incheon. By 1990, it had relocated to Ulsan—Hyundai’s industrial home—and began building up its fanbase and identity.   The name Ulsan combines the ancient term “Ul” (likely referring to the old local region of Ulju) and “San”, which means “mountain” in Korean. The name reflects the geography of the area—a coastal plain ringed by low mountains. It was perfect for a sheltered fishing village and trading town which is what it was for most of its history. Then came the 1960s and South Korea’s post war boom. It’s access to the sea made it an ideal site for heavy industry. The transformation, when it came, was rapid and profound.   That transformation was driven largely by Hyundai. Founded in 1947 by Chung Ju-yung, Hyundai began as a construction company and grew into one of South Korea’s major chaebols (family-run conglomerates). The name “Hyundai” means “modernity”, a fitting label for a company looking to rebuild a new economy from the ashes of the Korean War. As the company grew it spun off numerous divisions, including Hyundai Heavy Industries (now the world’s largest shipbuilder).   The Hyundai shipyard stretches over four kilometers along the coast of Mipo Bay in Ulsan and includes 10 dry docks and 9 giant ‘Goliath’ cranes – some of the biggest in the world. They build everything here from ballistic missile submarines to some of the worlds largest container ships to specialised semi-submersible oil rig carriers.   The other famous department is the Hyundai Motor Company, which operates the largest single automobile plant in the world, located in Ulsan and producing over 1.5 million vehicles annually.   Understandably then the city of Ulsan has became synonymous with engineering, shipbuilding, oil refining, and automotive production. Its economy boomed, attracting workers from all over the country and transforming it into one of South Korea’s wealthiest cities by GDP per capita. The football club grew out of this industrial surge—a part of Hyundai’s community-building vision. The company built the city up with retail and housing developments – and of course – a football team.   Ulsan HD FC’s badge captures this legacy. It features a powerful tiger, long a symbol of strength and courage in Korean folklore, backed by bold colours and a clean, professional design. The club’s recent rebranding in 2023, shifting from Ulsan Hyundai to Ulsan HD FC, reflected a broader corporate identity shift but kept the essential elements intact.   On the pitch, Ulsan began with steady growth—finishing third in their debut season in 1984, and winning their first K League title in 1996. Since then, the club has become a giant in Korean and Asian football. They’ve won multiple K League titles, including three consecutively from 2022 to 2024, and lifted the AFC Champions League trophy twice, in 2012 and 2020. Their home ground, Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium, was built for the 2002 FIFA World Cup and remains one of the country’s finest football venues.   But the real soul of the club lies in its supporters—factory workers, engineers, students, and families who fill the stands and fly the blue and white of Ulsan. The Hyundai Derby against Jeonbuk Motors (green and yellow) is more than a football match; it’s a reflection of the industrial rivalry and civic pride that run deep in Korea’s corporate history.   Ulsan’s rise—from a quiet coastal town to a global industrial hub—is just incredible. A true Asian tiger. What began as a company team has grown into one of Asia’s most successful clubs, while never forgetting the people and industry that made it possible.   The club’s badge, with its tiger crest and corporate clarity, stands not just for footballing ambition but for a city that reinvented itself—and a company that helped shape a nation’s future.

Launched only in 2020, and co-founded by David Beckham—who has lived in Miami since 2007— Inter Miama has quickly become a symbol of football's "breakout moment" in the USA - blending Beckham’s global brand with Miami’s vibrant identity. Their badge features two great white herons, native to South Florida, standing back-to-back with legs forming an “M” for Miami. Between them is an eclipse sun with seven rays—a nod to Beckham’s iconic number 7—while the pink-black-white colour scheme is uniqie in world football and makes their shirts stand out. The name “Inter” (Internazionale) was also carefully chosen. It harks back to Inter Milan, who in their earliest days split from AC Milan over the belief that football should be open to international players. In a city like Miami, where more than 70% of the population identifies as Hispanic or Latino, and over half of residents were born abroad, the choice of “Inter” is a perfect reflection of Miami’s diverse and global identity. Those pink herons then were not chosen just to be distintictive - but they and their design also reflect Miami's famourls Art Deco architecture. Particularly along Ocean Drive in Miami Beach. From the 1920s to the ’40s, architects like Lawrence Murray Dixon and Henry Hohauser built sleek, symmetrical, pastel-coloured buildings with geometric lines, terraces, and neon highlights. They quickly came to symbolise the wealth and glamour of the USA. It became the city’s identity, driving tourism, preserving cultural heritage, and starring in countless contemporary fashions, films and video games. Nowhere else in the United States has such a concentrated, vibrant Art Deco district — it defines Miami’s streetscape as much as it does its attitude. Miami’s nickname—“Vice City”—originated well before GTA picked it up. In the late 1970s and 1980s, the city became known for its underground drug trade, high-profile corruption cases, and a lawless edge that captured global headlines. Messi’s arrival supercharged interest, leading to packed stadiums, rising TV ratings, and fresh interest in the MLS both domestically and abroad. Beckham’s had long planned this club - when he signed for the MLS back in 2007. Say what you like about the lad, but he had the good sense to include a peculiar line in his contract when signing for LA Galaxy - he would forever retain the option to buy a franchise (new team) in the MLS for a mere $25m. That he did, and kids can be seen wearing Messi's inconic black and pink strip from Miama to Mumbai. Beckham's shrwed investment has paid for itself a thousand fold. I have an admission to make - I totally underestimated how clever this badge is. The design and colour scheme are exceptionally well thought-out. This isn’t some generic design studio disaster cooked up by a kid with no understanding of the city. This is a testament to class and depth in the modern footballing world—a visual identity rooted in local nature, urban design, personal meaning, and community culture. It proves that even in an era of commercial rush-jobs, you can still create something that looks modern but is packed with historical meaning. It’s Miami in football form. From its heron badge and eclipse sun to Art Deco roots and Vice City swagger, it’s a club that’s stylish, strategic—and unmistakably from the neon-lit city. Very well done Sir Beckham.

One of the giants of Liga Portugal – . Founded in 1893, this is a club whose badge and city are inseparable, steeped in history from medieval reconquest to modern architectural brilliance. The FC Porto badge is one of the most richly detailed I have seen – and I love it. It features a classic blue-and-white football encircled by the club’s initials – FCP – and topped with one of the most layered symbols in the sport: the Portuguese national coat of arms (see here for a post on it separately). Within it are five blue shields, arranged in a cross, each dotted with five small white dots – these represent the five Moorish kings defeated by Portugal’s first king, Afonso Henriques, at the Battle of Ourique. The small white dots symbolise the five wounds of Christ, tying together Christian victory and national myth. Surrounding the shields are seven golden castles, a nod to the fortified cities captured during the Reconquista (when the Christian armies expelled the Islamic caliphate from the Iberian Peninsula in the 1400s). These elements combine to reflect the process through which the Portuguese kingdom was born – through conflict, faith, and a relentless drive for sovereignty. But that’s only part of the crest. Behind the national coat of arms is the coat of arms of the City of Porto, which includes the Virgin Mary, twin towers, and a green dragon – rooted in local legend and symbolic of the city's defiance. The inclusion of both national and civic symbols in a single football badge is rare, and it says everything about Porto’s character: fiercely local, proudly national. The twin towers in the crest come directly from the city's medieval coat of arms. They symbolise the fortified nature of Porto in the Middle Ages, when the city walls and gates were vital to defending its independence and maintaining control of its important port. In between the two towers is the Virgin Mary, the patron saint of Porto. Legend states that a statue of the Virgin was brought to Porto by Christian crusaders from France and placed at one of the city gates (the Vandoma Gate). It became a symbol of divine protection during battles and sieges, especially when Porto resisted enemy forces. And it seems to have worked - as we shall see: The dragon, which crowns the top of the badge, was added in the 19th century for Porto’s bravery during the Liberal Wars. The city endured a brutal siege (1832–33) while supporting King Pedro IV. As a reward for its resistance, the king granted Porto the honour of bearing the title Invicta and added the dragon to its arms to symbolise the city’s courage. And the nickname Dragões has stuck ever since. The city is one of the oldest in Europe. Known in Roman times as Portus Cale, the name would stick not just for the city – but the country too. Portus is Latin for “port” or “harbour”, and Cale was the name of an earlier pre-Roman settlement in the area. Together, Portus Cale referred to the harbour and town that developed at the mouth of the Douro River. Over time, the term evolved into Condado Portucalense (the County of Portucale), the medieval territory from which the independent Kingdom of Portugal emerged. The modern nation takes its name directly from the ancient identity of Porto. The city is not just important in Portuguese history – it’s foundational to it. Christian forces took the city back from Muslim rule in 997, making it a vital first step in the Portuguese Reconquista. In 1415, it was Porto that launched the fleet that carried Prince Henry the Navigator and the Portuguese army to Ceuta (the southern gateway of the Straits of Gibraltar). Control of this part of North Africa gave Christian Europe access to the Mediterranean and a base from which to explore the African coast. The Age of Discovery, led by Portugal, began in earnest thereafter. Porto then thrived as a trading port, particularly through its production of port wine, which still defines the Douro Valley today. On the pitch, FC Porto has claimed over 30 Primeira Liga titles, 18 Portuguese Cups, 2 UEFA Cups, and 2 European Cups/Champions Leagues – most notably under José Mourinho in 2004. It has nurtured talent from Deco, Falcao, and James Rodríguez, to Pepe and Bruno Alves, earning a reputation for developing world-class players while punching above its weight on the European stage. FC Porto’s badge isn’t just a logo – it’s a mini history of Portugal. From castles and kings to saints and dragons, from Portus Cale to modern Europe, it’s a visual story that spans centuries. The club is more than blue stripes and silverware – it’s a symbol of Porto’s undefeated heart. And it takes to the pitch every weekend to continue the legacy.

As the Roman Empire fell and the barbarians stormed into Italy, the local people fled. To the mountains, into the hills – and into the seas. Literally. Into the sea. At what is today Venice, refugees fled with their belongings into the shallow marshlands off the coast – the barbarians – keen to get down to Rome and loot the good stuff – watched with bemusement and let them go. Out in the marshes, these settlers put down roots – well – logs, to be precise. By ramming logs deep into the sea floor they created platforms on which they could build. Over time, these foundations have, far from rotting away, petrified – absorbed so much water that they have turned into solid rock. It is upon these manmade foundations that the city sprang. Let’s fast forward a bit… to a time when this city had turned from a soggy backwater to a European powerhouse. During the 4th Crusade, as the assault on Constantinople stalled and hesitation gripped the fleet, many of the galleys carrying reinforcements lingered in the safety of the waters. Amidst this uncertainty, the blind and 92-year-old Doge of Venice, Enrico Dandolo, defied age, fear, and reason. Clad in full armour, he commanded his galley to surge ahead alone, landing boldly on the beach beneath the walls of the greatest city in Christendom. At his side flew the banner of St Mark. His audacious act of leadership and defiance stirred the hearts of the wavering Crusaders—shaming them into action and igniting the charge that would ultimately breach the city’s defences. I've been studying and teaching History, properly, for more than twenty years now. You'd think I'd have a grasp of most of it, right? Wrong. Even now, I'm still uncovering incredible civilisations, people, and stories I’d never even come close to discovering before. One such story is that of Venice and their incredible trading Empire of the Middle Ages. This led me to seek out their football team—and their badge. And wow. What a story we have here. So, let's leave the cold, rain-soaked terraces of East Anglian non-league football for a moment or two, and transport ourselves to the open-air, 11,500-seater stadium of Pier Luigi Penzo, at the very end of one of Venice's micro-islands, nestled inside the Aegean lagoon that call home. The badge is a straightforward V. V for Venezia. Simple. But embedded in this V is a lion. A lion with wings. The V badge has only been around for just over a year or two. The older one features the lion more vividly, so I've posted that image too. After the capture of Constantinople, Venice could demand what it liked. It could have had gold, territory, titles... and while it took a few of those things, it really only demanded one thing—a trade deal. A Venetian-run system of free trade across the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. And it got it. Known as the Stato da Mar, these seas became Venice's highways. Goods from the Far East embarked in Ukraine and sailed to North Africa. Goods from the Middle East embarked at Palestine and travelled to Northern Europe. All on Venetian ships. A bit like modern Britain, Venice was poor in natural resources but boasted a large coastline and an enterprising people. It traded—or it died. They sought to engage, expand, and control European trade—not cripple it. That’s how they took back control. Not with hate-filled slogans, but with ships. At its height, it ran an incredibly efficient system of trade and government. Local officials were salaried and banned from conducting their own trade or employing family members—an anti-corruption measure British and American politics could benefit from today. Their dockyards built the first assembly lines—Venice could produce one completed galley every 24 hours. How long would it take a modern dockyard? Another lesson we could learn today was one of tolerance and pragmatism. The Venetians traded with everyone and anyone: Turks, Arabs, Christians, Muslims, Jews, Protestants, Orthodox, and Catholic. At a time when other European cities were busy murdering their Jewish residents, the Venetians gifted them an island to set up shop and protected them in law. If you could help, if you had something to offer—you were in. Today that glory has gone. Like much of Europe, only the shell remains—a tourist trap, a theme park of former power, frequented by Chinese and Arab tourists. It remains a sacred place for fashion, style, and film festivals. But in reality, its lifeblood is the sale of fridge magnets to the day-trippers disgorged onto its streets each day by mammoth, coastline-eroding and water-polluting cruise ships. But baked into the buildings, and buried beneath the slowly sinking courtyards, lies a spirit that once monopolised global trade, engineered the defeat of the world’s greatest powers, and accumulated wealth and culture that far outstripped its humble origins as a desperate refuge for the poor. The Venetians will always find a way. And St Mark will roar again.

Today is #SuperBowlLIX   , and as a one-off special, let's #GetTheBadgeIn for the teams involved. Playing in New Orleans, the Philadelphia @Eagles will take on the for the second time in three years. The Chiefs won their last meeting 38-35, and they’re eager to add a 4th Super Bowl title to their incredible recent run. But before the action begins, let’s explore the surprising origins of the Chiefs. Despite the name, the logo, the stadium (Arrowhead), the traditional costume of its fans (Native American face paint and headdresses), and the famous "Arrowhead Chop" celebration, the Kansas City Chiefs weren’t originally meant to be a nod to Native American culture. Instead, the team was named after H. Roe Bartle. Bartle, a Kansas City local, gained prominence as the leader of the local scout association. As head of the organisation, he was called “Chief” by the scouts, and the nickname stuck. Bartle later moved into business and became an influential local figure. When President Truman asked him to lead the Economic Stabilization Agency, Bartle had to resign from 57 boards of directors to avoid conflicts of interest (something that today’s America might find amusing, given how public office is often exploited for private gain—but I digress). With Bartle’s involvement in numerous ventures, it wasn’t long before he became the mayor of Kansas City—twice. During his time as mayor, an opportunity came knocking. A few years earlier, in 1958, American businessman Lamar Hunt had watched the NFL Championship Game between the New York Giants and the Baltimore Colts. Widely known as "The Greatest Game Ever Played," it featured an exciting finish, innovative play, and record-breaking TV viewership. Hunt, captivated, wanted to be part of the action. He approached the NFL about buying a franchise. They said no. So Hunt decided to create his own league instead—the American Football League (AFL). He personally took ownership of a team based in Dallas, calling them the Texans. However, after a few years, he realised the local market couldn’t generate the revenue the team needed, so he began searching for a larger city. That’s when Bartle stepped in. He saw an opportunity to boost Kansas City’s public profile and offered Hunt a deal, promising ground improvements and a major increase in season ticket sales. Hunt was convinced. The Texans packed up, moved to Kansas City, and renamed the team after the man who made it all happen—Chief Bartle. So, there you have it. The Kansas City Chiefs may not have started as a tribute to Native American culture, but they represent a key chapter in the history of American sports, entrepreneurship, and civic pride.

Today is #SuperBowlLIX and as a one-off special, let's #GetTheBadgeIn for the teams involved. Playing in New Orleans, the Philadelphia @Eagles will take on the Kansas City Chiefs for the second time in three years. It was a close game last time (38-35 to the Chiefs), and Kansas City are keen to add a 4th Super Bowl title to their recent incredible run. But don’t count out the Eagles just yet—they’re ready to soar. So, let’s start with the Philadelphia Eagles. Is their name as simple as Eagles are fast, aggressive, and look cool? Yes. But also no. See, the Eagles icon was chosen by the founders, Bert Bell and Lud Wray, because, at that time, there was a different eagle inspiring local people—the National Recovery Administration (NRA). Back in the 30s, the USA, under President Roosevelt, was pulling all the federal levers of government it had to help the country recover from the Great Depression. This wasn’t some crazy scheme dreamt up by a deep-state cabal of conspiracy theorists but an honest attempt to improve people’s lives. The economic shock had seen millions lose savings, homes, and jobs. Exports had slumped, and prices were skyrocketing. It was a bad time. So in stepped the NRA. It set out codes of conduct for employment, set minimum wages, and gave unions a greater say in bargaining for increased rights for their members. Companies that adhered to the code got to display a blue eagle badge on their premises and advertising. The government ran a campaign encouraging people to frequent the eagle-clad businesses as a way of helping their fellow Americans. In the middle of this gloom, Bell and Wray led a buyout of the bankrupt NFL team, the Philadelphia Yellow Jackets. They secured the right to a slot in the league and decided to enter with a new team—the Eagles—and to adopt the Eagle symbol in the process. Bell was a long-time football player and coach who had an eye for what fair competition looked like. Later in his career, he became the NFL commissioner and introduced the NFL Draft, giving the worst teams from the season before the first picks of the new talent coming out of the college system. This drafting process has kept the league competitive and has avoided the game being dominated by teams backed by billionaire owners. It also, in my opinion, makes the achievements of teams like the Chiefs and the New England Patriots even more remarkable. They won title after title without continuously buying in fresh superstars but by nurturing and integrating talent into their teams. Bell had an eye for keeping things fair—which surely explains his fondness for the NRA Eagle. And there you have it—far from being just a cool name, the Philadelphia Eagles are rooted in a symbol of hope and recovery. Fly Eagles Fly.

Today, let's visit Isthmian League North Division outfit @walthamabbeyfc. They have an incredible history and a very elegant badge to tell the tale—so let's #GetTheBadgeIn. Formed during the Second World War, while dodging V2 rockets frequently aimed at the town’s Royal Gunpowder Mill, locals joined forces with a group of Tottenham Hotspur youth players to form the club. It has been a fixture of the local football scene ever since, growing over time and seizing opportunities when they arose. The stadium rebuild in 2005 included seats from the recently demolished Maine Road, formerly home to Manchester City. Today, they sit in the playoff spots for Isthmian Division North and are seeking a return to the Premier Division. Now, let's take another look at this badge—starting right in the middle. The lion. The lion references one of England’s most famous kings—and arguably still Waltham Abbey’s most famous resident—Harold Godwinson. His battle shield and family emblem always bore a lion’s head. Godwinson was the Saxon King who famously took an arrow to the eye at the Battle of Hastings. But how does Harold connect to Waltham Abbey? Well, hold tight: Waltham Abbey has an extraordinary religious heritage. Archaeological evidence confirms that a wooden church stood on the site as far back as the 700s. This place is 1,300 years old. Say it again. One thousand, three hundred years ago—Waltham had a church. And not just any church. In 1030, a Saxon thegn (noble) named Tovi the Proud had a dream. Well, technically, a blacksmith on his Somerset estate had the dream and told Tovi. In this dream, he was shown the location of a holy relic. A team got to work digging—and hey presto—a stunning flint crucifix was unearthed. Tovi loaded it onto a cart, but the oxen refused to move. But when they heard the word "Waltham," the oxen suddenly sprang to life and didn’t stop until completing the 157-mile journey! Tovi built the Abbey where they stopped. Pilgrims flocked from far and wide—including our man, Harold Godwinson. He was so inspired by the Legend of the Holy Cross that he funded renovations to the site—presumably with electric charging points and improved wheelchair access. After Harold’s unfortunate encounter with a French arrow at Hastings it is widely believed that his body was returned to Waltham Abbey for burial. A grave with his name on it still exists. As far as I know, nobody has exhumed it to check: a) If he’s actually there. b) Whether he really took an arrow to the eye. Regardless, while it no longer attracts tens of thousands of pilgrims, Harold’s burial site undoubtedly draws tens of history teachers each year. That said, the new BBC TV series King and Conqueror—a sort of historical Game of Thrones—is all about Harold. Perhaps Waltham Abbey can cash in? The Abbey remained popular with kings throughout history, including that notorious abbey-destroyer, Henry VIII. He had a home opposite the Abbey, and when he set about the Dissolution of the Monasteries, Waltham Abbey was the last to go. You’d like to think it was with a heavy heart that Henry saw his favourite abbey go. What happened to the Holy Cross? Some say Henry’s men destroyed it in their campaign to eradicate Catholic relics. Others claim the monks smuggled it out before it could be taken. But where? Under the penalty spot at Capershotts? And this brings us to another key feature of the club’s badge—the four gold crosslets, taken from the Abbey’s coat of arms. So, there you have it: Waltham Abbey FC. Those oxen in 1030 knew this place was special. The last Saxon King knew it. Henry VIII knew it. And some Luftwaffe intelligence officer clearly saw its strategic value in 1944. Fortunately, it has survived Norman invasions, monastic dissolutions, and enemy cruise missiles. The Legend of the Holy Cross still holds strong every Saturday in the Isthmian League Premier. Come on, you Abbotts!

The Dragons (@wivenhoetown_fc), established by a group of Colchester Grammar School students in 1925, have long entertained the locals. Over the years, the team has also welcomed the occasional group of University of Essex students who may have found themselves asleep on the terraces after attempting to stumble back to campus following a night out in one of Wivenhoe's many, many pubs. I used to live right behind their home ground at Broad Lane when I was a student. We had Wivenhoe scarves and attended the odd game. I vaguely remember a hut selling back issues of football programmes for almost any club you could imagine. So, let’s check them out and #GetTheBadgeIn. Firstly, the obvious- the badge is a dragon. And it has a solid reason to be: The name Wivenhoe comes from Saxon, meaning "Wifa's Hoe," referring to the ridge of land by the River Colne. Over time, it gained a mythical twist, sounding like "Wyvern" (a dragon). Maybe it should rebrand to Dragon Port—who wouldn’t want to live there? Wivenhoe’s early history, noted in the 1086 Domesday Book, describes a small community of farmers, fishers, and millers. In the Middle Ages, it passed between noble families, including the 15th Earl of Oxford, a supporter of Henry VII, whose Manor House once stood at King George V Playing Field. But beyond its name and noble connections, Wivenhoe stands out for one major thing, shipbuilding: Records from 1575 show Richard Quykeskey operating a shipyard upstream of The Quay. In 1650, Robert Page built the ketch Nonsuch, which sailed to Canada and helped establish the Hudson’s Bay Company. He also constructed the Fagons, later renamed HMS Milford, a 22-gun frigate commissioned after the Civil War. Unfortunately, the Milford met a tragic end in 1673 when it was accidentally burnt. The next four ships to bear that name (none built in Wivenhoe) were captured by the French. Not a happy name. In the 19th century, Philip John Sainty launched the racing cutter Pearl in 1819 for Henry Paget, the Marquess of Anglesey. Paget later donated a bespoke "£100 Cup" for a race between British and American yachts: the Americans won, and came back the next year, and the year after, and the year after - it is still going on - the America’s Cup. Wivenhoe’s craftsmen also built luxury yachts like the Dagmar (1865), boasting wine lockers, marble fireplaces, and bookcases. Shipbuilding later adapted to new technologies, with Forrestt’s producing innovative vessels like the paddle steamer Tern (1891), still sailing on Lake Windermere, and the mysterious 3-man submarine Volta (1905), which vanished under shadowy circumstances (best bet, she was bought by the Japanese against a British export blocking order...) Wivenhoe’s men had good experience with racing ships... as it was also a prominent port for smuggling. Ships would sail out to larger ones off-shore, collect tobacco and alcohol, and race back in to avoid customs duties. Waiting for them would be the customs coastguard cutter - Repulse. There were 5 ships in total, all bearing that name. On one occasion the Repulse so enthusiastically pursued a smuggling ship she chased it back to France and ran aground. The customs crew spent 13 months in a Calais jail. During World War II the town answered the call in style - the town’s shipyards contributed over two dozen minesweepers, motor torpedo boats, and parts of the Mulberry Harbour used in the D-Day landings. So that's Wivenhoe. The dragons have a long history of innovation, skullduggery and speed. Not a bad legacy for a football team to build on. @wtfc_res,

Taking a little trip down the A12 for this one... to Park Drive, the home of the Jammers, aka (@MaldonTiptreeFC). Probably the two most famous Essex food-based towns—Tiptree Jam and Maldon Salt. Sweet and savoury. The two joined forces in 2010 under the ownership of Ed Garty. Their red and blue striped shirts reflect their separate origins, and they’re currently scrapping it out in the #IsthmianLeague North Division. So, let’s take a look at them and #GetTheBadgeIn. It’s a beauty. One half of the badge shows the Essex blades (seaxes) from the county crest. Maldon’s original coat of arms featured three lions of England, but these were swapped for Tiptree United’s Essex blades. Maldon's lions still fly on the ship’s flag—a tidy solution. The yellow blobs at the masts’ ends are fleurs-de-lis, a nod to the English King's long held claim to France. The ship on the other side taken from Maldon's oldest seal, it shows a medieval vessel with high forecastle and aftcastle. These ships were used before cannons could accurately fire. Until then (and the English were mastering this art by 1588—as the Spanish learned), warships were floating castles. Crews threw arrows, stones, cats, dogs, and kitchen sinks until close enough to board and finish the job with swords and axes. Intense stuff. Maldon earned self-governance under Henry II on the condition it provided a warship and warhorses when required. The crest’s ship is that ship, crewed by Maldon’s men, awaiting their king’s command. But Maldon is best known for the 991 Battle of Maldon, where Vikings met Anglo-Saxons. The Saxons lost, mainly because their two armies couldn’t agree—one wanted to fight, the other to pay the “Danegeld” and buy peace. The fighters, led by Byrhtnoth, faced Olaf’s Viking horde. Olaf offered to leave if paid in gold and armour, but Byrhtnoth famously replied, “We will pay you with spear tips and sword blades.” Classic “Russian warship, go f*** yourself” energy. Makes you proud. Let’s spread the story a little further to Tiptree. Tiptree, with its rich soil, had long grown fruit for London markets. In 1885, local farmer Arthur Wilkin had a bright idea: stop selling fresh fruit and make jam instead. His first batch went straight to a ship heading for Australia. Jam’s long shelf life made it perfect for shipping across the Empire—and Wilkin cashed in. It wasn’t all smooth sailing. At one point, cash flow got so bad he sold his horse to pay wages. But he persisted, and it turned into a very sweet deal. Wilkin & Sons turned Tiptree into a company town, the sort you’d expect in the industrial North. By 1922, they owned “over 100 houses, eight farms, the windmill, the blacksmith’s forge, the Factory Club, the Salvation Army Hall, the factory and 1,000 acres of land.” Many employees still live in company housing, a rarity these days. Even more remarkably, half the company’s shares are employee-owned. In 2016, they introduced the “New Growing System,” reducing inputs, doubling plants per hectare, and making fruit easier to pick. East Anglia remains jam-packed with farming innovation. To Maldon: The salty waters of the River Blackwater and flat marshes make it perfect for salt production. When William of Normandy completed his Domesday Book audit in 1086, Maldon already had “45 lead pans” for salt making. Few towns can boast industries over a millennium old, but Maldon can. Warships and valour. Sugar and salt. The red and the blue. Maldon and Tiptree are coming for you.

@TCFC_Official Americans. Bloody Americans. Say what you like about them, they know a good investment when they see one. In 2021, when Gamechanger20 Ltd bought Ipswich Town, they spotted a sleeping giant in East Anglia—a club with a dream catchment area. Norwich’s 12-toed newts are an hour’s drive away through Europe’s worst roads, and there’s little south until West Ham. It was a smart move, and under McKenna, inspired. But where else in England offers such untapped potential? Go West. Truro City Football Club is a prime opportunity—the nearest big team is 90 minutes away, leaving a huge region craving a team to rally behind. Enter Eric Perez, a Canadian businessman with a flair for bold projects. He founded Toronto Wolfpack Rugby League, entering them into the English league (?), and when the pandemic scuttled that, he relocated Hemel Hempstead RL to Cornwall—a daring move far from Rugby League’s northern heartlands. In November 2023, Perez bought Truro FC, calling it a brilliant business opportunity with its large catchment and minimal competition. Yet his plans remain unclear; a proposed joint stadium with his rugby team fell through when he sold it. For now, Truro FC is thriving—promoted to the National League South in 2023 and currently topping the table. The Cornish boys are on the rise. Their badge features the Cornish flag at the base and Truro Cathedral’s magnificent silhouette. That flag—white cross on black—represents St Piran, patron saint of tin miners, a nod to Cornwall’s tin-mining legacy, once vital to the Byzantine Empire. The imagery of molten tin and Christ’s light may sound like GCSE student desperate to find meaning where there is none, but if I were Cornish, I’d have the flag, the phone case, the tattoo. Cornwall and Devon were home to the Dumnonia, a Celtic tribe whose hillforts outlasted most of Britain’s. They resisted the Romans and held off the Saxons longer than most, though Wessex eventually claimed most of the region there was still a separate ‘King of Cornwall’ called Alef when the Normans showed up in Hastings. Cornish culture and language therefore remained distinct, closer to Welsh and Breton than English, and they still have that funny accent of theirs today. Truro Cathedral, built in 1880 after Queen Victoria granted the city status in 1877, stands on the site of St Mary’s the Virgin. With its three spires, it’s one of only three cathedrals in the UK to boast such a feature. Truro also thrived as a port city, exporting tin across Europe and even to the Byzantine Empire. Today, the city draws visitors to attractions like the Royal Cornwall Museum and its annual City of Lights Festival, where illuminated sculptures of dragons and mythical creatures parade down the streets, flanked by thousands of lantern-carrying locals. There’s plenty happening in the South-West, but to truly experience it, you’ll need to make the journey - or - wait a bit, and I bet Truro City FC will be gracing your team’s pitch before you know it. St Piran and his merry band of tin miners are on the march.