Kit And Badge Scandal!

A lot of news and rumour has emerged from Elm Park (and the Evening Post) lately about the possibility of both changes to the club badge and home playing shirt. The Internet Royals have kicked up a fuss and thankfully the results of our actions are looking favourable. Below are excerpts from the EP sent by Dean Madden regarding the new badge design. And the follow up by the evening post, regarding the badge change, following a number of emails from the Royals internet mailing list members can be found HERE Many thanks to Dean Madden again for supplying the text.

The suggested badge change follows but first heres what happened about the rumour of a change of kit from hoops to stripes...

CAMPAIGN TO KEEP THE HOOPS

First was our campaign which was a mail form based on my web pages....

The latest rumour is that Reading FC are making plans to change the Royals shirt from our famous, classic, sexy blue hoops to BLUE STRIPES next season. This can't happen!

Julian has collected a whole load of names together totalling 105, each sending the following message:

 I FIND THE POSSIBILITY OF CHANGING READING FC'S 
PLAYING KIT FROM HOOPS TO STRIPES A REVOLTING IDEA.  THE SHIRT SHOULD 
NOT BE CHANGED.  BLUE HOOPS ARE READINGS TRADITION AND THIS 
SHOULD NOT BE ALTERED.  I WILL PERSONALLY BOYCOTT ANY SUCH 
MOVE BY REFUSING TO BUY ANY NEW SHIRT OF BLUE STRIPES.  
DON'T TAKE AWAY OUR HOOPS!

Then after Julian had collected the names and posted a letter to Reading Football Club we eventually received this reply:

Here is the reply from Graham Denton re Shirts petition-


22 Dec 1995

Dear Mr Robinson,

Re: Proposed Change of Home Strip?!!!

Thank you for your letter dated 7 Dec 1995 which I received on the 13
Dec 1995

First of all, I am not sure of the source of your information, but
the Club are currently negotiating with a number of kit suppliers,
as our arrangements with Pelada finish at the end of the current
season. Therefore, we have not definately secured a deal with Mizuno
of any other. We will hopefully be in a position to announce who our
suppliers will be early in new year.

I am pleased to note you are the maintainer of the Reading Football
Club Electronic mail discussion list and the amout of interest you
appear to be collecting.

With regard to your second point, I am not sure again of the source
of this information concerning the change of our shirts from hoops to
stripes. This has definately not been agreed by the Board of Reading
Football Club.

I can state catagorically there were some very private discussions,
where it was suggested by one person the possibility of considering a
centenary kit for purposes of playing at Elm Park and, on this basis,
it was reviewed and found that the kit at that time was a stripe.
However, the board never accepted it and have instead decided that
they will have a centenary reference wrapped arourd the logo, details
of which will be announced in due course.

Therefore, whilst there be some minor changes to the shirt itself
because of the change of kit supplier, I can assure you it will be in
the fashion of a hoop and not a stripe. I hope this will allay the
fears of yourself and your fellow internetters - I presume this is
the correct term.

Yours sincerely,

G J Denton
Director

cc J Madejski, I Wood-Smith

It seems our shirt is safe for now....! And onto the possibility of badge change....

Excerpts from the Evening Post, November 27, 1995

Vote to choose the new Royals badge

In the Evening Post, under an 'Exclusive' heading, readers were asked to vote for their first and second choices from the five - labelled A to E - on offer, then to send their votes to 'Badge vote', Elm Park, Norfolk Road, Reading, RG3 2EF.

"...You can win a replica Reading FC shirt by filling in the form below. ... the first name out of the hat wins the replica Royals shirt.
"...Five designs have been created by Sutton Young Creative Consultants. ... The most popular design will replace the club's existing logo [sic].
Traditionalists
Reading chairman John Madejski said it was important that the club moved with the times.
He told the Post: "I know some traditionalists will say we should keep the old badge but they should bear in mind the need to move forward.
"We want something more modern and dynamic that will appeal to everyone and will look good on all our products.
"It needs to be marketable and we want to make it the cornerpiece of the club's move to a new stadium.
"The old badge has served us well but we feel a change is needed to propel us into the 21st century.
"We want supporters to play a major role in the future of the club, which is why we want them to choose the new logo [sic].
"It will be solely their decision."
The five designs all depict a lion, the emblem of Reading.
"It is of special significance to the town and is a powerful image," Mr Madejski said.

Badge A

Badge B

Badge C

Badge D

Badge E

These possible badges have now (thankfully) been discarded in favour of a fans design-a-badge competition after direct action by Nob Nob Anyone? and the internet mailing list! Well done everyone. The article about this is here!

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