Why do England’s Football shirts have three lions?

The emblem of the three lions on England’s football shirts has become an iconic image that has endured throughout the years of triumph and hurt. It has even inspired a song.

Millions proudly wear the latest and vintage football shirts emblazoned with the badge, but where do the three lions come from and why exactly has a badge become such a symbol in modern English culture? The answer, of course, lies in the history of the country.

With all that being said, let’s get into exactly why there are three lions on England’s football shirts…

The Origin Story

The origins of the three lions emblem extend back through English history. The badge seen today is based on the coat of arms of England, which was originally a royal symbol displayed by England’s armies in battle. In the early stages, there was only one lion. The first English king to use a lion as his royal standard was King Henry I (1100-1135). A second lion was added after his marriage to Adeliza of Louvain, whose father also had a lion on his shield. King Henry II (1154-1189) added a third lion after marrying Eleanor of Aquitaine, whose family crest once again featured a lion. Their son, King Richard I (Richard the Lionheart), popularised the three lions as the royal arms of England during his reign (1189-1199).

Use by the Football Association

In the late 19th century, the newly formed Football Association (FA) chose the royal coat of arms as its emblem, representing the nation's royal history and strength on the field. The Three Lions badge was worn by the first English football team in their match against Scotland in 1872, becoming an integral part of the national sporting identity.

The FA later adopted a version of the crest with blue lions on a white background, adding ten Tudor roses to represent regional branches. This version was used from 1949 onwards, differentiating it from the English cricket team.

The Three Lions Today

Today, the Three Lions crest with its ten red roses is synonymous with the England football team. It has been worn with pride in countless tournaments, through historic victories and heart-breaking defeats.

The emblem was immortalised during the 1966 World Cup, hosted and won by England. It was also popularised with the song "Three Lions" created for Euro 96, which further cemented the emblem's association with the hopes and dreams of English football fans.

Vintage England Football Shirts with TVFS

Now you know the significance of the three lions on the England shirt and how it has evolved throughout history.

At That Vintage Football Shirt, you can grab your own bit of English football history, with one of our vintage England football shirts.