Long before the iconic fox head became synonymous with Leicester City Football Club, a different mythical creature graced the club’s early iconography: the fearsome yet majestic wyvern. A fascinating glimpse into this forgotten heraldic past is provided by a season ticket front cover from 189-92, which proudly displays the wyvern, hinting at a deep-rooted connection between the fledgling football club and the ancient symbols of Leicester.
For many decades, Leicester City (and its predecessor, Leicester Fosse) lacked a formally adopted, consistent crest on their shirts. While rare instances in their very early days might have seen the team sporting the town of Leicester’s coat of arms – featuring a wyvern above a cinquefoil – this wasn’t a regular feature. It wasn’t until the 1948-49 season that the now-familiar fox’s head, based on a fox killed by the Atherstone Hunt in 1922, was officially introduced and first appeared on the team’s shirts for the 1949 FA Cup Final. Yet, the 1892 season ticket serves as a powerful reminder that the club’s visual identity once drew heavily from the city’s established heraldry.
So, why was the wyvern, a creature often associated with dragons, so significant to Leicester and, by extension, its early football club? The answer lies in centuries of local history and heraldic tradition.
A wyvern is a distinct mythical beast in heraldry, characterized by its two legs (usually hind legs, like an eagle’s), two bat-like wings, a long, serpentine body ending in a barbed tail, and a dragon-like head. In folklore and heraldry, wyverns symbolize power, strength, courage, and aggression – qualities that would undoubtedly appeal to any burgeoning sporting institution.
The wyvern’s strong connection to Leicester can be traced back to several key historical points:
Thomas of Lancaster’s Personal Crest: In the early 14th century, the wyvern was the personal crest of Thomas of Lancaster (also known as Thomas Crouchback), a powerful Earl of Leicester. As one of the most influential lords in the Midlands, his personal emblem became intrinsically linked to the city and earld
Borough of Leicester’s Official Coat of Arms: More formally, a white (argent) wyvern formed the crest of the Borough of Leicester’s coat of arms, as officially recorded during the heraldic visitation of Leicestershire in 1619. This formal adoption by the municipal authority cemented its status as a civic symbol, a powerful identifier for the town. You can still spot the wyvern, sometimes depicted “sans legs” (without visible legs), on older public buildings throughout Leicester, including atop the Town Hall.
Midland Railway’s Adoption: Adding another layer to its regional significance, the Midland Railway adopted the wyvern in 1845 as the crest of its unofficial coat of arms. With strong ties to Leicester and the wider Midlands, the railway company’s widespread use of the wyvern further reinforced its identity as a symbol of the area.
While the modern Leicester City crest is dominated by the dynamic fox, a subtle nod to this rich heritage remains. The cinquefoil, a five-leafed symbol also found on the city’s coat of arms and often depicted alongside the wyvern, is still a feature of the current club badge. This enduring element ensures that the club’s connection to Leicester’s heraldic past, including its original winged guardian, the wyvern, is preserved.
The 1892 season ticket serves as a charming and significant artifact, reminding us that the visual identity of a football club is not static but evolves alongside its history and the symbols that define its home city. The wyvern, a creature of myth and power, stands as a testament to Leicester’s proud heritage and the early days of a club that would one day conquer English football.
The club’s crest has played a major role in the identity of Leicester City, leading to the club’s now recognised nickname of The Foxes, although even that is a more recent occurrence.
For many decades, the club was simply known as The City, and while The Foxes is derived from the crest, it only became a common nickname in the 1970s and 1980s.
Even today, many die-hard fans only refer to the team as City — or ‘Citeh’, if you’re speaking in the local Leicestershire accent.
According to club historian John Hutchinson, the directors’ minutes book from July 1948 provides the first documentary evidence linking Leicester with foxes, with a single sentence entry stating: “The design for the new jersey crest was approved. One of the directors at the time was Sid Needham and he was associated with the Atherstone Hunt. Until then, clubs didn’t have crests on shirts unless it was a special occasion.”