Aston Villa respond to our new badge questions
Tuesday, 29 May 07, 01:13 PM · Comments (26)
Now, I could start this with something along the lines of it only took them a month to get back to us but I wont. They did release the new badge just before the Sheffield United match and some have probably had a little break after the season.
So, I'm not annoyed, despite having to email a few people in response to our two questions.
The questions were put to Phil Mepham who is Head of Media at Aston Villa. The questions and responses are below;
1. When Aston Villa play in Europe again will the club move the star in the badge to it's rightful place above the badge?
No. The badge has been designed so that the star can be displayed for all fixtures, not just European games. As it will always clearly be visible, there is no need to replicate the star elsewhere on the shirt for European games.
2. Randy Lerner loves the name Aston Villa. Why leave it out of the badge?
Decisions on design were taken after the fans' consultation process. AVFC was chosen because it represented the majority view and not the view of any one individual. For information, the view was that the 'FC' element was important and that AVFC was therefore the preferred 'message'.
It is clear now that the club are not going to change the new badge but you do have an opportunity to post your response to these answers or ask your own questions of them below.
My views are known on these two issues. Manchester United, Liverpool and Nottingham Forest don't display stars in their badges so I don't think we should, probably for the same reasons.
It's not just because it looks like we're happy with our lot but when we play in Europe again, as we will, I want it above the badge, in gold, where other players and fans of other teams will understand exactly what it represents. Not as it looks now with our very tame looking lion reaching out to it!
Also, on the badge issue, what happens when we've won it three more times?
On the issue of 'AVFC' I think this one can be cleared up quite quickly because it's not our bloody name! We are Aston Villa Football Club. We're not AVFC nor will we ever be. On the point raised by Phil Mepham about the fans consultation process, how do we know the 4,500 people that voted on the survey were in fact Aston Villa fans?
I'm using the survey results as the basis of my position because that's what the club have used on the official site. Only 38% voted for AVFC and I don't classify that as a majority.
If the survey was asked again, with much clearer questions, I think you'd get very different results, but it won't change and it's something we've got to live with, even if it does look like it was put together by the office junior ten minutes before the launch.
Still, nice that the club got back to us and now you have your chance. Leave your thoughts on the new badge or the answers we've got from the club below. They are getting monitored.
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26 Comments · Add yours
I do agree the badge is an important issue, but its not the most important thing thats the team, we seem to be getting this right, at last!
The club have tried to please the fans and it is clear while you can't please all the people all of the time, they are trying to make amends for a lot of suffering and ignorance inflicted by the old regime.
I don't mind the new badge, the AVFC is fine while its not our name it is an instantly recognisable abbreviation, I hail from Yorkshire and everyone knows what the AVFC means and thats good enough for me.
Anyway these are my ramblings and not really a very structured bunch at that.
The badge is alright the teams geting better and its a bloody great time to be a Villa fan, lets just enjoy it.
I think it can be looked at as new badge, new era and with deadly gone we have a bright future again and the badge is the start of it. Yes alot dont like it, but it had to be different from the other and therefore it is. Why moan, we finally got rid of deadly, and o dreary and we have so much to look forward to, so to me the badge is great.
I'm happy with the badge design, but it seems Villa fans are split in their opinions.
It's modern, it's different, and very recognisable, I'm all for forward thinking, the star thing can be altered with time, as we win more Euro Cups.
As for the avfc thing, to me that stands out and is very original, it's also better to be used on websites, I think we might be underestimating the football fraternity in thinking they won't recognise who the club is.
But that's my personal opinion Damian, we can't all think the same, or there would be nothing to debate. ;)
I'm sure the club have got it right.
It's when you accept I suppose ... a lot of people won't say anything and a lot of people will just accept and be happy with it because it is 'new'.
It's only opinion, you're right Ken.
Fans choice or not, in my opinion AVFC has been included as a marketing tool to help promote the club globaly
I don't know why you even bothered the club with the questions. IF we get back into Europe who will give a flying kebab whether the star is above the badge or not?
As regards the AVFC the larges tvote was for that. I didn't want Tony Bliar but I'm stuck with him or Nodrog!
We ghave the badge. love it or not it's ours so lests move on and enjoy!
I like the badge so well done to all involved. It looks good, professional and modern which is a good representation of who we are in this new era. I am pleased to see that the new management are as passionate about the special history of the club as they are about the future. Of all the recent takeovers, buyouts etc., I am really beginning to believe that we have turned out the winners. Far better than Chelsea, ManU, Liverpool and the like. That doesn't guarantee that we'll be successful on the pitch but it is going to be a big, big help. I think we are well on the right tracks and we should take sometime out to thank the new team for everything they have done, are doing and intend to do. I look forward to seeing some 'class' signings over the coming months (sooner rather than later would be good). Now, that might sound like a job application but it isn't. This time last year we were in a very dark place indeed, 12 months on and it's a completely different story. At very long last. Thank you.
When we get back into Europe some will say they want the star over the badge; just like all the other clubs that play in Europe and have won the European Cup do .. but the questions were sent because a lot, more than 38% don't like the AVFC and in my opinion the star is a little embarrassing.
But, moving on, yes we have to live with it, but I hope not for too long.
The new badge is a grower. It was a bit of a shock at first, but now i'm pleased with it.
text book answers but you couldnt have expected anything else
not manyh like the avfc thing but you just have to learn to live with it.
I was really hoping we would go back to the euro 82 badge as Mr Lerner is obsessed with that era (and rightly so). To be honest i dont like the new badge as its a bit bland, and i definately think there should have been more claret in it.
I agree with the star not being neccesary but 'AVFC' is a brand and you need to be a brand these days to become a big club.
I don't say I agree but that's how football is these days and we have to accept it.
Upon first glance, I was rather shocked to see where they'd taken the new badge. I didn't really think much of it, and the little I had thought was all bad. However now, after nearly a month to look it over - again and again - I've come to enjoy it. Is it perfect? No, but there's still a simplistic, classy touch to it that will be more evident when it's placed on the claret chest of our triumphant heroes in the years to come.
Damien, i can see that you have a few issues with the new badge...but thy club did ask the fans to vote on ideas for the new design and if only 4,500 bothered to do it then surely the other hundreds of thousands of Villa fans will have to put up with the decision...i think it's alright and to be quite honest i'm more interested in the fortunes of the team on the pitch than the badge on the shirt..
no issues any more as we've got to live with it. i just think it was a mistake. am i allowed to say that?
The new badge still looks like my 10 year old daughter designed it with an old computer. Thats right-it still blows goat scrot. It looks silly, amateurish and it is not growing on me at all. I know we can't "all agree", but can we agree that we are a claret and blue club-not blue, and that we should have the star displayed the same way every other club on the planet does? We look like chumps. This crest makes us look like an MLS team that was thought up yesterday. Total f***-up.
"Now, I could start this with something along the lines of it only took them a month to get back to us but I wont".... But you did by saying that! How old are you?
steve m
that was the point ... i'm 14 years old
now first off the bage is great. yes great.
im not gonna go into etail but take the bage apart bit by bit and analyize it,
the shield the star the AVFC
it is a classical badge with a modern twist in encorporates everthing an represents our best years
the shiel from the 50s the star an the new direction of the club i.e AVFC its easier for the chinesse yanks scottish whoever our futre market .
i like simple not evertons storybokk bage, of liverpools million and one symbols.
our bage is simple shows where weve been and where were going
PROUD HISTORY BRIGHT FUTRE
at curtis
the aspects of the badge, i.e. the shield, design etc are all great but you are wrong about what the star represents. the star represents the european cup win 25 years and when we play in europe again it will not be moved as its part of the badge.
Like the majority, when i first saw the badge i didnt like it and in some ways i still don't e.i needs more claret. But it's simplicity has grow on me. I even like the AVFC, i think it takes us back to basics and the basics are first and for most we're a football club. It's also good for marketing. And comparing our badge to the new middlesborough badge i think ours is better ten fold.
just seen the middlesbrough one ... i like that.
i think it looks a bit old fashioned with the scroll at the bottom. Bit bland aswell.
I think the new badge is quality... took me time to realise that though due to me not liking it from first impressions. Does anyone know when the new kit is being released... Anyone know a rumoured date?
I voted for a round badge with aston villa as the text on it but the new one's ok.
With regards to the badge I must admit it has grown on me. The colour seperation is similar to the 50's badge (although I would of liked a claret lion and gold text) with regards to the star I understand that the Premier League does not allow the star on the shirt, so I believe the designer has cleverly found a way around it by incorporating it into the badge. Liverpool do actually have stars over their badge when they play in Europe.