Crest Review

[GordonCowansisthegreatest]

Not sure where I copied this from but found it on an old email to myself, sent in June 2012!

"Lambert's Lions are ready to roar next season - but how did the idea to adopt the regal beast come about in the first place?

Well, Villa's Lion - facing a different direction to today's version - was introduced by October 1878, according to John Lerwill's 'Villa Chronicles' book.

It was seen on the club's notepaper and envelopes of that era and was brought into existence at the request of Villa's Scottish contingent, in particular George Ramsay and William McGregor.

In terms of appearing on the shirt, after a period of wearing black and white tops, the shirts switched to plain black before a decision was made to bring the top to life.

Director Charlie Johnstone explained: "We had decided on a self-colour. I suggested black and black it was. That was too sombre and, as our president George Kynock, our two vice-presidents Fergus Johnstone and William McGregor and our captain George Ramsay were Scots - and as there was a strong contingent at the club - we adopted the Scottish Lion as a relief.

"This was forthwith emblazoned on our shirts by Miss Midgeley, our secretary's sister."

Interestingly, though, the lion motif was removed after problems with laundry!

Johnstone continued: "Our lion had no chance with the washing lady! He became pale and anaemic so 'Mac' - William McGregor - was deputed to send to Scotland for thirteen lions on yellow shields proper, which could be attached and detached at will.

"They came - about the size of a dessert plate! When they were duly attached - you could hardly see the man for the lion - we were each as self-conscious as a bride in a wedding dress.

"We went on to the field but the gorgeous lion got us down. We had a most awful whacking and the lion was relegated to the club notepaper and flags."

The lion badge - at an appropriate size - was not reintroduced on to the Villa's playing shirts again until shortly after the start of Villa's FA Cup run in 1957 - and clearly had a beneficial effect on the team.

Interestingly, the reintroduction on to the team's shirts had been discussed as early as 1894 but it was not pursued at that time.

The lion badge has been retained on the kit since 1957 in different forms, with the most interesting change coming about in the crest consultation process of 2007.

The famous lion was given a different look.

Gone was the fragmented image seen on previous Villa badges.

The lion was made "proud, looking to the future and unified - signalling our desire for togetherness."

Let us hope he roars us on to greater things in the future.

[Drummond]

https://someoneinlondon.com/projects/the-claws-are-out#8

This is the one. This link from the design agency used previously. And to be honest the detail etc work for me.

[chrisw1]

I think that lion looks great.

[cdward]

It's facing the right way for a start.
Would be a great tattoo.

[pablo_picasso]

I don't want a 'streamlined' lion.  I want a fierce bastard.

I mean streamlined compared to the Lerner lion silhouette...

The newer lion is far nicer than the Lerner lion as the silhouette.

I will find them all & post them on here a bit later...

[pablo_picasso]

1) More "streamlined" version.



2) Lerner lion silhouette



3) The detailed Lerner lion.



I love 3. But feel the details would be lost & complicated / expensive to mass produce.

2 is the same lion but silhouetted. I really dislike this version.

1 is the newer lion. (I used the word "streamlined but its just the first term that came to my head versus the Lerner lion silhouette.) This version feels a the best option for the purpose we want it for.

In my humble & subjective opinion, of course.

I understand that not everyone will agree with me.

I absolutely understand, accept & respect that all design is completely subjective...

[London Villan]

The detail is a nightmare in the real world - whether that be in print or digital - it's either badly done or not visible.

Option 1 for me - facing the correct way!

[paul_e]

Yep, 1 is pretty much what I'd like. My only concern is that it's not uniquely 'us' but I having something that looks great has to come before that.

[German James]

[chrisw1]

3. is beautiful and I hope it gets used at times where appropriate.  But I agree 1. works very well as a badge and I would be happy with that.

[pablo_picasso]

[German James]

That looks very severe and corporate... "Aston Villa" going arching round might be better?

[Simon Page]

I'd invest my pension in that lot. What could go wrong?

[pablo_picasso]

😂

I quite like the seriousness of it. Looks dignified...

Matches the font on the stadium & at the training ground too.

Or at least, similar...

Im at the limits of my design ability using iPad photo editor, so any more changes would have to come from someone else...

But it gives an idea of what it could be like...

And Im quite a fan the overall concept, compared to the circle. (Which I also liked, although would have changed a few things too). 👍

[chrisw1]

I still think the twitter rumour that it would be a stand-alone lion is a red herring.  It seemed pretty clear to me from the survey that the club wanted a shield.  I'm still expecting a shield, lion facing left, star, and wording 'Aston Villa' and '1874'