Manchester city council have said they don't want to "eradicate the city's past" amid suggestions the badges of Manchester United and Manchester City have links to slavery.
The two sides have been amongst the most dominant during the Premier League era, winning 19 titles between them. United's success under Sir Alex Ferguson saw their global brand rise and they remain among the biggest clubs in the world.
City meanwhile have triumphed on and off the pitch since their Abu Dhabi owners arrived over a decade ago. The influx of foreign stars has seen their stature rise, especially with younger fans, meaning both club crests are highly recognisable throughout the globe.
Both badges, though, include ships, City's being the main element whilst United's is a smaller image above the iconic Red Devil. An article in the Guardian has highlighted the association with ships, which played a crucial role in importation and the use of goods, largely made by slaves.
The city in the north west continues to thrive across sporting, commercial and business platforms. Ships can be found on major buildings throughout the area including the stained glass at the entrance to the Technical school, which is part of the University of Manchester, the Corn Exchange and various hotels.
Luthfur Rahman, Manchester city council’s deputy leader has said: “Manchester’s past is a complex mix of stories, lives and voices, and we’re in the middle of a long-term project that began in 2020 to highlight and reflect on aspects of the city’s past, including the city’s black history and connections to the slave trade. Working alongside Manchester Histories, our universities and other partners, including local communities, our focus is on education and learning, rather than eradication of the city’s past.”
That is a statement United themselves fully support. City, meanwhile, changed their badge in 2016 to make the ship more central, doing away with the eagle that had been used for almost twenty years.
A club statement at the time said: "The new badge, lauded as a 'modern original', marks a return to its historical round shape and features a series of iconic Manchester symbols - the ship, the three rivers and the red rose of Lancashire. For the first time the Club has included the year of its foundation - 1894 - as a nod to its rich history within the Manchester community."
Jonathan Schofield, a historian of the city, says the ship nods to the city’s aspiration: “It is a symbol of free trade. The idea is that we will have equality throughout the world because people will have the same rights to do business with each other. That is what the ship stands for.”
