The Football Association of Wales (FAW) governs football in Wales and its visual identity is built around the Welsh Dragon, a national emblem. The current crest is the association’s mark, used by the Cymru national teams, and is distinct from a club badge. The FAW was founded on 2 February 1876, making it one of the world’s oldest national football associations.[1]
Design and History
The FAW crest has undergone several changes. A major redesign in 1951 added a green border with 11 daffodils, as well as the Welsh-language motto “Gorau Chwarae Cyd Chwarae” (“The best play is team play”).[2] This badge remained in use until 2010, when a new crest was introduced that kept the 11 daffodils around the edge but turned the dragon’s head to face forward.[3]
The most significant recent redesign was launched in 2019 as part of a wider FAW brand identity project by London-based design agency Bulletproof.[4] The 2019 national team badge stripped back the 2010 logo, leaving the dragon to take centre stage while the green border remained. The motto was moved to be stitched below the collar of national team shirts, with one larger daffodil featuring above the words.[5] The FAW described the new badge as carving out the Dragon silhouette of the logo, emblazoned on a traditional shield for a “sturdy, impenetrable look.”[6]
The 2019 identity was intended to encompass the National Association, National Team, and Leagues and Cup competitions, allowing each facet to shine in its own right.[4] The FAW’s current home kit for 2026-28 features the crest with a red dragon on a white shield with a green outline, and a banner reading “Gorau Chwarae Cyd Chwarae” on the back collar.[7]
Meaning and Symbolism
The dragon is the central element of the FAW identity, connecting the football association directly to one of Wales’s best-known national emblems. For the 2019 redesign, Bulletproof drew inspiration from the brand’s motto “Together, Stronger” as well as the Welsh landscape.[4] The agency described the dragon as “a proud icon of strength and resilience, that embraces the traditions of the past, while looking ahead to the future.”[4]
The motto “Gorau Chwarae Cyd Chwarae” originated within Welsh domestic football during the 1920s, when it was adopted by Pontyclun Football Club. It became part of the FAW crest in 1951 when the association celebrated its 75th anniversary.[1]
Typography and Design
Typography was an explicit part of the 2019 FAW identity. Bulletproof created a bespoke typeface called “Welsh Spirit,” designed with chiselled, firm foundations that celebrate the traditional art of Welsh slate carving, while also being inspired by modern condensed sans serif typefaces used in sport.[4]
The dragon itself was redrawn for the 2019 identity. Bulletproof described the execution as “inspired by chiselled rock and slate carving, representing centuries of Welsh craft and industry, yet sufficiently simple and iconic to look and feel at home in today’s modern global sporting arenas.”[4] The brand colours were grounded in the Welsh landscape, from the rolling hills of Glamorgan to the valleys of the Rhondda and the peaks of Snowdonia.[4]
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