Is it time to talk about Newcastle United's badge? That was a question asked earlier in the month when Chronicle Live published a feature that looked at the past, present and future of the club's crest.
We interviewed a historian, a sign maker, a design studio director and a sculptor and wrote over 3,000 words as part of a new weekend long-read series we've launched on ChronicleLive. The article was prompted by the fact Newcastle's badge will be 35 years old next summer, and one of only three in the Premier League that haven't been refreshed since the millennium.
I'm nervous of a badge update, but with all aspects of the club under review since its ownership changed hands, an update is likely to happen at some point in the not too distant future as Newcastle set the tone for their new era. At the end of the article was a small survey that asked three questions: Would you like to see Newcastle update their badge? If the club did decide to update the badge what would you prefer? What is your favourite badge of the four worn by Newcastle?
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I posed an identical question last year as part of a wider kit survey piece on ChronicleLive. Over 4,000 fans took part, and the sentiment among supporters 12 months ago was 'don't touch it', with over 80% saying "no" to the idea of an update.
In 2022, however, the picture is different. Granted the sample size is smaller, but still more than 300 Newcastle fans took part. This time 45.5% say they would like to see Newcastle United update their current badge, 43.2% say they wouldn't like to see an update, with 11.4% unsure.
So, what's changed? Well, the ownership of course and already there is a strong trust in the current custodians to get things right. From players to stadium infrastructure, the owners are already developing a track record of sound judgement.
The thought of Mike Ashley overseeing a Newcastle United badge update was the stuff of nightmares for fans. Whereas in 2022 there's a new era unfolding, and competent people at the helm, perhaps the time is right to begin thinking about a refresh.
It should also be noted that the 2022 survey came at the end of a long article which pointed out it's age and the fact it 'doesn’t work as a logo in today’s work, in a technical sense,' according to lettering artist, Ash Willerton. But that information is important, especially if Newcastle want to regain their place at Europe's top table. Everything needs to be right, slick, joined up and in-keeping with a modern, forward-thinking football club.
It should also be pointed out that most fans in the 2022 survey ( 69.8% ) said they would prefer a 'refresh' with the remaining 30.2% calling for a complete redesign. Newcastle have worn four badges in their history and it's perhaps not surprising that the current iteration came out as the favourite in the survey with 53.6% choosing it as their favourite of the four.
The 1976 roundel (second from left) was next most popular and a favourite of 21.8% of surveyed fans while the remaining 23% were almost completely split on the 1983 'NUFC' roundel and the original civic crest badge that was worn by players in cup finals between 1910 and 1969.
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