Three Lions on a Shirt: The Official History of the England Football Jersey

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But what is the origin of England’s association with the King of the Beasts, and why do they adorn the crest on the shirts of the the national team? Here’s all you need to know. Why are three lions associated with England? The very first England shirt worn by Arnold Kirke Smith in the game against Scotland in 1872 (Image credit: The National Football Museum ) Goalkeeper shirt fans (Rob Stokes, I’m looking at YOU) won’t be disappointed either as keepers’ attire is also well documented in the book. There is something here for England fans and kit obsessives alike. Matchday embroidery, shirt numbers, variations, trim – it’s all covered in comprehensive detail and always presented in a very readable way. Three Lions on a Shirt is a beautiful, high quality coffee table book containing an incredible collection of historic match worn England football shirts.

It was their son Richard the Lionheart – famed for his exploits in the Crusades (he actually spent very little time in England, was once held for ransom by an Austrian and a German, and was killed by a Frenchman while besieging a castle) – who decided to combine all three lions to make up his arms. Three Lions on a Shirt is a beautiful, high quality coffee-table book containing an incredible collection of historic match worn England football shirts. Fascinating feature articles, covering everything from grass-roots football to the international scene The badge on the English football team's shirts bears another very English emblem, a smattering of ten Tudor roses, the propaganda device that symbolises Henry VII uniting the house of Lancaster and the house of York after the Wars of the Roses. Fast forward a few decades and Richard was getting ready to choose an emblem of his own. He was the son of King Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine and his powerhouse of a mother also had a lion on her own family coat of arms. So Richard added a third lion to his personal crest and suddenly, we’re singing.Then, in 1152, Henry I’s grandson Henry, Duke of Normandy married Eleanor of Aquitaine – whose family also had a lion on its crest. Young Henry himself became King Henry II of England in 1154 – founding the great Plantagenet dynasty The three lions proved so popular that they reigned supreme on the English royal arms for over a century until Edward III added in some French lilies. But despite alterations and additions ever since, the three lions have always remained an integral part of the arms.

Forgotten the title or the author of a book? Our BookSleuth is specially designed for you. Visit BookSleuth In May, the FA revealed a new lion logo for its grassroots initiative England Football. It features a red lion, lioness and cub, and aimed to the give the crest “a fresh purpose that symbolises inclusivity at all levels of football,” the FA said. However, it does not replace the Three Lions on the national shirt.Look closely and you’ll see the lions have company with more royal links. There are also ten Tudor roses on the badge worn proudly by England’s footballers but, for some reason, the floral motif has never been as famous.