The England national football team’s visual identity is built around the Three Lions crest, a heraldic emblem that has been associated with the Football Association (FA) since its formation in 1863. The team’s nickname, “The Three Lions,” derives directly from this badge, which features three blue lions passant guardant (walking, facing forward) arranged vertically on a white field, accompanied by ten Tudor roses. A star above the crest commemorates England’s 1966 World Cup victory. [1] [2]
It is important to distinguish between two related but separate identities: the traditional Three Lions crest worn by the national teams on their shirts, and the “England Football” brand launched in 2021 for grassroots participation and digital initiatives. The national teams have continued to wear the traditional Three Lions crest, while the England Football brand introduced a distinct new emblem. [3]
Design and History
The FA has used the Three Lions crest as its official badge since 1872. The last major redesign before the modern era was carried out in 1949, when the crown that previously topped the emblem was removed to distinguish it from the England cricket team’s badge. [4] [1]
In March 2009, the FA unveiled a revamped version of the crest. The badge was redrawn to make the lions appear more natural, with their claws and tongues coloured red to stand out. The red Tudor rose was altered to allow for the reinsertion of green petals, and the badge itself was rendered in a lighter blue. The updated crest debuted on 28 March 2009 during a friendly against Slovakia at Wembley Stadium. [4]
In 2013, to celebrate the FA’s 150th anniversary, a special gold version of the crest was introduced. The traditional elements of the Three Lions badge were retained, but rendered in gold with a date mark underneath reading “150 years” and the dates 1863-2013. [5]
In May 2021, the FA launched “England Football” as a new consumer-facing brand to unite grassroots initiatives and programmes. London-based design studio Matta developed the identity over an 18-month project. The new crest replaced the three identical lions with a lion, a lioness and a cub, intended to represent men’s, women’s and children’s football respectively. [6] [7]
Meaning and Symbolism
The three lions have deep roots in English royal heraldry. King Richard I (Richard the Lionheart) combined three lions into a single emblem, a flag used by every Plantagenet king until the ascension of Edward III in 1327. The Football Association adopted the motif when it was founded, though the football badge differs from the royal version in colour: England’s football crest is blue and white, while the historic royal version was red and gold. [1]
The ten Tudor roses on the badge have no documented specific meaning. The reason for the specific number of roses is unknown. [1]
For the 2021 England Football brand, Matta’s creative director Matt Swan explained that the removal of the shield around the lions was deliberate: the lions are tilted at a 45-degree angle, forming their own boundaries. Swan described it as a “visual way to show how football can break boundaries.” The ten roses were omitted to convey that football is for everyone. The FA stated that the cub, lion and lioness “unite to form the iconic England crest with no boundaries, representing everyone at every level of football across the country.” [7] [8]
Logo Index is an independent educational archive covering logos, visual identities and graphic design history. All trademarks and brand assets remain the property of their respective owners.
