Brentford

Brentford FC was founded in 1889, and throughout its history the club has used several different crests. One of the earliest significant ones was the coat of arms of Brentford and Chiswick, which the club used during the 1938/39 season.

The club’s modern identity is closely linked to its nickname, The Bees. The bee first appeared in the club’s symbolism in the early 20th century, while the nickname itself is believed to have originated from the supporters’ chant “Buck up B’s”, which was eventually misheard and reported as “Bees”.

In 1993, Brentford supporter Andrew Henning designed a crest that brought together key elements of the club’s history: the red and white colours, bees and a beehive, the foundation year, the club’s name and references to Middlesex.

The current circular crest was introduced for the 2017/18 season. At its centre is a stylised bee, surrounded by the club’s name and its foundation year, 1889. The simpler design was created to work more effectively across modern applications, from shirts and digital platforms to club merchandise.

In this way, the bee — originally the result of a simple misunderstanding — eventually became one of Brentford’s most recognisable symbols.