English football clubs with Latin mottos / phrases
Many English football clubs are famous for their history in the beautiful game. Some club’s mottos reflect the days from which they were formed, as their mottos are in Latin, a language no longer widely taught in British schools.
However, which clubs have or had Latin mottos, and what do the mottos translate to in English?
Everton “Nil satis nisi optimum”
Arguably, the most famous Latin motto is Everton’s “Nil satis nisi optimum”, which roughly translates to English as “Nothing but the best is good enough”.
The motto was used in the Toffees’ early days, as the Merseyside club would supposedly only sign the best players and play the best football they could. Despite some barren years in recent decades, only four English clubs have been crowned Champions more times than the Toffees nine times.
A 2013 badge redesign saw the motto briefly removed from the club’s badge. However, after 22,000 fans signed a petition for its return. The club relented, and a new badge was introduced, designed with the help of the fans, with the new design still containing the club’s famous motto.
It isn’t only Everton that uses the motto, though, as many organisations use it, such as the 967 Squadron of the Air Training Corps and Loughborough University, to name just a few.
Manchester City “Superbia in proelia,”
The Citizens use the motto “Superbia in proelia”, which translates into English as “Pride in Battle”. Although Manchester City have become a football force at home and abroad, the men from Manchester have been through many battles throughout their recent history.
The club’s loyal support stuck by them even as they sunk into the third tier of English football. However, they have experienced a major turnaround in fortunes in recent decades.
In 2014, the club decided to remove the motto from the team’s shirts after the club badge underwent a redesign. There doesn’t seem to be an official explanation as to why it was removed from the badge.
Tottenham Hotspur “Audere est facere”
Spurs’ motto, “Audere est Facere” translates as “To dare is to do” in English. The motto suggests that you have to dare to take a chance to achieve your goals. Although some still regard it as Tottenham’s motto, it was dropped from the club’s official badge in 2006.
Tottenham have an illustrious history, but their lack of success in recent decades has led to the north London club becoming something of a source of ridicule amongst rival fans, especially on social media. One group that shares the motto, which is certainly no joke, are the British SAS (Special Air Service).
Blackburn Rovers “Arte et labore,”
The Lancashire club’s motto, “Arte et Labore”, in English, means “By skill and labour” or “through art and labor”. The true meaning of the motto is self-explanatory in that objectives are completed through skill and hard work.
To say that Rovers have had a rollercoaster few decades would be a big understatement. The club have gone from being Premier League champions in season 1994/95 to playing in the third tier in May 2017.
Rovers clinched an immediate return to the second tier the following season. It remains to be seen whether the club has lived by its motto.
Sheffield Wednesday “Consilio et anamis”
The Owls’ motto, “Consilio et anamis”, translates into English roughly as “intelligence and courage”. However, some say it translates to “By Wisdom and Courage”. Either way, it is supposed to symbolise achieving an objective by using both brains and brawn to accomplish a purpose.
Like many of their compatriots on this list, Sheffield Wednesday have experienced mixed fortunes in recent decades, from being a founder member of the Premier League to dropping into the third tier of English football on a few occasions in recent decades.
Interestingly, the motto is also used by the renowned English private school Eton and several English district/area crests, such as Surbiton, Featherstone and South Buckinghamshire.
Bristol City “Vim promovet insitam”
The Robins motto, “Vim promovet insitam”, translates into English as “Promotes your inner power” or “Learning enhances natural strength” The city’s university also shares the motto and promotes the power of education.
Gillingham “domus clamantium”
The Gills’ motto, “domus clamantium,” translates as “home of the shouting men”, with the motto being a traditional epithet connected with the town of Gillingham and dates back to the Anglo-Saxon times. The team will be hoping to give the fans something to shout about in the near future.