sportbible homepage
sportbible homepage
  • Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • World Cup
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Manchester United
    • Liverpool
    • Arsenal
    • Real Madrid
    • Barcelona
  • Formula 1
    • Red Bull
    • Ferrari
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes
    • Max Verstappen
    • Lewis Hamilton
    • Lando Norris
    • George Russell
    • Charles Leclerc
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • More Sport
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • Darts
    • Athletics
    • Rugby
    • Wrestling
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Snapchat
TikTok
Threads
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • LADbible
  • Tyla
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
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

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

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.

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

Advert

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.

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.

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.

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.

X

@rory_ocallaghan

Recommended reads

Barry Hearn sends message to Ronnie O'Sullivan over snooker future as Crucible prediction madeGettyTyson Fury explains why his 14-year-old son Prince has “no choice” but to become a boxerGettyTyson Fury targets Jon Jones clash as next move after boxing confirmedGetty“I don’t fight for a country” – Michael 'Venom' Page reveals why he won’t walk out with a flag at UFC LondonGeoff Stellfox/Getty Images

Advert

Choose your content:

9 hours ago
10 hours ago
12 hours ago
13 hours ago
  • Getty
    9 hours ago

    Liverpool choose 'number one target' to replace Mo Salah as alternatives emerge

    Salah announced on Tuesday that he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season.

    Football
  • Getty
    10 hours ago

    Hashtag United ask to be relegated from non-league division as statement issued

    Hashtag founder Spencer Owen and the Isthmian League have both released statements.

    Football
  • Getty Images
    12 hours ago

    Ranking the top 10 forwards in Premier League history after Mo Salah confirms Liverpool exit

    Salah will go down as one of the Premier League greats, but where does he rank in our list?

    Football
  • X/@UnfilteredSoccr
    13 hours ago

    Landon Donovan wants US star banned for life after rejecting national team call up

    USMNT legend Landon Donovan wants the player to be blacklisted from the national team following a recent snub.

    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