Three lions have been used as England's football emblem since the formation of the Football Association in 1863. England wore the badge in their first official international match against Scotland in 1872 - but the symbol has much deeper roots stretching back to the 12th century. The animal has been associated with the Royal Family since Henry I (1100-1135) included a single lion in his coat of arms.
Football crossword, folks? Welcome to the 26th edition of FourFourTwo's Weekend Crossword: for the last six months, we've been providing you with the definitive cryptic puzzle on the beautiful game to keep you sane on a Saturday. So let's get testing that ball knowledge as we dig into teasers and testers, all in the form of your typical paper crossword and remember to sign in to tell us how you scored.
"It's a much more affordable option into a high level of major sport," explains Jim Frevola, Bournemouth's president of business operations. Frevola moved from America to Bournemouth three years ago to help run the franchise for billionaire owner Bill Foley. Frevola compares the prices of British soccer teams to franchises in sports like the NFL and NBA in America. "Teams are going for six, eight billion where you could buy teams in the Premier League for a much more affordable opportunity," Frevola said.
It's not just long throw-ins and going direct from the goalkeeper that have regained popularity in English football this season. From an absence of a whopping 23 years to one of just 89 days - and plenty in between - reappointing former managers is in vogue across the top four tiers. Of the seven clubs to change boss this season, three have brought back someone who had previously been in their dugout.
Will Still reminisces about his early days as a video analyst at Sint-Truiden and the sense of fulfillment he found during that time, stating, "Best time of my life, to be honest. It was like the dream was coming true."
Jefferson Louis's football journey is remarkable, stretching from his debut in 1996 until his final transfer in 2025, showcasing his resilience and adaptability throughout many club changes.
"It's been a good year for English football, despite mixed results in some high-stakes matches, with close contests and near misses painting a vivid picture of the season."
