Long before the replica kit and the official club scarf became ubiquitous, the dedicated football fan had far fewer ways to visibly pledge their allegiance. One of the most vibrant, short-lived, and now highly nostalgic pieces of fan memorabilia to fill that gap was the football rosette.
This simple, pleated ribbon decoration, pinned proudly to a jacket lapel, was once a must-have accessory, acting as a vivid splash of colour against the drab, formal clothing most spectators wore to the grounds.
Origins in Ceremony and Fashion
The concept of the rosette pre-dates football by centuries. Historically, the rosette—a design resembling a stylised flower—has been used to denote rank, honour, or political affiliation:
The rosette pattern can be traced back to ancient civilisations, where it symbolised the sun and life-giving energy. In the 18th and 19th centuries, it evolved into the cockade, a knot of ribbon used in military and political circles to clearly identify a faction, most famously during the French Revolution. Today, rosettes are most commonly associated with awards in equestrian and agricultural shows, where colours signify the placement (blue for victory, red for second, etc.).
The Rise of the Club Rosette (1920s – 1970s)
The rosette made its way to the football terraces as one of the first commercially available forms of supporter gear.
By the late 1920s and early 1930s, photographs show fans beginning to wear brightly coloured “favours” (ribbons) and rosettes pinned to their jackets or coats. At a time when supporters wore their “Sunday best”—dark suits, overcoats, and hats—a rosette offered a perfect, inexpensive, and highly visible way to declare club loyalty.
Its popularity soared in the post-war era (1940s-1960s). The typical football rosette consisted of: a pleated ribbon head in the club’s primary colours; a central disc, often featuring the club crest, a picture of a star player, or the words “Cup Final” for a special match; and two or three long ribbons (tails) hanging below.
These were the perfect accessory for cup finals and big derby matches, sold by hawkers outside the ground alongside wooden rattles and early versions of the bar scarf. Iconic toy and games manufacturer Subbuteo even began producing football rosettes, listing them in their catalogues from around 1963 until at least the mid-1970s, which speaks to their wide appeal as a piece of general football memorabilia.
The Decline: Replaced by the Scarf
The rosette began its gradual fade from prominence in the 1970s. This was primarily due to the rise of two new, more versatile forms of fan merchandise:
- The Bar Scarf: Knitted scarves, often handmade by family members in the early days, became widely commercialised by the 1960s and 70s. The scarf offered a practical, warm, and highly visible block of club colours that could be waved overhead or held in unison (the famous “scarf wall”).
- The Replica Shirt: From the mid-1970s onwards, clubs began to officially sell replica kits. For the first time, fans could wear the exact colours and design of their heroes, rendering a simple lapel decoration somewhat redundant.
While the modern scarf and shirt offer identity, the rosette offered delicate, festive flair. It was the quintessential symbol of football’s more mannered, formal age—a small piece of artistry that ultimately lost out to the raw, visceral expressiveness of the woven scarf. Today, original vintage football rosettes are highly sought after by collectors, representing the lost, flowery passion of the old terraces.