Changing Badges

Changing Badges

The origins of the “old” Stirling Albion badge are not easy to trace, and if any Albion fan out there can add to or correct any of the information here then we would be pleased to here from them. The “Annfield House” badge appears to have its origins in the 1960s – although it did not appear on the club strips until 1987. The earliest version of this badge that the programme editor has seen was a blazer badge, worn on the clubs tour of Japan in 1966. The badge was also used on the cover of a short lived publication called “Annfield Gazette” which was produced by an English-based company around the same time. A metal shield version of the same bade hung above the bar in the much-missed Members Club at Annfield in the late 1970s.

The badge features Annfield House, which was home to the club offices and changing rooms from the formation of Stirling Albion in 1945 until 1974. In addition, the bade contains a “Yo Yo” device in the background, which would indicate that it was not designed until he mid 50s at the earliest, by which time Albion had earned the unofficial nickname of “The Yo Yo team”.

The Annfield News programme revived the badge on the cover of the programme for 1983/4. At the same time the club incorporated it n letter headings and started to use it on souvenirs such as enamel pins, mugs etc. It was first used on the strip in season 1987/8, when Spall used the design on the “FES” jerseys.

Towards the end of last season the club commissioned a wide-ranging review of its activities. One of the conclusions was that the club badge had little relevance to the current situation and that a new logo might afford greater opportunities.

It was decided to commission a new badge design which clearly indicated the links with Stirling and the traditions of the area. Bruce Design, one of our long-standing programme advertisers, produced a range of ideas, and the final design chosen incorporated the Wallace Monument in a circular emblem, surrounded by the club name. The Ochil Hills were added in the background.

Other designs considered include representations of Stirling Castle and the Wolf Craig emblem. The wolf is part of the design and official seal of the Royal Burgh of Stirling, and was included on official player’s tickets in the 1960s and 70s along with the Latin phrase “Sterlini Oppidium”.

The final design certainly reflects the local area and emphasises the identity of the club and town. Traditionalists, like the programme editor, are saddened to see one of the last links with Annfield removed, while understanding the commercial logic behind the change.

One thing’s for sure – the Mansion House logo will still be worn with pride by those age-groups of long-standing supporters who still pine for the atmosphere and charm of Annfield – alongside the new logo of course!