In Association football, club crests did not always hold their current importance.
[2] In heraldry, a crest specifically refers to the element of a coat of arms which appears above a helmet.
In Scotland, some club logos have been deemed "an heraldic device" by the Court of the Lord Lyon.
Alternatively, a club may apply to have its logo authorised by the Court of the Lord Lyon.
In those cases, the English Football League was granted heraldic badges, which were subsequently licensed to the appropriate clubs.