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

Home> Football> England

Published 13:34 14 Nov 2023 GMT

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

There's a reason why England wear three lions on their badge.

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.

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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 on the crest.

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.

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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.

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

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England face Malta at Wembley on Friday night (
Getty)

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 Malta in their Euro 2024 qualifier at Wembley on Friday night.

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Gareth Southgate's side, who have already qualified for next summer's tournament in Germany, then face North Macedonia in Skopje on Monday.

Featured Image Credit: Getty

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.

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@rory_ocallaghan

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