Here is A list of nicknames for English league football clubs, some are well known, other nick names are rarely used anymore and have become obsolete. Updated for the 2005-2006 season.
The tradition of football clubs having a nickname often extends back to when the club was first created. Reasons for clubs being called particular names are varied, some develop from a well known local industry. (Where often the early supporters were employed.) Or the name might be related to a local landmark, or the nickname may be based on the colour of the strip. Sometimes it's just not known why a football club has a certain nick name.
Premiership Football ClubsFootball Team Football Club Nickname Reason for nickname Arsenal Gunners, Gooners The club started out as woolwich arsenal, and guns are stored in an arsenal so... the gunners.
Aston Villa Villains club named after Villa Cross church in Aston, villains developed from that
Birmingham City Blues colour of kit
Blackburn Rovers Rovers
Bolton Wanderers Trotters
Charlton Athletic Addicks A corruption of the word athletic, or named after a local fish shop
Chelsea Blues, or Pensioners Named after the well known chelsea pensioners - war veterans living in a nearby hospital.
Everton Toffees, or The Toffeemen, or Blues local sweet shop gave away toffees and mints, or slang term for Irishmen.
Fulham Cottagers Their ground is Craven Cottage
Liverpool Reds kit colour
Manchester City Citizens, City, or Sky Blues Citizens developed from City, sky blues from kit
Manchester United Red Devils The club themselves chose the name because they liked it and incorporated a devil into the club badge.
Middlesbrough Boro Abbreviation
Newcastle United Magpies based on colour of kit - black and white
Portsmouth Pompey
Sunderland Black Cats, Rokerites (obsolete) Black cats voted for by fans. Roker park old ground, so rokerites became obsolete.
Tottenham Hotspur Spurs, Cockerels and Lilywhites (obsolete) A shortening of hotspur, club called Hotspur after an Earl who lived locally
West Bromwich Albion Baggies, The Throstles (out of use) Throstle means thrush in the black country and these birds were often seen in the hawthorn bushes around the ground. There are several theories about the nickname the baggies. From supporters wearing baggy clothing, to the players wearing very baggy shorts.
West Ham United Hammers, The Irons Team started life as Thames Ironworks.
Wigan Athletic Latics Corruption of athletic
Championship footy nicknamesFootball Team Football Nick name Reason for nickname Brighton Seagulls
Burnley Clarets
Cardiff City Bluebirds
Coventry City Sky Blues
Crewe Alexander Railwaymen
Crystal Palace The Eagles or Glaziers (obsolete) Glaziers because crystal palace was made of glass, and the eagles because management liked the name.
Derby County Rams
Hull City Tigers
Ipswich Town Blues or Tractor Boys
Leeds United United or The Whites or Peacocks (obsolete)
Leicester City Foxes
Luton Town Hatters
Millwall Lions
Norwich City Canaries
Plymouth Argyle Pilgrims
Preston North End Lilywhites, North End or PNE. Early days known as The Invincibles
Queens Park Rangers The 'R's or The Hoops
Reading The Royals or Biscuitmen (obsolete)
Sheffield United Blades
Sheffield Wednesday Owls
Southampton Saints
Stoke City Potters
Watford Hornets
Wolverhampton Wanderers Wolves
League One club nick namesTeam Football Nickname Comment
Barnsley Tykes
Blackpool Tangerines
Bournemouth Cherries
Bradford City Bantams
Brentford Bees
Bristol City Robins
Chesterfield Spirites Famous twisted spire on church in town
Colchester United The 'U's
Doncaster Vikings
Gillingham Gills
Hartlepool United Pools, The Pool
Huddersfield Town Terriers
Milton Keynes MK Dons
Nottingham Forest Reds
Oldham Athletic Latics
Port Vale Valiants
Rotherham United Millers
Sc***horpe Iron
Southend United Shrimpers
Swansea City Swans
Swindon Town Robins
Tranmere Rovers Rovers
Walsall Saddlers
Yeovil Town Glovers Town renowned for glovemaking
League Two football nicknamesTeam Football Nickname
Barnet The Bees
Boston United The Pilgrims
Bristol Rovers Pirates
Bury Shakers
Carlisle United The Cumbrians
Cheltenham Town Robins
Chester City Exiles
Darlington Quakers
Grimsby Town Mariners
Leyton Orient The'O's
Lincoln City Imps
Macclesfield Town Silkmen
Mansfield Town Stags
Northampton Town Cobblers
Notts County Magpies
Oxford United The 'U's
Peterborough United Posh
Rochdale Dale
Rushden and Diamonds Diamonds
Shrewsbury Town Shrews
Stockport County County
Torquay United Gulls
Wrexham Red Dragons, Robins (obsolete)
Wycombe Wanderers Chairboys
Nationwide Conference Football ClubsTeam Football Nickname Explanation
Accrington Stanley Stanley
Aldershot Town Shots
Altrincham The Robins
Burton Albion The Brewers Town renowned for the brewing industry
Cambridge United The U's, The Yellows
Canvey Island Gulls, Yellow Army
Crawley Town The Red Devils
Dagenham & Redbridge The Daggers
Exeter City The Grecians Unknown reasons, parishioners of a local church also known as Grecians
Forest Green Rovers Rovers
Gravesend & Northfleet The Fleet
Grays Athletic Grays
Halifax Town The Shaymen Home ground is the Shay stadium
Hereford United The Bulls
Kidderminster Harriers The Harriers
Morecambe The Shrimps
Scarborough Boro
Southport The Sandgrounders
Stevenage Borough Boro
Tamworth The Lambs
Woking The Cardinals, The Cards named after their red and white strip
York City City, or the Minstermen York Minster is visible from the ground
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