Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
The current crest of Brighton & Hove Albion FC (right) was introduced in 2011 and is a modernied version of earlier crests. The previous crest (shown below) was introduced in 1998 following a takeover of the south coast club. It is believed that new chairman, Dick Knight, wanted to sweep away all the remnants of the old, disgraced regime and saw an updated crest as a sign to supporters of new beginnings and happier times ahead.
The evolution and development of the club crest is outlined (graphically) below. The first known crest (1946-1975) to be used by Brighton & Hove Albion FC was the traditional coat-of-arms design, of the twin towns of Brighton and Hove. A hybrid design employing the shield of Hove and the dolphin crest of Brighton was also used at times while a calligraphic shield (second from left below) was worn on the team shirts in the latter 1950s.
During the 1974/75 season the club became known as 'The Dolphins' and by the beginning of the following season, a new club crest (third from left above) had been introduced.
Both this nickname and crest were to prove short-lived, however, following an incident said to have taken place in the Bo'sun public house in Brighton. Prior to a 'derby' fixture with fierce rivals, Crystal Palace, a few away supporters started chanting, "Eagles, Eagles" to which a group of Brighton & Hove Albion fans responded with a chant of "Seagulls, Seagulls". Current club director, Derek Chapman, is said to have been among the group who first christened the club with this nickname
The club has been known as 'The Seagulls' ever since and in 1977 the club crest was changed once again to represent this. A round seagull crest was used on club shirts until 1998 when the current design was introduced.
During the 2001/02 season, however, the club shirts displayed no seagull crest at all. For this season only - the club's centenary season - a return was made to the traditional shields of the former boroughs of Brighton and Hove (now officially one city).
The Brighton shield (left) shows martlets (birds used often in Sussex heraldry) dolphins and coral which both representing the sea. The Hove shield (right) also displays martlets and a ship that has run ashore, representing a 16th Century French galley and commemorating the French attacks on the coast of Hove during the early 16th Century.
Thanks to Paul Camillin (Press Officer) and Tim Carder (Chairman, 'Albion Historians') at Brighton & Hove Albion FC, for the above crests and information.
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