I have a fascination for club nicknames. Apparently, the reason why Cardiff are called the Bluebirds was lost in the mist of time. That was until a history of the Club called 'C'Mon City!' (Working title: FFS City!') posited the theory that the nickname derived from a play staged in Cardiff entitled 'The Bluebird'. According to the author, the play was performed at the same time as the first reported use of the name 'Bluebirds' at Ninian Park around 1911. (You think I'm making this up?)
I suppose it could be true. After all, most football historians agree that early professional football drew much of its support from Edwardian theatre goers.
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| More likely, the author of 'C'Mon City!' is an arse. |
My favoured theory is that the nickname ‘Bluebirds’ was a nod to Sir Malcolm Campbell and his land speed record at Pendine Sands in 1924.
But many football teams do derive their nicknames from scarcely remembered plays or films. Brighton and Hove Albion, 'The Seagulls', took their nickname from the 1895 Chekhov play 'The Seagull' and Liverpool took their nickname, 'The Reds', from the 1981 Warren Beatty film 'Reds'. I could go on but won't.
So to continue the theme, I present a unique guide and look up table to the real origins of Football Club Nicknames based on films, plays and television. This is niftily combined with a handy guide for aspiring newspaper headline writer suggesting headlines to likely footballing scenarios; namely the 'Great Win', 'Tedious Draw', 'Crushing Defeat' and the ever popular 'Sex Scandal'.
| Club | Nickname | Origin | Headline for Great Win | Headline for Tedious Draw | Headline for Crushing defeat | Headline for Sex Scandal |
| Accrington Stanley | Stanley | Town is big on cinematic Stanleys. Kubrick, Laurel and Baxter. Kubrick prepared Sissy Spacek for her emotionally draining role in 'The Shining' by having her watch Accrington for a year. | How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Accrington | And what will you have, Stanley? | Baxter the Wall. | Baxter the Wall. |
| Club | Nickname | Origin | Headline for Great Win | Headline for Tedious Draw | Headline for Crushing defeat | Headline for Sex Scandal |
| Aston Villa | Villans | Villan', Richard Burton, Ian McShane. 1971. In tribute to Burton obsession with Villa expressed in an interview on 'Parkinson' in 1974. " I don't know what it is," he said, "but I just hate them." | Villafied! | Heroes and Villans | Gone for a Burton. | Thrillings with the Villans |
| Club | Nickname | Origin | Headline for Great Win | Headline for Tedious Draw | Headline for Crushing defeat | Headline for Sex Scandal |
| Blackpool | Tangerine | Led Zeppelin III, track 7, is on a permanent loop at Bloomfield Road. | Tangerine Dream | Tangerines Mean | Tangerine Scream | Tanned Grin Screams |
| Club | Nickname | Origin | Headline for Great Win | Headline for Tedious Draw | Headline for Crushing defeat | Headline for Sex Scandal |
| Bolton Wanderers | Trotters | Only Fools and Horses. Christmas Special 1983. Groundsman's video copy lost in fire in 1987. Club adopts nickname out of respect. | Trot's yer lot | Trot on | You Trot What You deserve | Pig's Trotter |
| Club | Nickname | Origin | Headline for Great Win | Headline for Tedious Draw | Headline for Crushing defeat | Headline for Sex Scandal |
| Bournemouth | Cherries | The Cherry Tree', Chekhov was quoted endlessly on the terraces of Dean Court to demoralise visiting teams for much of the early history of the club.. | Cherry Picking | Cherry Trifle | Cherries Picked Off | Ma Cherries Amor |
| Club | Nickname | Origin | Headline for Great Win | Headline for Tedious Draw | Headline for Crushing defeat | Headline for Sex Scandal |
| Brentford | Bees | Irwin Allen/Michael Caine masterwerk 'The Swarm' featuring bees played at the Odeon Brentford in 1978 for 5 days ( no matinee Sunday). It was enjoyed so much by the Brentford faithful that they adopted 'Bees' as the club's unofficial nickname after realising Brentford started with a 'B' or 'Bee'. Not a lot of people know that. | Bees Knees | Too Bee or Not to Bee | Bees Stung | Bee Hive! |
| Club | Nickname | Origin | Headline for Great Win | Headline for Tedious Draw | Headline for Crushing defeat | Headline for Sex Scandal |
| Bristol Rovers | Pirates | Of the Caribean. Reserve 'keeper said to bear uncanny resemblance to Johnny Depp but in reality looks nothing like him | Pirates the way to Do It | Trouser pirates | ||
| Burnley | Clarets | A Clockwork Orange' is in most people's Top 10 films at Turf Moor. Enjoyed for its dazzingly cinematography, expert direction, excellent acting, thought provoking themes and 'good punch-ups'. | Clarets the way to do it! | Claret'll Do | Clarets Syndrome | Claret us if you can |
| Burton Albion | Brewers | A nod to Oliver Reed's failure to perform after a massive in take of alcohol. Reed's long association with the club stems from 1961 when he drove past the ground after getting lost driving to location filming on 'The Rebel'. | Brewers Win | Brewers Draw | Brewers Droop | Brew Ers Missus! |
| Club | Nickname | Origin | Headline for Great Win | Headline for Tedious Draw | Headline for Crushing defeat | Headline for Sex Scandal |
| Charlton Athletic | Robins | Nest. South london is a Mecca for those interested in 1970s Robins. | Reliant Robins | Robin Peter to Pay Paul | Robin Bastards | Robin Askwith |
| Club | Nickname | Origin | Headline for Great Win | Headline for Tedious Draw | Headline for Crushing defeat | Headline for Sex Scandal |
| Crystal Palace | Eagles | Where Eagles Dare'. Not only was Derren Nesbitt on the books as an exciting young winger in 1964, Selhurst Park also deputised for the Schloss Adler in several long shots in the 1968 classic. | Eagle Eyed | Where Eagles Draw | The Eagle has landed | Illegal or Sick Bird? |
| Club | Nickname | Origin | Headline for Great Win | Headline for Tedious Draw | Headline for Crushing defeat | Headline for Sex Scandal |
| Dagenham & Redbridge | Daggers | Macbeth was never out of the DVD player during Dagenham's progress to the Football League after three witches foretold Dagenham's rise to Champions League winners on the way back from a 3-1 win at Southport. Chairman inebriation suspected. | Dagger Eyed | Daggers Drawn | Was this the Daggers I saw before me? | Daggers Unsheathed |
| Club | Nickname | Origin | Headline for Great Win | Headline for Tedious Draw | Headline for Crushing defeat | Headline for Sex Scandal |
| Doncaster Rovers | Donny | The Osmonds biopic. Donny a heartthrob of manager's wife for majority of the 1970s. | Donny Do | Donny Don't | Donny Didn't | Donny Did |
| Club | Nickname | Origin | Headline for Great Win | Headline for Tedious Draw | Headline for Crushing defeat | Headline for Sex Scandal |
| Doncaster Rovers | Vikings | With Kirk Douglas and Tony Curtis | I'm Viking It! | Kings Vie for Point | Why, Kings Abdicate | Kirk Douglas and Tony Curtis |
| Club | Nickname | Origin | Headline for Great Win | Headline for Tedious Draw | Headline for Crushing defeat | Headline for Sex Scandal |
| Leicester City | Foxes | Little Foxes. In tribute to a young Elizabeth Taylor who was great in it according to the Chairman's niece. As the majority of Leicester fans declared themselves 'completely uninterested' in thinking up a nickname during a 1971 fans poll, the name stuck. | Out Foxed | Foxes Fox About | For Fox Sake! | Foxy Lady |
| Club | Nickname | Origin | Headline for Great Win | Headline for Tedious Draw | Headline for Crushing defeat | Headline for Sex Scandal |
| Leyton Orient | Os | Two Ronnies. 'Four Candles' sketch never fails to raise a smile in London's East End. | Os a Pretty Boys Then? | Os Dear | Os You are Awful | Os La La |
| Club | Nickname | Origin | Headline for Great Win | Headline for Tedious Draw | Headline for Crushing defeat | Headline for Sex Scandal |
| Manchester City | Citizens | After wracking their brains for months for new nickname, Citizen Kane is spotted in DVD rack at chairman's mother's house. As no other suggestions are forthcoming, 'Citizens' adopted to 'add class' to the club even though no-one has seen the film or knows what it is about. | Citizens Rights | Citizens Arrest | Citizens Kaned | Citizens Caned |
| Millwall | Lions | The Lion in Winter | Lions maul… | Lions tamed | Lions mauled | Lions Maid |
| Club | Nickname | Origin | Headline for Great Win | Headline for Tedious Draw | Headline for Crushing defeat | Headline for Sex Scandal |
| Newcastle United | Toon | Local pronunciation of 'Town', meaning City Centre where the ground is situated. More likely in honour of Warner Brothers series of 'Loony Toons' cartoons of the 1940s. | Toons of Glory | Toonami! | Name That Toon | |
| Northampton Town | Cobblers | Based on the likely reaction to any film by Derek Jarman, 'The Tempest', 'Jubilee', et al by Northamptonshire's cinephiles | Cobblered! | Cobblers | Cobblers | Cobblers! |
| Club | Nickname | Origin | Headline for Great Win | Headline for Tedious Draw | Headline for Crushing defeat | Headline for Sex Scandal |
| Notts County | Magpies | Magpie. popular 1970s childrens' show. As tribute to Mick Robinson | Magadelic! | Shag Pies! | Jazz Mags | |
| Club | Nickname | Origin | Headline for Great Win | Headline for Tedious Draw | Headline for Crushing defeat | Headline for Sex Scandal |
| Peterborough United | Posh | Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Lionel Jeffries solo spot was a particular favourite amongst fans. | Posh Over | Posh Bastards | Posh Spice | |
| Club | Nickname | Origin | Headline for Great Win | Headline for Tedious Draw | Headline for Crushing defeat | Headline for Sex Scandal |
| Port Vale | Valiants | Prince Valiant. Robert Wagner was rumoured to be a season ticket holder at Port Vale after a head injury in 1957 left him confused and frightened and unaccountable for his actions. | Vale of Fear | Draw a Vale Over It. | Vale of Tears | Dance of the seven Vales |
| Club | Nickname | Origin | Headline for Great Win | Headline for Tedious Draw | Headline for Crushing defeat | Headline for Sex Scandal |
| Portsmouth | Pompey | Woody Strode's performance in 'The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance' is well remembered on the South Coast. | In their Pomp, Eh! | Pomp and circumstance | Pompy Donkeys | Rompey Pompey |
| Club | Nickname | Origin | Headline for Great Win | Headline for Tedious Draw | Headline for Crushing defeat | Headline for Sex Scandal |
| Queens Park Rangers | Super Hoops | Based on the pattern of the home strip or a shortlived but superior version of 'Spaghetti Hoops' | Hoopla! | Jumping Through Hoops | Oops Hoops Droop | Hoops Droop |
| Rochdale | Dale | Emmerdale Farm is a must watch in this part of the world. | Dale Win(ton) | Draw a Dale Over It | Up Hill but Down Dale | Mrs Dale's Diary |
| Club | Nickname | Origin | Headline for Great Win | Headline for Tedious Draw | Headline for Crushing defeat | Headline for Sex Scandal |
| Rotherham United | Millers | Miller''s Crossing. Frequent complaints against erratic wing play of Rotherham's semi-legendary inside forward, Peter Miller, a Scottish footballer with "great footwork"., | Miller Time | Mill Dew | Mill Drew | Miller's Tale |
| Club | Nickname | Origin | Headline for Great Win | Headline for Tedious Draw | Headline for Crushing defeat | Headline for Sex Scandal |
| Rushden & Diamonds | Diamonds | Diamonds Are Forever. Physio's dad's favourite song. He can't stand the tune but has always fancied Shirley Bassey. | These Diamonds Are Forever | Rough Diamonds | I, I Who Have Nothing. | Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend |
| Club | Nickname | Origin | Headline for Great Win | Headline for Tedious Draw | Headline for Crushing defeat | Headline for Sex Scandal |
| Scunthorpe United | Irons | Absolutely anything with Jeremy Irons in it. | Iron(y) | Ironed Out | Iron Hooves | |
| Club | Nickname | Origin | Headline for Great Win | Headline for Tedious Draw | Headline for Crushing defeat | Headline for Sex Scandal |
| Sheffield United | Blades | The 'Blades' were the third New York gang considered for 'West Side Story' after the Sharks and the Jets. They were dropped from the film and disbanded after appearing effete and lightweight during rehearals and being beaten up by both the Sharks and the Jets girlfriends. Lest this Gang of New York be forgotten, legend says, United adopted the name in 1959. More likely, named after the weapon of choice during the 1970s. | Flashing Blades | Double edged Blade | Blades Blunted | Blaids |
| Club | Nickname | Origin | Headline for Great Win | Headline for Tedious Draw | Headline for Crushing defeat | Headline for Sex Scandal |
| Southampton | Saints | The Glenn Miller Story'. Ricky lambert said to be huge James Stewart fan. | When the Saints Go Scoring In | When the Saints Go Drawing In | When the Saints Go Down | When the Saints Go In |
| Club | Nickname | Origin | Headline for Great Win | Headline for Tedious Draw | Headline for Crushing defeat | Headline for Sex Scandal |
| Stevenage Borough | Stripes | Bill Murray's fan base is very influential in Stevenage | Goal Busters! | Scrooged | Stripe a light | Stripe a gram |
| Club | Nickname | Origin | Headline for Great Win | Headline for Tedious Draw | Headline for Crushing defeat | Headline for Sex Scandal |
| Tamworth | Lambs | Silence of | Lamb Alang a Ding Dong | Quiet as a lamb | Lambs To The Slaughter | Mary Had a Little Lamb |
| Club | Nickname | Origin | Headline for Great Win | Headline for Tedious Draw | Headline for Crushing defeat | Headline for Sex Scandal |
| Torquay United | Gulls | Jonathan Livingston Seagull. Studied by many Torquay fans for O'level in 1973. Name has stuck ever since after many supporters likened the experience of watching Torquay lose to the feeling of having a Seagull steal your pasty when you're starving. | Gullible | |||
| Club | Nickname | Origin | Headline for Great Win | Headline for Tedious Draw | Headline for Crushing defeat | Headline for Sex Scandal |
| West Ham United | Hammers | Although this may initially appear to be based on the name, observation of the club's DVD collection reveals obsessive interest in the filmography of Christopher Lee on part of coaching staff. | Ham it up | Ham Drawn but not quartered | Hammers House of Horror | Hammer and Thongs |
| Club | Nickname | Origin | Headline for Great Win | Headline for Tedious Draw | Headline for Crushing defeat | Headline for Sex Scandal |
| York City | Minstermen | Mistermen. Corruption/mishearing of. | Mister Happy | Mister Goal | Mister Grumpy | Mister Tickle |
Read: The Time Travellers' Book of Football here
