FOOTBALL NICKNAMES
|
| CLUB |
NICKNAME |
REASON |
| Accrington Stanley |
Stanley |
Shortened name |
| Aldershot Town |
Shots |
Short version of name |
| Arsenal |
Gunners |
The club were founded by workers from the Woolwich armaments
factory. |
| Aston Villa |
Villans |
Derived from "Villa" |
| Barnet |
Bees |
Based on the striped home kit. |
| Barnsley |
Tykes |
Colloquial name for a Yorkshireman. |
| Birmingham City |
Blues |
Colour of home football kit |
| Blackburn Rovers |
Riversiders
Rovers
|
After a side of the ground adjacent to a river
Shortened name
|
| Blackpool |
Seasiders |
Blackpool is a famous seaside resort. |
| Bolton Wanderers |
Trotters |
In the 19th century, one of their pitches was adjacent to a
piggery. |
| Bournemouth |
Cherries |
Reference to a cherry plantation near the ground |
| Bradford City |
Bantams |
A reference to the claret and amber colours of the club's
strip |
| Brentford |
Bees |
A misinterpretation of an early terrace chant "Buck up Bs" |
| Brighton & Hove Albion |
Seagulls |
Brighton is a seaside resort, therefore the nickname refers
to a sea bird. |
| Bristol City |
Robins |
Red home kit similar in colour to a robin's chest |
| Bristol Rovers |
Gas (unofficial)
Pirates
|
Old Eastville ground was next door to a Gasworks.
Reference to Bristol's maritime heritage
|
| Burnley |
Clarets |
Colour of home strip. |
| Bury |
Shakers |
Club's first chairman, JT Ingham,
commented before a game with Blackburn, "We will shake them. In fact,
we are the Shakers" |
| Carlisle United |
Cumbrians |
From Cumbria, the county the club hails from |
| Charlton Athletic |
Addicks |
Corruption of the word 'haddocks', named after a local
fishonger |
| Chelsea |
Blues |
Colour of home football kit |
| Cheltenham Town |
Robins |
Red home kit similar in colour to a robin's chest |
| Chester City |
Blues |
Colour of home football kit |
| Chesterfield |
Spireites |
Named for the famous crooked spire on the local Church of
St. Mary and All Saints |
| Colchester United |
U's |
Initial of name (United) |
| Coventry City |
Sky Blues |
Colour of home strip |
| Crewe Alexandra |
Railwaymen |
Crewe is a major railway junction |
| Crystal Palace |
Eagles |
After the eagle featured on the club badge since the
Seventies |
| Dagenham & Redbridge |
Daggers |
Derived from the club's name |
| Darlington |
Quakers |
A reference to the religious movement which had a historic
influence on the town |
| Derby County |
Rams |
A ram features as an emblem of both the city and county, and
also in the club's badge |
| Doncaster United |
Rovers |
Shortened name |
|
Donny |
Derived from Doncaster |
| Everton |
Toffees |
After a local shop which sold sweets, including the "Everton
Mint", on match days |
| Exeter City |
Grecians |
Because of the club's association
with St Sidwell's Parish - people living in the parish have been known
as Grecians or Greeks for many centuries |
| Fulham |
Cottagers |
From the club's home ground, Craven Cottage |
| Gillingham |
Gills |
Shortened version of the name |
| Grimsby Town |
Mariners |
Reference to Grimsby's maritime
heritage - It was once the largest fishing port in the world |
| HartlepooUnited |
Pools
Monkey hangers
|
Refers to the twin towns of
Hartlepool and West Hartlepool prior to the integration of the two in
1967.
During the Napoleonic wars the citizens
of Hartlepool allegedly hung a monkey believing it to be a French spy
|
| Hereford United |
Bulls |
After the local breed of cattle |
| Huddersfield Town |
Terriers |
Named after the Yorkshire Terrier breed of dog |
| Hull City |
Tigers |
Colour of the amber and black home strip |
| Ipswich Town |
Blues
Tractor Boys
|
Colour of home football kit
Originally a derogatory chant by rival
fans refering to Ipswich's agricultural heritage, the nickname was
adopted by Ipswich fans
|
| Leeds United |
Mighty Whites |
Based on the colour of the home strip |
| Leicester City |
Foxes |
Reference to Leicestershire's hunting tradition. |
| Leyton Orient |
O's |
Initial of name (Orient) |
| Lincoln City |
Imps (or Red Imps) |
After the "Lincoln Imp"
which, according to legend, plagued Lincoln Cathedral during the 14th
century. |
| Liverpool |
Reds |
Colour of home kit. |
| Luton Town |
Hatters |
Reference to the hat making
industry, which became synonomous with the town during the 17th and
18th centuries. |
| Macclesfield Town |
Silkmen |
Reference to the town's silk
industry - Macclesfield was once the world's biggest producer of
finished silk. |
| Manchester City |
Citizens
Blues
|
Derived from 'City'
Refers to light blue home strip
|
| Manchester United |
Red Devils |
The nickname originally
belonged to nearby rugby league team Salford, and was "borrowed" by Man
United fans. |
| Middlesbrough |
Boro |
Shortened version of name |
| Millwall |
Lions |
Adopted the nickname after being refered
to as lions, due to their FA Cup giantkilling exploits in 1900. |
| Milton Keynes Dons |
Dons |
Derived from Wimbledon, a reference to the club's origins as
Wimbledon F.C. |
| Morecambe |
Shrimps |
Morecambe Bay is a well known shrimping area. |
| Newcastle United |
Magpies
Toon
|
Based on black and white colours of the home strip
Originates from the Geordie pronunciation of 'Town' |
| Northampton Town |
Cobblers |
Northampton was once a major centre of the shoe making
industry. |
| Norwich City |
Canaries |
Rearing canaries was a popular
pastime in the area during the early 20th century. The club adopted
it's yellow strip because of the nickname. |
| Nottingham Forest |
Reds |
Colour of home kit |
| Notts County |
Magpies |
Based on black and white colour of home strip |
| Oldham Athletic |
Latics |
Short version of name (Athletic) |
| Peterborough United |
Posh |
Reportedly derived from former
manager Pat Tirrel's comment that he was looking for, "Posh players for
a posh team". |
| Plymouth Arglye |
Pilgrims |
Plymouth was the departure
point of the Mayflower in 1620, carrying the pilgrims to the New World. |
| Port Vale |
Valiants |
Derived from Vale |
| Portsmouth |
Pompey |
The nickname for the city of Portsmouth. |
| Preston North End |
Lillywhites |
A reference to the white home strip |
| Queens Park Rangers |
Hoops
Super Hoops
R's
|
Reference to the blue and white hooped home shirt
Final initial of club abbreviation, QPR
|
| Reading |
Royals |
The town is in the Royal County of Berkshire. |
| Rochdale |
Dale |
Short version of name |
| Rotherham United |
Millers |
After the club's home ground (Millmoor) |
| Scunthorpe United |
Iron |
Scunthorpe is the UK's largest steel processing centre. |
| Sheffield United |
Blades |
Sheffield has been a major
centre for steel production and cutlery manufacture since the 18th
century. |
| Sheffield Wednesday |
Owls |
Based on the name of the area in which the club is based
(Owlerton). |
| Shrewsbury Town |
Shrews |
Shortened version of Shrewsbury |
| Southampton |
Saints |
The club was originally known as Southampton St. Mary's. |
| Southend United |
Shrimpers |
Reference to the local shrimping industry. |
| Stockport County |
Hatters |
Stockport was a major centre of the hatting industry. |
| Stoke City |
Potters |
Stoke is a world renowned centre of the pottery industry |
| Sunderland |
Black Cats |
Named after the Black Cat Battery gun based on the River
Wear. |
| Swindon Town |
Robins |
Red home kit similar in colour to a robin's chest |
| Tottenham Hotspur |
Lilywhites
Spurs
|
Colour of home strip
Short version of Hotspur
|
| Tranmere Rovers |
Rovers |
Shortened name |
| Walsall |
Saddlers |
The town was a centre of the saddlery industry from the
Industrial Revolution onwards. |
| Watford |
Hornets |
Refers to the yellow and black home strip |
| West Bromwich Albion |
Baggies |
The club historian
suggests that it derives from "bagmen" who carried the matchday takings
from the turnstiles to the cash office on the halfway line. |
| West Ham United |
Hammers
Irons
|
The club's crest features
crossed metalworking hammers, refering to their origins as Thames
Ironworks
The club was originally called Thames Ironworks
|
| Wigan Athletic |
Latics |
Shortening of Athletic |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers |
Wolves |
Based on shortening of the name |
| Wycombe Wanderers |
Chairboys |
High Wycombe has been a
centre of the furniture production industry since the 19th century. |
| Yeovil Town |
Glovers |
Yeovil was a centre of the glove making industry during the
1800's. |