Post by GasMacc1 on Aug 1, 2014 15:08:29 GMT
Arsenal? The Gunners. Notts County? The Magpies. Millwall? The Lions. Football Club nicknames have long been part of Football League heritage. But - until now - it was only necessary to know about 92 clubs. As part of our acclimatisation to the Football Conference, we’ll need to extend our knowledge of another twenty-three.
Here’s a quick guide.
In 1515, Thomas Wolsey was staying with Henry VIII at Woking Palace when he heard that Pope Leo X had made him a Cardinal, so Woking are known as “The Cards”. The club’s own web-site explains that the name is derived from the Cardinal red of the red-and-white halved shirts.
For its connection to the World War Two fighter aircraft, Eastleigh lay claim to “The Spitfires”. Designed by R.J.Mitchell at the Supermarine Aviation Works in Southampton, the first prototype took off from Eastleigh Aerodrome in 1936.
Until the late 90’s, Telford were called “The Lilywhites”. They changed to “The Bucks” after the name of their ground, the (New) Bucks Head, as part of a stadium re-vamp and re-branding. In 2004 the club folded, and re-emerged as AFC Telford United.
Braintree Town owe their nickname “The Iron” to the manufacture of metal-framed windows by the Crittall Manufacturing Company. The Braintree club badge still features the outline of the factory.
“The Sandgrounders” is a term applied to those born and bred in Southport, because of the extensive sand dunes which dominate the area.
Welling United are known as “The Wings”, arguably reflecting their club badge, which features Pegasus, the winged horse.
Nuneaton Town were formed in 2008 when Nuneaton Borough went into liquidation, but the club retains the nickname “The Boro”. (Nuneaton Borough was itself formed in 1937, after the demise of an earlier incarnation of the club, which delighted in a superb nickname - “The Nuns”. Even before that, the original Nuneaton St. Nicholas club were called “The Nicks”).
Dartford derives its name from the River Darent, on which the town lies. Dartford F.C. are known as “The Darts”.
Arguably the most famous team called “The Robins”, Altrincham F.C. play in red and white stripes. (Ornithological note: robins don’t have stripes).
Gateshead are “The Tynesiders” or, alternatively, in Geordie dialect, “The Heed”.
Liverpool F.C. might have found a better nickname to demonstrate the legendary Scouse wit than the one they share with Alfreton Town: “The Reds”. Dover Athletic - “The Whites” - seem to have suffered from a similar lack of inspiration.
Perhaps the romance of the name Forest Green Rovers - evocative of the gently rolling Cotswold countryside - excuses the prosaic nickname of “The Rovers”. (Surely there is only one club entitled to be called THE Rovers?).
The remaining Conference clubs should be quite familiar, as they (or their forbears) have been in the Football League within the last couple of decades.
“The Imps” of Lincoln City perpetuate the fourteenth-century legend of the imp turned to stone in the cathedral. “The Mariners” of Grimsby Town represent the local maritime industries, while “The Silkmen” of Macclesfield Town provide a link back to the manufacture of silk buttons. According to their web-site, Wrexham changed their nickname in 2000 to “The Red Dragons” as “it was felt that the club needed to bring out more of its Welshness”.
“The Shots” of Aldershot cunningly match part of the town’s name with its reputation as the home of the Army.
Torquay United once played in black and white stripes and were called “The Magpies”, but changed their colours to gold/yellow - and their nickname to “The Gulls” - in the fifties.
Kidderminster Harriers are officially “the Harriers”, but also answer to “Kiddy” and “The Carpetmen”. Barnet’s new ground - The Hive - is the perfect venue for “The Bees”, and “The Shaymen” of Halifax Town play at “The Shay”. When they played at Sealand Road, Chester used to be called “the Seals”, but now can’t think of anything but “the Blues”.
And finally Bristol Rovers are “the Gas”! …(or “The Pirates”)! …(or “The Black Arabs”)!
Here’s a quick guide.
In 1515, Thomas Wolsey was staying with Henry VIII at Woking Palace when he heard that Pope Leo X had made him a Cardinal, so Woking are known as “The Cards”. The club’s own web-site explains that the name is derived from the Cardinal red of the red-and-white halved shirts.
For its connection to the World War Two fighter aircraft, Eastleigh lay claim to “The Spitfires”. Designed by R.J.Mitchell at the Supermarine Aviation Works in Southampton, the first prototype took off from Eastleigh Aerodrome in 1936.
Until the late 90’s, Telford were called “The Lilywhites”. They changed to “The Bucks” after the name of their ground, the (New) Bucks Head, as part of a stadium re-vamp and re-branding. In 2004 the club folded, and re-emerged as AFC Telford United.
Braintree Town owe their nickname “The Iron” to the manufacture of metal-framed windows by the Crittall Manufacturing Company. The Braintree club badge still features the outline of the factory.
“The Sandgrounders” is a term applied to those born and bred in Southport, because of the extensive sand dunes which dominate the area.
Welling United are known as “The Wings”, arguably reflecting their club badge, which features Pegasus, the winged horse.
Nuneaton Town were formed in 2008 when Nuneaton Borough went into liquidation, but the club retains the nickname “The Boro”. (Nuneaton Borough was itself formed in 1937, after the demise of an earlier incarnation of the club, which delighted in a superb nickname - “The Nuns”. Even before that, the original Nuneaton St. Nicholas club were called “The Nicks”).
Dartford derives its name from the River Darent, on which the town lies. Dartford F.C. are known as “The Darts”.
Arguably the most famous team called “The Robins”, Altrincham F.C. play in red and white stripes. (Ornithological note: robins don’t have stripes).
Gateshead are “The Tynesiders” or, alternatively, in Geordie dialect, “The Heed”.
Liverpool F.C. might have found a better nickname to demonstrate the legendary Scouse wit than the one they share with Alfreton Town: “The Reds”. Dover Athletic - “The Whites” - seem to have suffered from a similar lack of inspiration.
Perhaps the romance of the name Forest Green Rovers - evocative of the gently rolling Cotswold countryside - excuses the prosaic nickname of “The Rovers”. (Surely there is only one club entitled to be called THE Rovers?).
The remaining Conference clubs should be quite familiar, as they (or their forbears) have been in the Football League within the last couple of decades.
“The Imps” of Lincoln City perpetuate the fourteenth-century legend of the imp turned to stone in the cathedral. “The Mariners” of Grimsby Town represent the local maritime industries, while “The Silkmen” of Macclesfield Town provide a link back to the manufacture of silk buttons. According to their web-site, Wrexham changed their nickname in 2000 to “The Red Dragons” as “it was felt that the club needed to bring out more of its Welshness”.
“The Shots” of Aldershot cunningly match part of the town’s name with its reputation as the home of the Army.
Torquay United once played in black and white stripes and were called “The Magpies”, but changed their colours to gold/yellow - and their nickname to “The Gulls” - in the fifties.
Kidderminster Harriers are officially “the Harriers”, but also answer to “Kiddy” and “The Carpetmen”. Barnet’s new ground - The Hive - is the perfect venue for “The Bees”, and “The Shaymen” of Halifax Town play at “The Shay”. When they played at Sealand Road, Chester used to be called “the Seals”, but now can’t think of anything but “the Blues”.
And finally Bristol Rovers are “the Gas”! …(or “The Pirates”)! …(or “The Black Arabs”)!
