International Caps and Honours Caps

A 'cap' is the term given for an appearance for a select team in sports.

It is in effect an award, like a medal or trophy.

Upon being selected to represent a school, college, university, club, district, county or country a special cap can be designed and made to commemorate the achievement.

These caps, often termed 'honours caps' are decorative awards and are usually made from plush velvet with metallic coloured braiding and tassel.

The front of the cap will usually bear the team logo, and the event embroidered on the peak.

Almost every cap is different in some way as they are made to order, so obtaining one or being in possession of one is something to cherish forever.

The term 'international cap' dates from a practice started in the United Kingdom in 1886 when a cap was awarded to each player representing their country in Association Football.

The England FA began awarding velvet caps to players selected for international games and the tradition extended to other sports such as rugby union, rugby league, cricket, boxing, athletics, badminton, squash and hockey to name but a few.

In most instances players will get just one honours cap no matter how many international games they play, but some like the Welsh FA award caps every season. The England Football Association however literally and generously award players a cap each and every time they play for their country, so each and every cap is unique to a particular game and very personal.

Despite the apparent plethora of caps that must be available, England football caps are still difficult to find and still attract a large premium.

In my eyes what makes an honours cap truly special is not only its unique and beautiful design, but the fact that it is so personal to the recipient. Priceless indeed.

Players often exchange jerseys and kit, but rarely will they part with their caps...

For more information on the 'origins of the honours cap' please see the links below which shed some interesting light on the subject.

Happy hunting!