Emblematically Speaking - Euxton Villa
Tue 25th April 2023 | Euxton Villa | By Martin Fallon
This week we feature a design which we can use to test our knowledge of the interpretation of heraldic designs; so let’s have a go.
The dominant feature of this emblem is a chevron. A chevron represents the foot of a house and is derived from French..
The chevron was granted to those who had participated in some notable enterprise, had built churches or fortresses, or had accomplished some work requiring faithful service. Often in classical heraldry the chevron signifies protection in that the devices on the emblem are protected by the roof – an inverted chevron if you will.
This is not the case here in this more modern usage in that the chevron as used here could be considered to be a method of highlighting the three charges.
Let’s have a look at these three charges and see what we can work out.
To the left we see the three lions. Immortalised, if that’s the right word, in the context of football by the Lightening Seeds (featuring Frank Skinner and David Baddiel) with the song entitled Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home) in 1996. I’m sure that many of us will remember how the light-hearted definition of international football came to pass in that fateful semi final. I will remind you, just for context, that international football can be described as 22 blokes running round a football field for 120 minutes and then the Germans win on penalties although having said that, recent events on football fields far, far away would suggest that this joke has passed its sell by date.
But back to the three lions and they go a long way back. Right back to the 11th century in a way in that William the Conqueror used two lions (on a red background) as his Coat of Arms. The third lion was added by Henry II to celebrate his marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine in 1152.
The red rose of Lancashire (more accurately Lancaster) is another ancient symbol representing, as it does, the house of Lancaster and immortalised in these words “In the battle for England's head/York was white, Lancaster red” referring to the English Civil War although the use of the red rose goes back much earlier than that including, of course, the Wars of the Roses.
The lion rampant to the right of the charges as we look is usually emblematic of Scotland and it is only reasonable to ask why an English organisation should use such a symbol. The answer to that one lies with the designer of the club badge, Ian McLean, who was Chairman of the club at the time and Scottish.
Although originally designed as an escutcheon, the design was updated recently into the roundel we see today.
Around the perimeter we see the motto “Primi Simus” (Latin) translates appropriately enough to “Be First”. Either side of the motto we see laurel. Laurel is a shrub that was traditionally used to weave wreaths and crowns that were symbols of victory in the sporting events of Ancient Greece. Today, laurel is synonymous with achievement, and a laureate is one who an award or achievement is bestowed upon.
Finally we see he year of formation of the club and the whole is presented in the playing colours.
Another example of the detail which can be contained within an emblem and the amount of information that they emblem can convey.
We are indebted to Euxton Villa Secretary Hugh MacKinnon for much of the information contained in this article.
Postscript
After 16 new Emblematically Speaking this season, we come to the end of this series for now. Throughout the series we have tried to adopt what are known as the Reithian Traditions which originated with John (later Lord) Reith who was the founding father of that came to be known as the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
These traditions are to inform, educate and entertain and I make no comment on how the BBC have, in some ways, forsaken the vision of their founding father.
Anyway, I hope that these articles have stayed true to the spirit of Lord Reith and that they have revealed just a part of the rich history of our member clubs and the town/district/village they are proud to represent.
You can find all of the articles in the Emblematically Speaking series in the News Dropdown of the league website or alternatively by clicking here.
Thanks for reading, Stewart.
Emblematically Speaking - Euxton Villa
Tue 25th April 2023 | Euxton Villa
By Martin Fallon
This week we feature a design which we can use to test our knowledge of the interpretation of heraldic designs; so let’s have a go.
The dominant feature of this emblem is a chevron. A chevron represents the foot of a house and is derived from French..
The chevron was granted to those who had participated in some notable enterprise, had built churches or fortresses, or had accomplished some work requiring faithful service. Often in classical heraldry the chevron signifies protection in that the devices on the emblem are protected by the roof – an inverted chevron if you will.
This is not the case here in this more modern usage in that the chevron as used here could be considered to be a method of highlighting the three charges.
Let’s have a look at these three charges and see what we can work out.
To the left we see the three lions. Immortalised, if that’s the right word, in the context of football by the Lightening Seeds (featuring Frank Skinner and David Baddiel) with the song entitled Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home) in 1996. I’m sure that many of us will remember how the light-hearted definition of international football came to pass in that fateful semi final. I will remind you, just for context, that international football can be described as 22 blokes running round a football field for 120 minutes and then the Germans win on penalties although having said that, recent events on football fields far, far away would suggest that this joke has passed its sell by date.
But back to the three lions and they go a long way back. Right back to the 11th century in a way in that William the Conqueror used two lions (on a red background) as his Coat of Arms. The third lion was added by Henry II to celebrate his marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine in 1152.
The red rose of Lancashire (more accurately Lancaster) is another ancient symbol representing, as it does, the house of Lancaster and immortalised in these words “In the battle for England's head/York was white, Lancaster red” referring to the English Civil War although the use of the red rose goes back much earlier than that including, of course, the Wars of the Roses.
The lion rampant to the right of the charges as we look is usually emblematic of Scotland and it is only reasonable to ask why an English organisation should use such a symbol. The answer to that one lies with the designer of the club badge, Ian McLean, who was Chairman of the club at the time and Scottish.
Although originally designed as an escutcheon, the design was updated recently into the roundel we see today.
Around the perimeter we see the motto “Primi Simus” (Latin) translates appropriately enough to “Be First”. Either side of the motto we see laurel. Laurel is a shrub that was traditionally used to weave wreaths and crowns that were symbols of victory in the sporting events of Ancient Greece. Today, laurel is synonymous with achievement, and a laureate is one who an award or achievement is bestowed upon.
Finally we see he year of formation of the club and the whole is presented in the playing colours.
Another example of the detail which can be contained within an emblem and the amount of information that they emblem can convey.
We are indebted to Euxton Villa Secretary Hugh MacKinnon for much of the information contained in this article.
Postscript
After 16 new Emblematically Speaking this season, we come to the end of this series for now. Throughout the series we have tried to adopt what are known as the Reithian Traditions which originated with John (later Lord) Reith who was the founding father of that came to be known as the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
These traditions are to inform, educate and entertain and I make no comment on how the BBC have, in some ways, forsaken the vision of their founding father.
Anyway, I hope that these articles have stayed true to the spirit of Lord Reith and that they have revealed just a part of the rich history of our member clubs and the town/district/village they are proud to represent.
You can find all of the articles in the Emblematically Speaking series in the News Dropdown of the league website or alternatively by clicking here.
Thanks for reading, Stewart.
