In sport, a crest is the term used to describe a logo used by a

sports club A sports club or sporting club, sometimes an athletics club or sports society or sports association, is a group of people formed for the purpose of playing sports. Sports clubs range from organisations whose members play together, unpaid, and ...

. Such a logo is also often termed a badge. The logos of many clubs are inspired by

heraldic Heraldry is a discipline relating to the design, display and study of armorial bearings (known as armory), as well as related disciplines, such as vexillology, together with the study of ceremony, rank and pedigree. Armory, the best-known branch ...

design. The use of the term ''crest'' to describe a logo derives from the misconception that a crest refers to any emblem that is heraldic. In heraldry, a crest specifically refers to the element of a

coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldry, heraldic communication design, visual design on an escutcheon (heraldry), escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central ele ...

which appears above a helmet. Due to the heraldic design of many club logos, they are sometimes regulated in regions with heraldic authorities. In Scotland, some club logos have been deemed "an heraldic device" by the

Court of the Lord Lyon The Court of the Lord Lyon (the Lyon Court) is a standing court of law, based in New Register House in Edinburgh, which regulates heraldry in Scotland. The Lyon Court maintains the register of grants of arms, known as the Public Register of Al ...

. Heraldic devices must be authorised by the Court of the Lord Lyon; as such, some clubs have been required to change their logos to designs which are not heraldic. Alternatively, a club may apply to have its logo authorised by the Court of the Lord Lyon. Similarly, the

College of Arms The College of Arms, or Heralds' College, is a royal corporation consisting of professional officers of arms, with jurisdiction over England, Wales, Northern Ireland and some Commonwealth realms. The heralds are appointed by the British Sovere ...

has regulated club logos, with at least 25 football clubs in England and Wales having designs authorised by the College. In those cases, the English Football League was granted heraldic badges which were subsequently licensed to the appropriate clubs.

References

Logos Sports symbols Sports terminology {{sport-stub

See also

References