Emblematically Speaking - Stockport Georgians
Tue 21st March 2023 | Stockport Georgians | By Martin Fallon
Indulge me for just a minute (without hesitation, deviation or repetition) as we invoke the Great Bard William Shakespeare. “Cry God for Harry, England and Saint George” is the most well known line from Henry V and is said to be the battle cry of Henry V at Agincourt. The order of the words is perhaps significant. The call is first to Harry (himself), then England and then the Patron Saint of England – St George.
Let’s wander off down another little cul-de-sac and consider for a moment the origins of football clubs. In general, the origins of football clubs can be linked back to one of these five categories:-
- Churches (Man City)
- Works teams (Arsenal)
- Pubs (Chelsea)
- Sports Clubs (Derby County)
- Fans (AFC Wimbledon)
Many of the NWCFL clubs can trace their origins back to one of these five beginnings but, to remain strictly neutral; the examples given are not related to the NWCFL.
This week we look at a club which fits into the first of these categories – churches and it would come as no surprise whatsoever to discover that it is the nearby St George’s Church in Heaviley which is relevant here and what a church it is. The church is Grade 1 listed and was designed by Hubert Austin of the firm Paley, Austin and Paley of Lancaster. The church, said by the Right Reverend Geoffrey Fisher – former Archbishop of Canterbury - to be the finest in England built since the Reformation, was consecrated in 1897.
I could go on about the splendours of St George’s Heaviley but I am reminded that this series of articles in supposed to be about football club emblems. All I can suggest is that should you have some time to spare before a match on Saturday afternoon then go and have a look – you will be impressed.
Perhaps the first thing we note from the club badge about the Stockport Georgians club is that the club is over 100 years old.
As with many football clubs, Stockport Georgians have gone through a number of changes of ground over the years. Visitors to the current ground at Cromley Road will immediately note the proximity of Stockport Georgians Cricket Club and that association between football and cricket, alongside hockey and tennis, goes back to the 1920s.
If we turn our attention to the club badge we see a simple shield design divided into the four quarters into which nicely fit the club initials. The colours of red and black reflect, on a white background, the club first choice playing colours. The final point of note is that the use of red colour to form the cross on the shield is no coincidence and takes us back to St George.
A simple yet fitting design, clean and modern, which goes well with the concept of immediate visibility of the purpose of the emblem. Some may argue that this comes largely from the advent of social media and the idea of individuals have much reduced attention spans these days. Well, “you may say that, I couldn’t possibly comment.”
Before we finish this article I invite you to participate in a little quiz. For those of us who identify as English, I challenge you, without looking it up, to give the dates of St George’s Day and St Patrick’s Day. Research has suggested that the date of St Patrick’s Day is better known than the date of our own patron saint St George amongst the English.
How did you do? Mine’s a pint of Guinness!
Emblematically Speaking - Stockport Georgians
Tue 21st March 2023 | Stockport Georgians
By Martin Fallon
Indulge me for just a minute (without hesitation, deviation or repetition) as we invoke the Great Bard William Shakespeare. “Cry God for Harry, England and Saint George” is the most well known line from Henry V and is said to be the battle cry of Henry V at Agincourt. The order of the words is perhaps significant. The call is first to Harry (himself), then England and then the Patron Saint of England – St George.
Let’s wander off down another little cul-de-sac and consider for a moment the origins of football clubs. In general, the origins of football clubs can be linked back to one of these five categories:-
- Churches (Man City)
- Works teams (Arsenal)
- Pubs (Chelsea)
- Sports Clubs (Derby County)
- Fans (AFC Wimbledon)
Many of the NWCFL clubs can trace their origins back to one of these five beginnings but, to remain strictly neutral; the examples given are not related to the NWCFL.
This week we look at a club which fits into the first of these categories – churches and it would come as no surprise whatsoever to discover that it is the nearby St George’s Church in Heaviley which is relevant here and what a church it is. The church is Grade 1 listed and was designed by Hubert Austin of the firm Paley, Austin and Paley of Lancaster. The church, said by the Right Reverend Geoffrey Fisher – former Archbishop of Canterbury - to be the finest in England built since the Reformation, was consecrated in 1897.
I could go on about the splendours of St George’s Heaviley but I am reminded that this series of articles in supposed to be about football club emblems. All I can suggest is that should you have some time to spare before a match on Saturday afternoon then go and have a look – you will be impressed.
Perhaps the first thing we note from the club badge about the Stockport Georgians club is that the club is over 100 years old.
As with many football clubs, Stockport Georgians have gone through a number of changes of ground over the years. Visitors to the current ground at Cromley Road will immediately note the proximity of Stockport Georgians Cricket Club and that association between football and cricket, alongside hockey and tennis, goes back to the 1920s.
If we turn our attention to the club badge we see a simple shield design divided into the four quarters into which nicely fit the club initials. The colours of red and black reflect, on a white background, the club first choice playing colours. The final point of note is that the use of red colour to form the cross on the shield is no coincidence and takes us back to St George.
A simple yet fitting design, clean and modern, which goes well with the concept of immediate visibility of the purpose of the emblem. Some may argue that this comes largely from the advent of social media and the idea of individuals have much reduced attention spans these days. Well, “you may say that, I couldn’t possibly comment.”
Before we finish this article I invite you to participate in a little quiz. For those of us who identify as English, I challenge you, without looking it up, to give the dates of St George’s Day and St Patrick’s Day. Research has suggested that the date of St Patrick’s Day is better known than the date of our own patron saint St George amongst the English.
How did you do? Mine’s a pint of Guinness!
