Our motto
Why football clubs love a dead language, and what is this Soccer FC enterprise is all about.
Just about every soccer club has a motto, and many clubs in England use Latin for theirs. For example, current English Premier League champion Manchester City’s motto is Superbia in proelia, or “Pride in battle”. Over in London, Chelsea Football Club’s is Nisi domius frustra, or “Unless God is with us, all is in vain.” Another fun one is Sheffield Wednesday’s: Vis unita fortior or “United strength is stronger.”
Everton Football Club’s is Nil satis nisi optimum, or “Nothing but the best is good enough.” There was an outcry in 2013 when Everton tried to update their crest and left out the motto. The fans were so overwhelmingly opposed that ownership ditched the new crest and went back to the original, with the motto intact.
Not all soccer clubs use Latin. Naturally, Real Madrid uses Español. “¡Hala Madrid! Y Nada Más” (Go Madrid or Forward Madrid or Come on Madrid and nothing else.) Back in England, Aston Villa Football Club very understatedly uses the Queen’s English: “Prepared.”
While it seems rather lofty to have such a deep and meaningful motto for a club devoted to playing a game, that’s just how soccer, or football if you prefer, is to millions of people around the world. Bill Shankly, the manager of Liverpool Football Club in the 60’s and 70’s, famously said, “Some people think football is a matter of life or death. I don’t like that attitude. I assure you, it’s much more serious than that.” And for those clubs that use Latin, it gives it even that much more gravitas. See what I did there?
One night a week, I teach web design as a college adjunct. One reason I like doing this is that I learn new things as I teach. When I decided to start Soccer FC, I knew I would be learning as I help other new fans through this platform. I always appreciated the imagery of the phrase “lift as we climb” and it was the easy choice for a motto for Soccer FC.
What was not so easy was translating it into Latin. I went to about four or five websites, and they all came back with something different. So much for a dead language! Fortunately, through a friend, I was able to get a classics doctoral student to translate it accurately: Ascendendo tollimus.
So that is what I’m doing here at Soccer FC: Fandom and Culture. Ascendendo tollimus. By climbing we lift. I’ve been watching soccer for decades, but I really started studying the game and the culture around it in the last seven years. I’m learning too, so let’s learn together. Because as my Arsenal Football Club says in Latin: Victoria concordia crescit, or victory through harmony.
Listen to this as a podcast:
Many thanks to William Dingee, Ian Silva, James Van Wyck, and Alice Señeres.
Sources:
It's just not English in the Premier League | The National News
The Latin motto of AppleTV's Ted Lasso | Medium
What Is Chelsea FC’s Motto? | Football Answers
Everton motto to return after fans condemn badge redesign - BBC News
What does Hala Madrid mean? Real Madrid fans' battle cry explained | Goal.com US
The Union’s motto is JOIN or DIE. I choose the former, ha!