• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Hidden details in the England badge revealed including the reason why there are three lions on the crest

Home> Football

Updated 12:47 8 Sep 2023 GMT+1Published 20:35 17 Jun 2023 GMT+1

Hidden details in the England badge revealed including the reason why there are three lions on the crest

The hidden details in England's badge revealed.

Rory O'Callaghan

Rory O'Callaghan

England have been wearing the iconic Three Lions badge on their shirt for more than 150 years, but do you know the reason why?

England played Scotland in the first ever international football match all the way back in 1872, with the historic game ending goalless.

England played with the Three Lions on their kit that day and it has been a symbol of the national side ever since – even becoming the subject of a famous song by Baddiel and Skinner and the Lightning Seeds.

Advert

But England were simply using the same crest that had been adopted by the Football Association when it was formed in 1863.

While England supporters will be familiar with the badge, not many are likely to know the reason why there are three lions.

Meanwhile, there is another hidden detail in the badge that most are unlikely to have spotted.

According to The Sun, each of the three lions has a different meaning.

Advert

The first represents King Henry I, who ruled the country from 1100 to his death in 1135 and was widely known as the Lion of England.

Following his coronation, the King added a lion to the Royal Arms of England.

When he got married to Adeliza of Louvain in 1121, he demanded a second lion was added to the Royal Arms to honour his father-in-law, Godfrey I, Count of Louvain.

The third lion wasn't added until 1154, when King Henry II - grandson of Henry I - married Eleanor of Aquitaine.

Advert

Henry II implemented it to honour his wife as she also had a lion on her family crest.

England supporters may have also noticed there are 10 roses included on the badge.

These Tudor roses are the traditional floral heraldic emblem of England and take their name from the House of Tudor, which united the House of Lancaster and the House of York after the War of the Roses (1455-1487).

The 10 roses were later introduced to the England badge in 1948-49 to represent the 10 divisions of Football Association members at the time.

Advert

England will wear the iconic badge on their shirts when they take on Ukraine in their Euro 2024 qualifier at the Stadion Miejski Wroclaw in Poland on Saturday evening.

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: England, Football, Euro 2024

Rory O'Callaghan
Rory O'Callaghan

Rory O'Callaghan is Editorial Lead at SPORTbible. He has previously worked for Sky Sports News, MailOnline and Reach covering football, cricket, boxing and MMA. Tested daily as a Liverpool fan in a Manchester office.

X

@rory_ocallaghan

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
10 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    Second Real Madrid player leaves the club immediately after PSG defeat with huge deal in the works

    Real Madrid were battered by Paris Saint Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup.

    Football
  • 2 hours ago

    Sir Alex Ferguson left 'furious' by 'careless' piece of commentary by Martin Tyler as full story revealed

    Martin Tyler angered Sir Alex Ferguson with his comment on commentary and apologised to the Manchester United legend.

    Football
  • 10 hours ago

    Thibaut Courtois calls out his own Real Madrid teammates as he makes outrageous claim after PSG defeat

    Real Madrid were eliminated from the Club World Cup following their crushing defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

    Football
  • 10 hours ago

    Real Madrid fans turn on two players after embarrassing defeat to PSG in FIFA Club World Cup

    Los Blancos were hammered 4-0 by the Champions League winners.

    Football
  • Trent Alexander-Arnold compared to Lionel Messi after sensational midfield showing for England
  • England fans come up with 'quality' chant for Bukayo Saka ahead of Euro 2024 qualifiers
  • England vs Ukraine referee: Who are the match officials for the Euro 2024 qualifier?
  • Italy vs England singer who 'butchered' 'God Save the King' rendition breaks silence after humiliation on social media