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Founded in 1880, Preston North End are one of the oldest clubs in the UK. Starting out as a cricket club, they quickly progressed to become one of the founders of the Football League. Based at Deepdale since 1875, the club has a long and fascinating history. But it is the Preston North End badge that offers one of the most interesting stories from the club’s past.
Of course, everything about football crests or badges is entirely logical if you know the local history, or the background that led to the foundation of a club. However, sometimes stories are lost in the mists of antiquity.
When it comes to the Preston North End badge, it has remained largely unchanged since the football team was founded. However, the meaning behind the symbols has been subject to debate, so we thought we would clear up some of the misconceptions and delve into the fascinating history of this iconic crest.
Preston North End’s First Badge
The football club’s first ever badge depicted a lamb holding a cross, taken from the Borough’s coat of arms. The lamb is surrounded by the red roses of Lancashire, on a white and blue background with the letters ‘PP’ sitting underneath.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/shanklyhotel.com\/preston\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/prestonnorthendblazerbadge2-1.jpg"}[/IMG2][IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/www.pne-online.net\/forum\/core\/image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw=="}[/IMG2]Source: thebeautifulhistory.wordpress.com
These elements have remained mostly unchanged since this very first badge. But the interesting question is, where did these symbols originate, what do they mean and why are they so significant to Preston?
They have remained constant throughout since the club was founded in 1880, so let’s break the Preston North End badge down and find out more about each of these iconic symbols.
The Paschal Lamb
The symbol of the lamb was taken from Preston’s coat of arms. Referred to as a Paschal Lamb, it symbolises the ‘Lamb of Saint Wilfrid’, the Patron Saint of Preston since the seventh century. The Paschal Lamb is one of the most widely known images that symbolises Jesus, the son of god. In Christian theology the Lamb of God is viewed as foundational and integral to the message of Christianity.
However, it has also been highlighted that the lamb could be a symbol of Preston’s turbulent religious past. Throughout history, the city frequently had opposite religious views to the ruling monarchy. When the King was catholic, Preston was mainly protestant and when the King was protestant, Preston was seen as a catholic town. The image of the lamb is seen to mean that Preston and its people can never be led.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/shanklyhotel.com\/preston\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/PNE-BADGE-OUTLINED2.jpg"}[/IMG2][IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/www.pne-online.net\/forum\/core\/image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw=="}[/IMG2]
The final thing people take the lamb to mean is something a little more literal. Many have said that it is a symbol of Preston’s strong farming heritage. Which certainly makes a lot of sense.
It may have come to symbolise all three of these definitions, however the most likely is the first. With the city’s strong religious origins, in the early days it was known as Priest town, it seems only natural that the Paschal Lamb would be linked the Patron Saint of Preston.
The ‘PP’ Lettering
As well as the Paschal Lamb, the lettering ‘PP’ has also remained relatively constant throughout the club’s history. The letters are taken from the Latin phrase ‘Princeps Pacis’, which means ‘Prince of Peace’. This strengthens the idea that the lamb symbolises St Wilfrid, or the lamb of god.
A second theory, however, goes back to Preston’s reputation for pride in the eighteenth century. Back then, it was the centre of fashionable society, leading to people believing that the double ‘P’ stood for ‘Proud Preston’. Even if this doesn’t hold much weight in hard evidence, the interpretation has become widely accepted and acknowledge as a very fitting phrase to describe the city.
The Preston North End Badge Today
Over the years, not much has changed on the Preston North End badge. The lamb and the blue and white colours have remained constant, with the double ‘P’ dipping in and out. These symbols have become iconic in Preston and around the world.
However, the layout is something that has been adapted. The 1996 the Preston North End badge featured the lamb encased in a blue shield shape, with the team name also featuring in the shield. A new crest was introduced in 1998, which included the exact same features, but the shield was removed.
In 2010, the shield made a come back to the badge, however, this time it was square in shape. A special 125-year anniversary badge was introduced in the 2013/2014 season which saw the shield return to the traditional shape. Above that lay a banner with the team name displayed and below another banner stating ‘Invincibles 125 years’. The initials PP were also reintroduced for this Preston North End commemorative badge.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/shanklyhotel.com\/preston\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Large.jpg"}[/IMG2][IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/www.pne-online.net\/forum\/core\/image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw=="}[/IMG2]Source: www.pnefc.net
Today, the club’s badge is a slightly updated version of the anniversary badge. The colours have been altered to be different shades of blue and the bottom banner now states ‘established 1880’ instead of the Invincibles tagline.
https://shanklyhotel.com/preston/preston-north-end-badge/
Of course, everything about football crests or badges is entirely logical if you know the local history, or the background that led to the foundation of a club. However, sometimes stories are lost in the mists of antiquity.
When it comes to the Preston North End badge, it has remained largely unchanged since the football team was founded. However, the meaning behind the symbols has been subject to debate, so we thought we would clear up some of the misconceptions and delve into the fascinating history of this iconic crest.
Preston North End’s First Badge
The football club’s first ever badge depicted a lamb holding a cross, taken from the Borough’s coat of arms. The lamb is surrounded by the red roses of Lancashire, on a white and blue background with the letters ‘PP’ sitting underneath.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/shanklyhotel.com\/preston\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/prestonnorthendblazerbadge2-1.jpg"}[/IMG2][IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/www.pne-online.net\/forum\/core\/image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw=="}[/IMG2]Source: thebeautifulhistory.wordpress.com
These elements have remained mostly unchanged since this very first badge. But the interesting question is, where did these symbols originate, what do they mean and why are they so significant to Preston?
They have remained constant throughout since the club was founded in 1880, so let’s break the Preston North End badge down and find out more about each of these iconic symbols.
The Paschal Lamb
The symbol of the lamb was taken from Preston’s coat of arms. Referred to as a Paschal Lamb, it symbolises the ‘Lamb of Saint Wilfrid’, the Patron Saint of Preston since the seventh century. The Paschal Lamb is one of the most widely known images that symbolises Jesus, the son of god. In Christian theology the Lamb of God is viewed as foundational and integral to the message of Christianity.
However, it has also been highlighted that the lamb could be a symbol of Preston’s turbulent religious past. Throughout history, the city frequently had opposite religious views to the ruling monarchy. When the King was catholic, Preston was mainly protestant and when the King was protestant, Preston was seen as a catholic town. The image of the lamb is seen to mean that Preston and its people can never be led.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/shanklyhotel.com\/preston\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/PNE-BADGE-OUTLINED2.jpg"}[/IMG2][IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/www.pne-online.net\/forum\/core\/image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw=="}[/IMG2]
The final thing people take the lamb to mean is something a little more literal. Many have said that it is a symbol of Preston’s strong farming heritage. Which certainly makes a lot of sense.
It may have come to symbolise all three of these definitions, however the most likely is the first. With the city’s strong religious origins, in the early days it was known as Priest town, it seems only natural that the Paschal Lamb would be linked the Patron Saint of Preston.
The ‘PP’ Lettering
As well as the Paschal Lamb, the lettering ‘PP’ has also remained relatively constant throughout the club’s history. The letters are taken from the Latin phrase ‘Princeps Pacis’, which means ‘Prince of Peace’. This strengthens the idea that the lamb symbolises St Wilfrid, or the lamb of god.
A second theory, however, goes back to Preston’s reputation for pride in the eighteenth century. Back then, it was the centre of fashionable society, leading to people believing that the double ‘P’ stood for ‘Proud Preston’. Even if this doesn’t hold much weight in hard evidence, the interpretation has become widely accepted and acknowledge as a very fitting phrase to describe the city.
The Preston North End Badge Today
Over the years, not much has changed on the Preston North End badge. The lamb and the blue and white colours have remained constant, with the double ‘P’ dipping in and out. These symbols have become iconic in Preston and around the world.
However, the layout is something that has been adapted. The 1996 the Preston North End badge featured the lamb encased in a blue shield shape, with the team name also featuring in the shield. A new crest was introduced in 1998, which included the exact same features, but the shield was removed.
In 2010, the shield made a come back to the badge, however, this time it was square in shape. A special 125-year anniversary badge was introduced in the 2013/2014 season which saw the shield return to the traditional shape. Above that lay a banner with the team name displayed and below another banner stating ‘Invincibles 125 years’. The initials PP were also reintroduced for this Preston North End commemorative badge.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/shanklyhotel.com\/preston\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Large.jpg"}[/IMG2][IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/www.pne-online.net\/forum\/core\/image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw=="}[/IMG2]Source: www.pnefc.net
Today, the club’s badge is a slightly updated version of the anniversary badge. The colours have been altered to be different shades of blue and the bottom banner now states ‘established 1880’ instead of the Invincibles tagline.
https://shanklyhotel.com/preston/preston-north-end-badge/
