Welcome back to our mini series looking at the history of the Arsenal crest.
The single cannon crest that first appeared in the 1922/23 season remained largely unchanged for 17 years. However over time the crest became increasingly streamlined with the words 'The Gunners' eventually disappearing.
The next major change came in the 1949/50 season when a club motto was devised and incorporated into the crest, first appearing in the opening matchday programme at Highbury.
It would appear to have been in the minds of the Arsenal hierarchy for at least a year prior to this. In the final matchday programme of the 1947/48 League Championship winning season, Harry Homer, the programme editor of the day, wrote: “...my mind seeks an apt quotation with which to close this season which has been such a glorious one for Tom Whittaker, Joe Mercer and all connected with The Gunners. Shall we turn for once to Latin? ‘Victoria Concordia Crescit’. Translation: ‘Victory grows out of harmony.’”
It took two seasons for Homer's idea to reach fruition, impressing the Arsenal board who adopted the motto into the new crest. The new badge also featured ‘Arsenal’ in a gothic style typeface, the westward facing cannon, and the borough of Islington’s coat of arms and ermine.
Tune in to tomorrow's edition of 'Badge of Honour' where we look at how our current crest came to be.
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