Supporters of Premier League clubs often pride themselves on their nicknames,
but do you really know the origin of them? Do you know the origins of the
Baggies, Gunners, Red Devils, Toffees, Trotters, Hammers, Lilywhites and
Citizens?
Let’s take a closer at look some of the interesting stories behind each of Premier
League club’s nicknames.

Arsenal – The Gunners
Like many, Arsenal’s nickname goes right back to when the club was originally
founded. Way back in 1886, workers at Woolwich Arsenal Armament Factory
decided to form a football club called Dial Square. The club would be renamed as
Woolwich Arsenal before dropping the prefix in 1913, but their original connection
with the armament industry would remain and the names Gunners is now
synonymous with the club.


Aston Villa – Villans
Not the most fascinating story behind this one. Formed when a local cricket team
Villa Cross needed something to occupy themselves during the winter months,
the name Villa inevitably evolved to Villans.


Blackburn Rovers – Rovers
Again not the most imaginable nickname. Rovers is a common team name for a
side which is willing to travel distances for victory. Logically fans shortened the
clubs name to Rovers.

Birmingham City – Blues
When the club was formed as Small Heath Alliance they decided the club would
play in a dark blue shirt. The club would stick with these colors and the nickname
Blues was born.


Chelsea – Pensioners
The nickname comes from the well known Chelsea Pensioners – war veterans
living in a nearby hospital. In 1905 the club adopted the crest of the Chelsea
pensioners, and the nickname followed on as at 2010. No wonder the change of Nickname to THE BLUES. This is to par with their blue Jersey

Everton – The Toffees
The famous nickname comes after a local sweet shop known as Mother Noblett’
sold and advertised the Everton mint. The sweet shop is located opposite Prince
Rupert’s Tower, which forms the majority of the Everton crest.

Fulham – Cottagers
This nickname originates from the famous cottage which is an iconic part of
Fulham’s Craven Cottage ground.

Liverpool – The Reds
Another nickname which doesn’t take two much explanation. When Liverpool
adopted the city’s color of red as the color of their strip, the nickname of the
Reds simply followed on.

Manchester City – Citizens
Again not the most fascinating story behind this nickname, the name Citizens has
simply evolved from the term City.

Manchester United – The Red Devils
A few conflicting stories describe the Red Devils nickname. One rumor suggests
that during a tour of France in the 1960s the club were branded the Red Devils
due to their red kit and Sir Matt Busby liked the name so much he asked for the
club to incorporate a devil in the badge. Another story suggests it stems from
local rugby Salford. The rugby club were nicknamed the Red Devils and with
United formally training in Salford the nickname transferred over.

Newcastle United – Magpies / The Toon
The name Magpies originates from the clubs iconic black and white striped kit,
where as ‘The Toon’ comes from a local pronunciation of town.

Stoke City – Potters
A fairly straightforward nickname that originates from the large connection with
the pottery industry in North Staffordshire.

Sunderland – The Black Cats
In 1997 when Sunderland moved to the Stadium of Light the clubs supporters
were also given the opportunity to vote on the clubs official nickname. With
11,000 votes the club announced their official nickname as ‘The Black Cats’. The
historical link with black cats goes way back to the 1800’s with a River Weir
artillery base named “Black Cat Battery”. This name reportedly developed after a
member of the local militia who was manning the station fled after thinking a
black cat was a devil incarnate because of the howling wind and full moon at the
time.Fast-track to 1905 and a black cat was pictured sitting on a football next to the
club chairman at the time, and three years later a black cat would appear in the
clubs team photo. The fans believed that the animal brought them good luck and
in 1937 Sunderland fan Billy Morris took a black cat to Wembley in his pocket,
Sunderland would win their first FA Cup trophy that year. The connection grew
even further in the 1960s when a black cat lived at Sunderland’s Roker Park
ground and was cared for by the club.

Tottenham Hotspur – Spurs
Spurs is obviously a shortened version of Hotspur which comes from the clubs
connection with Shakespeare character Harry Hotspur.

West Brom – Baggies
One of the most debated nicknames around is West Brom’s. The popular belief
is that the name originated from the baggie shorts that the players wore around
in the early 1900s. But club historian Toby Matthews claims: “In its early days
The Hawthorns had only two entrances, one behind each goal. On match days
the gatekeepers would gather up the takings at each end and be escorted by
policemen along the sides of the pitch to the centre line where there was a small
office under the stand.
“The gate money, mostly in pennies, amounted to a considerable sum and was
carried in large cloth bags. It wasn’t long before some wag in the crowd started
shouting “Here come the bag men!” at their appearance in front of the main
stand, and this developed into a chant of “Here come the Baggies,” giving the
team its nickname.

West Ham – Hammers
West Ham’s nickname originates from the Thames Ironwork Football Club, a team
from which they developed. The West Ham crest features two crossed rivet
hammers and the club has been known has the Hammers ever since

Wigan Athletic – Latics
Wigan are not on their own with this nickname with League 1 side Oldham
Athletic also claiming it. Latics is simply a corruption of the world Athletic.

Wolverhampton Wanderers – Wolves
Probably the most unimaginative nickname out of the bunch, but the most
commonly used. Most football fans will know the Midlands club as Wolves, and
there is no prize guessing why!

Source: http://worldsoccertalk.com/2010/11/15/origins-of-nicknames-for-20-premier-league-clubs/

Norwich City
Nickname: Canaries
You don’t come across too many canaries in sports. And Norwich actually uses the
animal on its crest, something Watford is still trying to figure out.

Bournemouth
Nickname: Cherries. There are a couple of theories about the “Cherries” nickname. One says it’s a reference to the red jerseys the club has always worn. Another suggests that the club’s
original stadium was located near a large cherry orchard. Either way, “Cherries” just
seems right for Bournemouth – innocent, unique, and in need of a miracle to survive
the winter. As the supporters say, “up the Cherries!”

Aston Villa
Nickname: Villains
It has been a rough few seasons for Aston Villa and another relegation battle seems to
be on the cards. But the ability to play on the club’s official name with something that
sounds so antagonizing is quite unique.


Southampton
Nickname: Saints
The club originally began as a church football team and now play in St. Mary’s
Stadium, so “Saints” was always going to be the nickname. It’s also cool to hear
30,000 fans sing When the Saints Go Marching In.

Watford
Nickname: Hornets
Nothing says “Hornets” like a moose logo and Elton John.

Crystal Palace
Nickname: Eagles
There is something very American about the Eagles. Generic nickname. They even have
cheerleaders.

Leicester City
Nickname: Foxes
Foxes are kind of cool. They’re deceptive, just like the play of Riyad Mahrez and Jamie
Vardy.

Nice informative thread. Up Blues

pamcode:
Nice informative thread. Up Blues

Up pensioneers...

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iPopAlomo:


Up pensioneers...

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