The story behind each crest of top European clubs

#5 Liverpool

Liverpool crests over the years (Courtesy: Paisley Gates)

From 1892 until 1953, Liverpool used the city’s coat of arms as it’s club crest. The emblem featured Neptune and Triton, flanked by two liver birds and the words ‘God hath granted us this ease’ above it. In 1950, a single white liver bird on red background was used on the Cup Final kit. LFC was added at the bottom in 1955 as the badge was placed inside an oval.

In 1968, then manager Bil Shankly had the oval removed and the plain white liver bird and LFC returned. This was then coloured yellow from 1976-1985. A shield design was first used in 1978, the liver bird placed inside and the words ‘Liverpool Football Club’ sculpting the bottom of the crest.

For the centenary year, that shield was reduced in size and placed inside a larger shield of the same shape. A yellow ribbon at the bottom including the dates 1982-1992 in red lettering. The Shankly Gates were added at the top together with ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ – the club anthem. ‘Liverpool Football Club’ and a ‘100 Years’ stripe appeared inside the shield.

From the following season and until 1999, the 100 years stripe was removed, ‘Est 1892’ was the wording that now adorned the ribbon at the bottom, and two ‘eternal flames’ were added, one on each side of the crest, in memory of victims of the Hillsborough disaster.

In 1999 and until 2012, green was made a signature colour of the crest and the liver bird was again given more prominence. The look and feel of the badge didn’t change much otherwise.

From 2012-2017, the club decided to strip things right back and returned to the liver bird with LFC underneath. Simple, effective. The colour of the emblem (red, white or yellow) has changed depending on the kit used.

For the 2017/18 season, a ‘125 years’ has been added below the LFC and the dates 1892 and 2017 are placed either side of the liver bird.

Part 2 will be published soon.