Pogoń Szczecin is a Polish football club based in Szczecin, founded on 21 April 1948. Its visual identity centers on a crest featuring a golden crowned griffin, a symbol drawn from the coat of arms of the city of Szczecin. The club’s colors are navy blue and maroon (bordo).
Design and History
The club was originally established in 1948 as Klub Sportowy Sztorm. After several name changes, in autumn 1955 the club adopted the name Klub Sportowy Pogoń Szczecin. The name, as well as the crest and the navy-and-maroon colors, were modeled on the pre-war tradition of Pogoń Lwów, a prominent Polish club from the 1920s. [1]
The club’s colors also reference the city of Szczecin. The traditional playing kit reflects the colors found in the Szczecin city coat of arms and flag. [2] The club is commonly nicknamed “Granatowo-bordowi” (Navy-and-Maroon). [2]
The crest itself is a triangular shield pointing downward, containing a golden crowned griffin head surrounded by a wreath of stylized olive branches. The griffin is a heraldic symbol of Szczecin, and the crest also includes the club name and the founding year 1948. [3]
In 2011, club president Jarosław Mroczek reportedly proposed changing the crest from a triangle to a shield shape. The proposal was opposed by fan associations, which blocked any modifications to the existing crest. [4]
In late 2014, the club’s symbols, including the name and crest, were seized by a bailiff and put up for auction due to debts of the MKS Pogoń association. The symbols were subsequently purchased by Pogoń Szczecin SA, the company managing the football club. [5]
Meaning and Symbolism
The crowned griffin on the club crest derives from the coat of arms of the city of Szczecin. [3] The griffin is a traditional heraldic figure associated with the region. The club’s mascot, Gryfus, is also a red crowned griffin, likewise derived from the Szczecin city coat of arms. [6]
The club’s navy and maroon colors connect both to the heritage of Pogoń Lwów and to the city of Szczecin. [2]
Typography and Design
The crest contains the club name “Pogoń” and the year 1948. [3] The triangular shield format with the griffin head and olive wreath has been the subject of a club visual identity book created around 2008, which precisely describes the appearance of the crest. [4]
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