MIDDLESBROUGH have officially unveiled their new club crest, which will be launched next season to coincide with the club’s 150th anniversary.
The new badge is a modern version of the much-loved 1986 badge and includes several subtle details about the club’s history.
A gold and red version will be on shirts next season to mark the Championship side’s 150th anniversary before a permanent move to the traditional red and white colours.
The badge was designed by graphic designer Andy Pattison, who’s a Boro fan.
He worked with artist Joanne Grogan to bring the club’s vision to life.
Pattison has reportedly designed badges for clubs before but called the Boro job the “pinnacle” of his career.
Speaking on the design process, Pattison said: “Hopefully, what we’ve done is listen to the fans first and foremost.
“The feedback was that there was a lot of love for one of the previous crests: the 1986 crest.”
Over 4,000 fans took part in a survey about the design of the badge so the club could create a badge fans will be proud of.
Many fans demanded the new crest resemble the 1986 badge, combined with details representing the local area and the club’s history.
To honour the fans’ request, the badge includes a profile of Roseberry Topping between the lion’s mane and body, while the lion’s tongue has been shaped into the River Tees.
The year the club was founded, 1878, is split across the centre of the badge, and for the special anniversary, 150 years is framed by detail of Ayresome Gates.
Matt Barber, the club’s marketing manager, said: “It’s an exciting day for us to officially unveil the new club crest.
“It’s been an 18-month process already to get to this stage. Particularly with the club’s 150-year anniversary coming up, we felt like it was a good opportunity to do that.
“It was led by fan demand, and the feedback we had from many was that they were keen for us to change going forward.”
The announcement has sparked mixed opinions on social media with some users even accusing Boro of “stealing” the design from a Premier League club.
One excited fan said: “We have never been more back, give me that in the centre of the home shirt nextseason and I will blow all mymoneyon it.”
But a second fan fumed: “Well that’s one hell of a let down.”
One user commented: “Did we seek permission from Chelsea before stealing their club crest.”
Another said, “Chelsea… but red.”
A third fan called the badge “perfection”.
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