Nicknames
I have gathered quite a few nicknames from the thousands of Victorian newspapers I have scoured so I thought I would share them with you. I will begin, however, with nicknames of towns and cities;
Burton – Beerborough, due to it beer production.
Kettering – The “Holy City”, an odd one, the origin of which is unknown.
Luton – “Strawopolis” and “Plaitopolis” (pronounced Plattopolis).
Manchester – Cottonopolis, due to the many cotton mills.
Here is the list of clubs nicknames, official and unofficial;
Brighton United – “Greenbanks” in 1898 on account of their green shirts.
Cambridge Granta – the “Cams” in 1889.
Clapton F.C. – the “Doggies” – their ground was behind the Spotted Dog Pub in Upton.
Grantham Rovers – the “Gingerbread men” in 1890. They played in Amber and Black.
Grimsby – The “Fishermen” in 1898
Kettering – “Ket”, the cry of “Play up Ket” was heard in 1892.
London Caledonians – the “Calies” in 1892.
Loughborough – “The Luffs” in 1897.
Luton Excelsior – the “Ex’s”
Luton Montrose – The “Monts”
Luton Town F.C. – The “Straw Plaiters” given by London Newspapers in 1889. Later also the “reds,” the “Stripes,” and the “Blues” due to their shirts.
Middlesbrough Ironopolis – the “Nops” and the “Washers”.
Millwall Rovers/Athletic – the “Dockers” from 1888 onwards.
Newcastle United – The “Coalies” in 1898.
Newton Heath – The “Heathens” in 1897.
Notts Forest – the “Lacemakers”, in 1889.
Old St. Stephen’s – the “Old ‘uns” in 1893. Also the “Old Collegians.”
Old St. Paul’s – the “Saints” in 1890
Old Westminsters – the “Pinks” on account of their pink shirts.
Reading – the “Biscuitmen” or the “Biscuit Boys” in 1896 – related to the Huntley and Palmer Biscuit factory.
Royal Arsenal – the “Royalists”, up to 1893 when they became Woolwich Arsenal.
Rushden – the “Russians” in 1889
St. Albans – the “Pinks” after October 1893 when they changed their shirt colours to black and pink (before this they played in amber and blue). Also the “Saints.”
Sheffield United – the “knife grinders”, in 1889.
Vampires – the “Vamps”.
West Herts/Watford Rovers – the “Ham-chewers” a play on “Amateurs” by the Luton press in 1894.
Windsor Phoenix – the “Blues”, after the colour of their shirts in 1891.
Wolverton L. & N.W. – the “Wolves”. Also the “Railwaymen”.