BADGES
Hull City
The Tigers
The badge may have changed, evolved and taken many different forms over the years. But throughout Hull City’s history, two things have remained constant: the tiger and the club’s unmistakable amber and black colours. Together, they have defined the identity of The Tigers
THE STORY
Hull City simply did not use a crest on their shirts from the club’s founding in 1904 until the 1935/36 season. This was not due to any specific rule or ban unique to the club, but rather a common practice among many English football clubs of that era. In the early days of English football, a club’s identity was most often built through its shirt colours rather than visual symbols displayed on the chest.
From their very first match in 1904, against Notts County, Hull City wore black and amber stripes. Those colours earned the club the nickname “The Tigers” in 1905, reportedly given by the Hull Daily Mail. In other words, Hull City’s identity was initially tied entirely to its colours rather than a logo, so there was simply neither a need nor an established tradition of placing a crest on the shirt.
Some versions of the badge were traditional, some experimental, and some now look almost completely unrelated to one another. But one thing remained the same: The Tigers. In different shapes and styles, the tiger ultimately became Hull City’s visual signature — and the link connecting more than a century of the club’s history.