NOTE: All Evertonians who support the @NoToNewEFCBadge Twitter campaign to have the new Everton badge removed are encouraged to forward this letter on to the club and fill in the relevant personal details. The club are required to respond as part of their customer charter.
Dear Sirs,
RE: Complaint under the Everton FC Customer Charter – Customer Relations
Customer No: *******
I am writing to you as a loyal supporter/season ticket holder of many/xx years to express my displeasure and clear objection to the recently introduced, ‘modernised’ Everton FC crest.
As someone who has invested a great deal of time and money in following OUR club through thick and thin over the years, it is fair to say that my feeling is that, together, we are all stakeholders in this magnificent institution – an idea that has historically been endorsed by the club, I should add.
With an Evertonian as Chairman, a man who labels himself merely a ‘custodian’, and with the adoption of “The People’s Club” tag of recent years, we have always been led to believe that Everton FC is one of the last truly ‘inclusive’ football clubs left at the highest level, a club that will always listen to its fans.
You can imagine then my horror when the club recently announced the adoption of this proposed new ‘branding’ - confirmation of a badge that many of us fans have seen around the internet for some weeks now, but which I assumed to be a ‘hoax’.
As an Evertonian, I subscribe absolutely to the notion that our club is ‘different’ and ‘special’. I believe that we are indeed ‘chosen’, and that our history, heritage and past success is something of which we can be immensely proud, something which we should embrace and be proud of – not something that we should snigger at the distant memory of, cower away from or feel the need to reinvent ourselves free of.
Every week Goodison Park and away ends around the country can be found packed full of loyal Evertonians belting out the famous ‘Grand Old Team” anthem, of which the lines “..and if, you know, your history....” are most prominent and passionately delivered. It is something that we identify with, and something that we never, ever want to forget, move on from, or let go.
I am not against change, I am not a fan who is ‘stuck in the past’ and I absolutely acknowledge the need of the club to modernise the badge for various reasons. What I cannot accept however, is the way in which a small group of faceless individuals have torn the heart out of a key part of the identity of our club. Along with our name, club colours and stadium...the club crest is an intrinsic part of who we are and where we have evolved from. I don’t think I need to elaborate too much on specifics when I say that this new crest is simply not befitting of our football club on any level. It is not just the removal of the famous “Nil Satis Nisi Optimum” standard, of which the majority of us are very fond, but more the overall feel. Many have used words such as “cheap”..”tacky”..and suggested that the badge looks as though it could have been designed “by a young child”. I couldn’t disagree with any of these points.
As a fan of “The People’s Club”, the least that I would have expected is an open fans consultation on a decision this important, with various design ‘options’ being offered via the club website – prior to any final decision being taken. As it is, the existing design has been greeted by widespread disapproval, disappointment, upset and worst of all, a feeling of betrayal.
I implore you all; please, listen to the fans. Withdraw this universally hated abomination without delay and allow the Evertonians – all of us, not a faceless chosen few – the opportunity to have an input into a decision which affects everyone associated with the club.
Warmest regards,
Disillusioned Evertonians.
Reader Comments (49)
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2 Posted 27/05/2013 at 17:38:54
Yeah, we’re “different” and “special” all right.
3 Posted 27/05/2013 at 17:43:34
What a pathetic statement. That is an iconic symbol that has represented our great club for 135 years.
So Parisians are losers for the Eiffel Tower being symbol of their city, We scousers are losers because the liver birds represent the city?
Absolutely stupid comment.
4 Posted 27/05/2013 at 17:44:49
Chris, that is exactly the line the House of Saud use whenever anyone says "Saudia Arabia is an undemocratic shithole".
5 Posted 27/05/2013 at 17:52:48
6 Posted 27/05/2013 at 18:12:07
Secondly, you’re flat-out wrong about how long it’s been around. The tower hasn’t represented our club for 135 years - it’s done so intermittently since 1938.
Finally, your comparison with Paris is ludicrous. The Eiffel Tower was an unparalleled piece of engineering in it’s day and remains magnificent even now; the lock-up was a place to dump the local drunks and petty criminals until the morning. You might be too blinkered to see the difference, but I’m pretty sure that much of the global audience the club need to appeal to would be pissing themselves if they knew what the “tower” really depicted.
Remember the “laughing stock” phrase that the more histrionic elements of the fan-base like to throw around? It really does apply here.
7 Posted 27/05/2013 at 18:12:27
8 Posted 27/05/2013 at 18:12:53
9 Posted 27/05/2013 at 18:17:26
A twitter campaign is only futile if it doesn't work.
10 Posted 27/05/2013 at 18:15:43
11 Posted 27/05/2013 at 18:21:13
However, what I do love about it is that in 1938 a genius by the name of Theo Kelly drew enough inspiration from that pile of bricks to design a truly beautiful and iconic crest that, fortunately, looked absolutely nothing like what it was based on.
And there is nothing wrong with towers - see Eiffel, Tower of London, Rapunzel, The leaning one in Pisa, etc - imposing buggers and perfect crest material.
What pains me is that in 2013 some useless numpty HAS sketched an accurate PRT on to our badge.
Which is why it is an ugly, unwanted eyesore.
12 Posted 27/05/2013 at 19:05:02
13 Posted 27/05/2013 at 20:03:43
You've said yourself that the tower has been part of our identity for three quarters of a century.
You might think its shit, but Kelly clearly thought it was the most symbolic image he could incorporate into the crest at the time, related to where we came from, and I don't think there's been many complaints since. I must have missed your own personal campaign to change it before today....?
Regardless - my guess is there are only Evertonians, many Liverpool fans and a smattering of others who know what the tower is or our link to it.
The point if you want to get commercial about it is - hold that badge up without our name beneath it to any self respecting football fan and they will all say 'Everton'.
It is no different to Liverpool having an ugly bird as their emblem, Sheffied Wednesday having an Owl, WBA having a Thrush, Derby have a Ram, Forest having a Tree, Lincoln having an Imp, Norwich having a canary, Ipswich a white horse, Chelsea a Lion, Charlton a sword, Palace an Eagle, Atsenal a cannon etc etc etc
What do you want when we get rid of that 'bloody tower"? A football with a lightning bolt through it?
Get back to school.
14 Posted 27/05/2013 at 20:23:55
15 Posted 27/05/2013 at 20:30:11
16 Posted 27/05/2013 at 20:40:22
Yes Tommy - we're getting there now. I love it!
And we'll call ourselves 'STORM F.C.'!
Wha-hooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!
White shirts, black lapels, silver lightning bolt across the chest, wing on the sleeves and socks, 1878 on the back (important) and sponsored by ..........!
Erm....... No one........as no one can identify with this new club that's currently playing at Goodison Park, wherever that is......
Great branding though, well done marketing team!
17 Posted 27/05/2013 at 20:52:35
"Go team!!!!! We just triggered our 'mission accomplished' bonus."
And for the next design? Something with a spaceship in it. All the kids LOVE spaceships . . .
18 Posted 27/05/2013 at 20:56:01
19 Posted 27/05/2013 at 20:59:59
20 Posted 27/05/2013 at 21:04:06
We'll keep the spaceship idea tight until we launch our new mascot - Billy Bolt! Everyone's favourite health and dynamism icon, the co-launch will drive major pos-clicks in at least 4 out of 5 of our main territories.
Phil - for clarification 'STORM' (formerly known as STORM F.C.) have no direct link to soccer, Liverpool, or England.
STORM is a co-differential, multi-platform asset, gearing change, implantment acceleration and lever conjoinment via entertainment and leisure media.
Any further misrepresentation of our brand will be dealt with by our lawyers.
21 Posted 27/05/2013 at 21:15:12
22 Posted 27/05/2013 at 21:16:53
Maybe not.
24 Posted 27/05/2013 at 21:21:42
25 Posted 27/05/2013 at 21:22:38
To infinity and beyond.
26 Posted 27/05/2013 at 21:25:43
(Note to self. Increase merchandising and in game ticket prices to accommodate growth in marketing team cost base)
27 Posted 27/05/2013 at 22:13:55
28 Posted 27/05/2013 at 23:50:52
I'll get my coat............
29 Posted 27/05/2013 at 23:55:38
30 Posted 27/05/2013 at 23:53:59
31 Posted 28/05/2013 at 00:12:07
32 Posted 28/05/2013 at 01:08:26
33 Posted 28/05/2013 at 01:26:53
34 Posted 28/05/2013 at 01:34:41
35 Posted 28/05/2013 at 01:46:51
36 Posted 28/05/2013 at 02:17:59
37 Posted 28/05/2013 at 02:33:35
Please knock this dinosaur idea on the head Derek. I'd never be able to draw one of those things. Plus, it doesn't work with the new Latin motto I've also been working on which roughly translates as "fuck this - I'm off to the moon".
I know it's not a very clever or well thought out motto, but then again I'm pretty sure that we as a club are not particularly focused on quality.
I would ask what our supporters think of my idea but I don't think there's any point because a) I know I've got this spot on, and b) I quite frankly don't give a shit what they think.
I know people will love the spaceship, the new motto, and also the part on the badge that says "evrtn" which is text speak for Everton. It's cool, it's hip, the kids will love it, and it sticks two giant fingers up to tradition. If that isn't nailing the brief then I don't know what is.
38 Posted 28/05/2013 at 05:48:34
39 Posted 28/05/2013 at 08:20:00
Many a true word spoken in jest or Lmao.
Whether you use traditional English or hip text speak that was hilarious!
40 Posted 28/05/2013 at 08:37:00
ftbll izz cool
which as I understand means
"just gimme the fuckin money" in latin
New manager ?
Barney (the purple one, not rubble)
Rebrand Goodison as
Jurassic Astro Park
41 Posted 28/05/2013 at 08:40:42
Not in my name!
42 Posted 28/05/2013 at 08:48:06
43 Posted 28/05/2013 at 09:11:17
44 Posted 28/05/2013 at 09:44:54
They're tapping into the smart alien money, clever so and so's. We could've ridden that revenue stream if we'd stuck with the spaceship theme, we've missed it now having gone all dinosaur. DAMN!
47 Posted 28/05/2013 at 11:36:56
Dinosaurs indeed * looks at marketing Dept in a meaningful way.
48 Posted 28/05/2013 at 23:05:49
I am shocked. I consulted a group of Evertonians consisting of myself and my 1 year old daughter and we thought it was great. But it would now appear that some of you lot are a bit more fussy than we thought.
I admit, Uncle Bill did order me to consult at least 3 people, and I'm sure if I had followed this order from such a amazingly great leader I wouldn't have screwed this up so badly.
Well anyway, I can't change it right now because I used up all my blue crayon getting the spaceship to look right for the last design so you'll just have to put up with it until I can save up for a new blue crayon.
I'm hoping in the meantime you will get used to the spaceship and not really care if we keep it for the next decade or so by which time I'm pretty sure dinosaurs will be hitting the peak of their popularity and it will be time for a re-brand anyway.
49 Posted 29/05/2013 at 02:42:10
50 Posted 29/05/2013 at 03:45:38
We're also running with your Casper idea on a number of product lines. Even the traditionalists will love this one as we can tie it in with our history of making phantom bids.
All in all a good day at the office. We continue to get paid handsomely to do our jobs of vulgarising and pimping the club, despite the fact that we have managed to disenfranchise 91% of our customer base. Not many businesses where you can show that level of incompetence and not be held accountable. Happy days!
51 Posted 29/05/2013 at 14:01:25
Enjoyed the humour on this thread. Things were getting a bit depressing.
52 Posted 29/05/2013 at 18:00:03
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1 Posted 27/05/2013 at 16:37:31
Er, circa 700 people polled on this site say they like it and c.200 more "love it".
#justsaying