Medieval three lions badge found in Coventry

[dutchman]

An archaeologist who found a medieval badge featuring the England football team's three lions logo hopes it will prove a good World Cup omen.

The copper piece was found in the ground last week in a stone wall in Coventry by Caroline Rann.

The badge, thought to be from a horse's harness, is believed to date from the 13th Century.

A Football Association spokesman said its resemblance to the England logo was "uncanny".

Ms Rann found the badge as she investigated a medieval stone wall in Parkside.

She said it had become lodged between sandstone blocks and it may have fallen in while the wall was being built.

"This has been hidden for hundreds of years and for it to appear now has to be a sign that England will go all the way in the World Cup," she said.

"It is very pretty and you can see clearly the three lions on it," she said.

'Good luck charm'

Nicholas Palmer, principal field archaeologist at the Warwickshire Museum, said the one inch-high badge was still being assessed and catalogued but was not thought to be valuable.

A spokesman for the Football Association said: "Congratulations to Caroline for her discovery and let's hope it does serve as a good luck charm for the team in South Africa."

The three lions are the emblem of England and feature prominently on the national football team's shirts.

Comedians Frank Skinner and David Baddiel sang about the world-famous logo in their 1996 hit Three Lions.

William the Conqueror used two lions on a red background as his coat of arms and brought the symbol to the English throne.

Henry II first used three lions on a red background, adding a lion to William the Conqueror's two when he married Eleanor of Aquitaine, probably to represent his marriage into that family.

England's next match in the World Cup is against Algeria on Friday evening.