MisterGoal's Football Facts No 107

The official emblem of the city of Florence; a red and white fleur-de-lis; has played a pivitol role in the all round symbolism of the club. Originally when Fiorentina was founded in 1926, the red and white halves shirts were derived from the colour of the city emblem.The more well known and highly distinctive purple kit was adopted in 1928 and has been their's ever since; giving them the nickname La viola ("The Purple (team)"). Traditionally it is said that the purple kit became Fiorentina's by mistake, after an accident washing the old red and white coloured kits in the river!!!!!