You’ll often hear chanting voices roar, “Three Lions, Three Lions!” But why are England fans called the Three Lions supporters — and what is the deep symbolism behind that name? In this article, StefaKick will accompany you to explore the medieval roots, the footballing tradition, and the emotional power of the “Three Lions” as more than just a nickname — it’s identity, pride, and history on the shirt.
The Heraldic Origins: Royal Arms, Lions, and Lineage
To understand the nickname, we must travel back to medieval England and its royal heraldry. England’s coat of arms famously features three lions passant guardant (walking, facing forward) on a red shield. These lions are believed to symbolize strength, courage, and nobility.
The roots date to the Plantagenet era: King Richard I, known as Richard the Lionheart (reigned 1189–1199), adopted a shield with three lions, combining earlier royal heraldic emblems. Over centuries, the three lions have become inseparable, it borrowed (and adapted) the royal motif for its emblem. Over time, the lions came to represent not just kings, but the people — the supporters — as custodians of national pride.
When Football Met the Crest: The FA & The Three Lions
The Football Association’s Emblem
When the Football Association (FA) was founded in 1863, symbols and badge design became part of its identity. By the late 19th century, the FA was using a badge with three blue lions on a white field (a variation of the royal arms) as the England national team crest.
On November 30, 1872, in the world’s first international match, the England side wore jerseys bearing the three lions crest. That historic adoption cemented the connection between the national team and the symbol.
Over time, small modifications were made: the crown was removed in 1949 when the FA was granted its own official coat of arms; Tudor roses were introduced between the lions to represent the regional branches of the FA; and a star was added in later decades to commemorate England’s 1966 World Cup triumph.
Why “Three Lions” Rather Than One or Two
You might ask: why exactly three lions — not one, not two? Historically, different branches of the royal lineage used lion emblems. When dynastic lines merged, combining multiple lion symbols (, from various Plantagenet claims) may have given rise to the pattern of three. The choice of three also fits heraldic symmetry and stability.
Additionally, three lions make for a strong visual and symbolic statement: they evoke unity, balance, and continuity — three forces standing guard over the national emblem and, by extension, over the supporters themselves.
Fans as Guardians: Becoming the “Three Lions Supporters”
When people refer to England “fans” as Three Lions supporters, they are doing more than quoting a symbol — they are assuming a role in the narrative of national pride. The term binds the fanbase to the emblem: supporters, in effect, wear those lions with the team, in spirit and in identity.
This phenomenon happens naturally in football culture: the crest is central — it’s on kits, flags, scarves, banners. Fans singing “Three Lions on a shirt” or wearing lion imagery are embracing a shared symbolism. Over time, “Three Lions supporters” became shorthand for the collective English football fan, especially in international tournaments.
The emotional resonance is also deep. Fans see themselves as part of a tradition spanning centuries. The lions symbol unites past kings, modern idols, and the grassroots fan in a single lineage.
Cultural Amplification: The Song, The Chant, The Identity
The Anthem That Cemented It
In 1996, the song “Three Lions” (by David Baddiel, Frank Skinner & The Lightning Seeds) captured the hearts of English football fans. Released ahead of Euro ’96, it includes the line “Three lions on a shirt / Jules Rimet still gleaming / Thirty years of hurt…” and the refrain “It’s coming home.”
That song became more than a hit: it became an anthem. It forged a direct linguistic link between the symbol (three lions) and the emotional hope of fans. The phrase “Three Lions supporters” feels natural when the symbol is enshrined in a song that echoes across terraces and social media.
Chanting, Flags, Tattoos — Living the Symbol
In stadiums and pubs, fans chant, wave flags, wear lion tattoos or scarves with primal motifs. The visual branding of the symbol makes it immediate and recognizable. Young fans grow up seeing the crest and hearing the song; the identity embeds itself in culture and memory.
When people see a sea of red and white, or three lions on a shirt, they don’t just see a crest — they sense unity, history, and loyalty. That’s the power of calling someone a Three Lions supporter.
Misunderstandings, Myths, and Lesser-Known Facts
Because the symbol is so iconic, myths and misunderstandings swirl around it. Let’s clear up a few:
- Myth: The lions represent three specific kings. While some modern sources try to assign each lion to Henry I, Louis of Aquitaine, or another figure, there’s no definitive medieval record doing so. The three lions likely evolved.
- Myth: The lions were always blue. The early royal arms had lions in gold on red, but the FA used blue lions on white for visibility and distinction.
- Fact: The FA’s coat of arms includes Tudor roses. Between the three lions, ten Tudor roses were added in 1949 to symbolize the regional structure of the FA.
- Fact: The lions are “passant guardant.” In heraldic terms, each lion walks with head turned to face the observer (guardant).
- Fun fact: The FA holds trademark on the lions badge. The symbol is legally protected and central to the England football brand.
Why the Nickname Thrives Today
In the digital era, where branding and identity are magnified, why are England fans called the Three Lions supporters is no idle question — it’s part of what makes English fandom distinctive. We might attribute its ongoing strength to:
- Continuity and consistency — very few national teams maintain a symbol over centuries.
- Emotional resonance — the symbol is not abstract; it’s tied to narratives of struggle, hope, and national pride.
- Cultural artifacts — songs, merchandise, tattoos, chants all reinforce the nickname daily.
- Visual power — a bold emblem that works on flags, shirts, logos makes it memorable.
Whenever you see “Three Lions supporters” in headlines, it isn’t just a phrase — it’s shorthand for a century-spanning tradition, carried forward by every generation of fan.
Conclusion
Why are England fans called the Three Lions supporters? Because the lions are not just symbols on a crest — they are guardians of identity, history, and collective passion. From medieval heraldry through the FA’s adoption, from terraces to chart-topping anthems, the three lions have grown beyond a badge. They are a language of pride, an emotional brand, and a rallying call to every man, woman, and child who bleeds white and red when England plays.
In calling yourself a Three Lions supporter, you join not just a football fanbase — you inherit a story. Now that you know the roots, the symbols, and the songs behind the name, carry it with pride, and when next you see or hear it, feel the weight of centuries behind those roaring symbols.
Let StefaKick be your companion next time you dig into England’s matches, its legends, or its crest. If you want to explore deeper — for example, how the crest has evolved, or how fans chant “It’s coming home” — I’m ready to take you further.
