Hull City Association Football Club, the English club based in Kingston upon Hull, is known by the nickname “The Tigers,” a reference to its black and amber colours. The club’s visual identity has centred on a tiger’s head motif for decades, with the current crest built around that symbol.
Design and History
Hull City did not wear a crest on their shirts until 1947, when a badge depicting a tiger’s head in an orange-shaded design was introduced. That version was worn until 1955, when it was changed to just the tiger’s head. The tiger’s head returned to the shirt in 1971, and a version of the tiger’s head with the club’s name underneath was used from 1979 until 1998. A later crest featured the tiger’s head in an amber shield with the club’s name and nickname, The Tigers. [1]
In June 2014, Hull City unveiled a new crest for the 2014-15 season that did not feature the club’s name. The design showed a tiger’s head, which had been depicted on four of the club’s seven previous badges, along with the year 1904, the club’s formation year. Vice-chairman Ehab Allam said the crest was “a more stripped back and modern approach which still celebrates the club’s heritage and history by focusing on our famous and well established Tiger’s head.” [2] The redesign followed owner Assem Allam’s plans to change the club’s name to Hull Tigers, which were rejected by the Football Association in April 2014. [3]
In February 2019, Hull City revealed a new crest for the 2019-20 season, the product of a supporter-led consultation process. The biggest change was the reintroduction of the wording “Hull City” above the tiger’s head. The club stated the new design “shows evolution rather than revolution with a slight change in shape.” The tiger’s head, first used in the 1970s and a constant on the club’s crest since 2001, was retained, as was the year 1904 below the tiger. [4] More than 7,000 fans were involved in the consultation process, which included panel sessions to discuss ideas and feedback before the final decision was reached. [5]
Meaning and Symbolism
The tiger’s head symbolises the club’s “Tigers” nickname, which derives from the team’s black and amber striped shirts. [6] The year 1904, included on the crest since the 2014 redesign, documents the year the club was formed. [2]
The club’s colours are amber and black, not orange and black. In 2021, owner Acun Ilicali addressed the distinction directly, saying: “The colours of the club are not orange and black. It is amber and black. You should not confuse this.” [7]
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