Every Premier League club badge tells a story – civic history, local landmarks, animals, mottos in Latin, and the occasional total rebrand that fans still argue about decades later. Here’s a quick guide to the crests behind the shirts, and where to find the kits that carry them.
The Big Six Crests
Arsenal’s cannon has pointed in both directions over the club’s history – it faced left until 1949, then flipped right, where it remains today. Chelsea’s lion badge dates back to the club’s founding, redesigned several times but always keeping the rampant lion holding a staff. Liverpool’s badge centres on the Liver Bird, the mythical cormorant that also sits atop the city’s Royal Liver Building, framed by the Shankly Gates and “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. Manchester City’s crest carries the ship from the Manchester city arms, a nod to the Manchester Ship Canal, alongside three diagonal stripes representing the rivers Irwell, Irk and Medlock. Manchester United’s red devil badge is one of the most recognisable in world football, sitting above the ship from the Manchester city crest – a shared detail with City that traces back to both clubs’ civic roots. Tottenham’s cockerel, standing on a football, has topped the badge since the 1900s and remains one of the most distinctive emblems in the league.
More Premier League Crests Worth Knowing
West Ham’s crossed hammers badge reflects the club’s shipbuilding roots in East London. Newcastle United’s badge combines the city’s coat of arms with the Seahorses that flank it, a design that’s stayed largely consistent for decades. Aston Villa’s lion badge nods to the club’s Midlands heritage, while Crystal Palace’s eagle has been part of the identity since the 1970s. Nottingham Forest’s tree badge is a direct reference to Sherwood Forest, and Brighton and Hove Albion’s seagull has flown above the badge since the 1970s too, tying the club firmly to its seaside home.
Why the Badge Matters on a Retro Shirt
On a genuine retro shirt, the badge should be embroidered, not printed – that’s one of the fastest ways to tell a quality kit from a cheap reproduction. Colours, stitching detail and crest placement all shift slightly between eras as clubs update their badges, which is part of what makes a specific season’s shirt collectible rather than just a plain jersey. If you’re shopping for a specific era, it’s worth checking which badge version was in use that season before you buy.
Browse the full Premier League football shirts collection to find the badge, era and club you’re after.
