Thursday, May 24, 2007

New Middlesbrough Badge - You decide...

Unbelievably, some two weeks to the day after we told you about the new Aston Villa badge, we now have a new Middlesbrough badge to contend with.

Out goes this one, and in comes this new one...

...which, you can't fail to agree, is a step up the evolutionary design ladder from the crayon drawings that Fulham and Villa ended up with.

It looks a bit old and archaic to me, though. Perhaps not dynamic enough for the 21st century. Anyway, the club assures us that the new badge has been designed to remind everyone of the club's 131-year history rather than just the period since 1986 when the club was reborn following some nasty business involving liquidation. Quite why they felt the need to redesign the badge twenty-one years ago to celebrate that, I don't quite know, but still...

So what do you think of the new badge? Crusty old relic from the dim and distant past or a symbol of pride in the history of the club. Tell us your views by leaving us a comment...

12 comments:

Flicktokick said...

It's not too bad, although as you suggest a bit old-fashioned. However at least it looks as though it was drawn by a professional, not one of the players kids with a copy of Corel Draw.
One thing of note - How many English clubs have rampant lions on their badge? I can think of Chelsea, Villa and Boro off-hand and that's just the three most recent badge restyling.

Anonymous said...

It's an improvement from the old one, but it's like from the 90's.

Chris O said...

I was thinking exactly the same thing, flicktokick. Strangely enough I don't think there are any more in the Premiership.

Looks like it's just lions that are suffering from an identity crisis these days...

Ratonbox: 1890's or 1990's?!?!? :-)

Chris (B Squad) said...

I think it's a massive improvement. I've never been a fan of circular badges. I really like the scroll-like banner at the bottom and including "football club" is nice. Also, the slight change in hue should make a big difference, more respectable, less like circus clowns.

Smart said...

Are all these redesigns for a copyright point of view?

That was the case with the new Spurs badge of last season, and with the deluge of new badges now I'm guessing thats the case with these.

As for this Boro badge, it looks like something I would knock up in Corel Draw. Infact, I HAVE done very similar in Corel Draw.

Clip Art has a lot to answer for...

Flicktokick said...

Who do you think has made the biggest mess of their badge?
Obviously Fulham's is awful and Villa's not great, but I nominate Liverpool. Their liver bird design was simple, classic and iconic, the whole shankly gates- scroll-green and white affair they have now is a mess and has no iconic value at all, in fact they even have to put the liver bird on for finals.
Now Spurs went a bit that way but returned this year to a proper, simple, classic design

Chris O said...

I completely agree with you, Flicktokick. I was rather disappointed when Liverpool changed to their present over-ornate badge.

The old one was brilliant, striking and simple. Absolutely no need to change it in my book.

I've been expecting Bolton to change there's but it doesn't seem likely to happen. For a start, there's the 70's style BWFC motif - not everyone's cup of tea - but to then attach a ribbon to it and make it look like a balloon is bordering on the bizarre...

Chris (B Squad) said...

I've always wondered about that... why make it look like a balloon? That doesn't evoke the most sporting of imagery.

SoccerShoutPhil said...

As a Boro supporter, I think the new badge is rubbish.

It looks like it was done by someone who just discovered 'gradient fill' and now everything has to have gradient fill. The scroll is a bit unneccessary too.

I don't know why the clubs don't use things like badge redesigns as a chance to involve their fans a bit more. Announce you're going to do it, invite designs, let season ticket holders vote on their favourites, let the winner spend a couple of days with the professional design firm where their concept can be finalised, then unveil the final design on the last day of the season.

Instead: "Here's your new badge".

Chris O said...

Welcome to the site, SoccershoutPhil! Great to have a Middlesbrough fan on board...!

What a great idea - encouraging the fans to improve the identity of their club by designing a new badge. I think that'd work really well.

Somebody get me Mohammad Al-Fayed's number - I need to make a call! :)

Smart said...

Great shout Phil, and I agree 100% with your words.

Most of the badges do look as if they have been designed by fans - unfortunately by the Junior members.

Anonymous said...

im undecided on it hopefully it will grow on me but what i do know is the old badge will always be etched on my heart

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