Origins of nicknames for Premier League clubs

Supporters of Premier League clubs often pride themselves on their nicknames, but do you really know the origin of them? Do you know the origins of Gunners, Red Devils, Toffees, Trotters, Hammers, Lilywhites?

Lets take a closer at look some of the interesting stories behind each of Premier League clubs nicknames.

Arsenal — The Gunners

Like many, Arsenals nickname goes right back to when the club was originally founded. Way back in 1886, workers at Woolwich Arsenal Armament Factory decided to form a football club called Dial Square. The club would be renamed as Woolwich Arsenal before dropping the prefix in 1913, but their original connection with the armament industry would remain and the name Gunners is now synonymous with the club.

Chelsea — Pensioners

The nickname comes from the well known Chelsea Pensioners — war veterans living in a nearby hospital. In 1905 the club adopted the crest ofthe Chelsea pensioners, and the nickname followed on.

Everton — The Toffees

The famous nickname comes after a local sweet shop known as Mother Nobletts sold and advertised the Everton mint. The sweet shop is located opposite Prince Ruperts Tower, which forms the majority of the Everton crest.

Liverpool — The Reds

Another nickname which doesnt take two much explanation. When Liverpool adopted the citys colour of red as the colour of their strip, the nickname of the Reds simply followed on.

Manchester United — The Red Devils

A few conflicting stories describe the Red Devils nickname. One rumor suggests that during a tour of France in the 1960s the club were branded the Red Devils due to their red kit and Sir Matt Busby liked the name so much he asked for the club to incorporate a devil in the badge. Another story suggests it stems from local rugby Salford. The rugby club were nicknamed the Red Devils and with United formally training in Salford the nickname transferred over.

Newcastle United — Magpies/The Toon

The name Magpies originates from the clubs iconic black and white striped kit, where as “The Toon” comes from a local pronunciation of town.

Tottenham Hotspur — Spurs/Lilywhites

Spurs is obviously a shortened version of Hotspur which comes from the clubs connection with Shakespeare character Harry Hotspur. Lilywhites simply comes from the colour of Tottenhams home shirt.

West Ham — Hammers

West Hams nickname originates from the Thames Ironwork Football Club, a team from which they developed. The West Ham crest features two crossed rivet hammers and the club has been known has the Hammers ever since.

英超球隊昵称溯源

英超球队的球迷们对自己球队的昵称充满了感情和敬意，但他们真的知道这些昵称的来源？你又知道枪手、红魔、太妃糖、快马、铁锤帮、白百合等昵称的起源吗？

让我们走进英超球队的历史，了解他们昵称的故事吧！

阿森纳——枪手

和许多球队一样，阿森纳的昵称可以追溯到俱乐部成立之初。1886年，伍尔维奇兵工厂的工人们成立了一个名为达尔广场（Dial Square）的足球俱乐部，并很快用厂名“伍尔维奇阿森纳”取代了原名“达尔广场”。到了1913年，俱乐部又去掉了前缀“伍尔维奇”。虽然和兵工厂脱离了从属关系，但由于俱乐部和军工业的这段渊源，球迷们乐于把“枪手”当作“阿森纳”的同义词。

切尔西——退休军官

源于闻名遐迩的切尔西退休军官团——住在当地医院的老兵组成的团体。1905年俱乐部采用了切尔西退休军官团的纹章作为队徽，“退休军官”也就成了球队的昵称。

埃弗顿——太妃糖

这个著名的昵称源自当地一家名为“诺布里特夫人”的贩卖埃弗顿薄菏糖的糖果店。该店位于鲁伯特王子塔的对面，此塔正是埃弗顿队徽的主要部分。

利物浦——红军

又一个无需过多解释的昵称。红色是利物浦市的市色，当利物浦队选择红色作为球队颜色，“红军”也自然成为了球队的昵称。

曼彻斯特联队——红魔

关于这个名字存在着一些互相矛盾的解释。一种说法认为“红魔”之名源自球队1960年代的法国之旅。“红”源自球队的红色球衣，而“魔”则源于时任主帅马特·巴斯比爵士的提议。他为了凑齐“红魔”二字，甚至提议在队徽上增加一个魔鬼图案。另一种说法称红魔源于当地一支昵称为“红魔”的橄榄球队，两队同处一地，球迷们也用同样的昵称称呼它们。

纽卡斯尔联队——喜鹊/图恩

“喜鹊”源于该队黑白相间的球衣。“图恩”（Toon）是当地方言中“市”（Town，即纽卡斯尔市）的谐音。

托特拉姆热刺——热刺/白百合

热刺(spur)源于莎士比亚笔下的角色豪斯伯（Hotspur, 此人喜欢在斗鸡腿上装上小刺）。“白百合”则源于球队主场球衣的颜色。

西汉姆联队——铁锤帮

西汉姆联队的昵称“铁锤帮”源于球队的雏形泰晤士铁制品厂足球俱乐部（Thames Ironwork Football Club）。球队的队徽上有两个交叉的铆钉锤，这也让人们把球队和铁锤联系在一起。 （译言网）