This week we're looking at the Arsenal crest, from our first club badge in 1888 to the current insignia which has become the global symbol of the brand all around the world.
In 1888, just two years after the formation of the Club, the Royal Arsenal adopted its first crest.
Based on the coat of arms of the borough of Woolwich, the most striking features of our first badge were the three central colums that, despite looking like chimneys, represented the cannons of the Woolwich armaments factory.
The significance of the cannons to the borough of Woolwich derives from the long military history surrounding the area. The Royal Arsenal, Royal Artillery Regiment and various military hospitals, which still dot the landscape today, were all prominent in the borough.
Despite moving away from Woolwich the club has kept its historical ties with the area through its retention of the cannon to this day and the popularisation of the club's nickname, 'the gunners'.
Interestingly in the early days the crest was not as significant a part of a football club’s identity as it is today. Shirts remained plain, unless commemorating a significant match, an FA Cup Final for example, and the crest was generally reserved for official headed stationery, matchday programmes and handbooks.
To celebrate Arsenal's 125th anniversary in 2011 the shirt featured a crest that used the same laurel and ribbon design first seen in 1888.
Tune in to tomorrow's edition of 'Badge of Honour' where we look at how Arsenal's move to Highbury and the Great War shaped the club's identity and crest.
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