Oh Leeds united. Where to start with this one. Indeed, should we? Of course we should. If the top brass at Brentford thought there had been some angst amongst supporters when our own new crest was revealed back in November 2016 then that was a mere storm in a teacup with what happened yesterday. Leeds United? Leeds Untied, more like. The internet went into meltdown after the Elland Road club proudly showed off their new crest to the world. Yet with furious supporters lining up to vent their rage, photoshop going into overload and even Aston Villa (amongst others) putting the boot in, it would seem the club are already looking to distance themselves from the fruits of a six month process that had involved an apparent 10,000 supporters.
The day began with Leeds telling the world: âWe are now delighted and proud to reveal a new crest that represents the passion and the unique identity that runs deep through the Clubâ. Managing Director Angus Kinnear adding his own personal support with the additional clarification that the new crest was âAuthentic to Leeds United and honours the quality and loyalty of our fans. It is a symbol of âstrength in unityâ and a proud expression of the clubâs identity and history.â
 Less than 12 hours later Kinnear found himself in the position of telling the BBC âWe need to reopen the consultation process… Because the direction is so distinctive and breaks with a lot of conventions, that consultation process hasn’t gone deep enough.â Adding that âIt’s slightly unfortunateâ.
Not deep enough? How on earth can six months and 10,000 supporters not be deep enough? Judging by the results, it was a research campsign that has been about as shallow as a puddle in the Sahara.
The new Leeds badge. Mr Muscle?
It seems the fans felt anything less than honoured. An online petition was launched to get rid of it, noting : âIt makes a mockery of Leeds United and the clubs history. It is alienating the fans. It is has to go.â Within hours it had raced passed the 10,000 mark and at the time of wiring is just short of 70,000.
Supporters and critics went to town on Twitter with the club and the crest trending almost immediately. Not in a good way. And understandably so. Who thought this was good? Who were the 10,000? Who signed off on this? Why had the club borrowed the cover artwork from video game Pro Evolution Soccer 2? Perhaps, most importantly, what the hell got rejected that this was deemed the best? The future? That THIS was Leeds United?
Talk about farcical. You wouldnât have got this at the most tinpot of non-league clubs, let alone these historical giants of the footballing world. A club with huge tradition and one fortunate enough to have such a massive and passionate fanbase. A club that had now turned itself into the laughing stock of the football world.
There was no Yorkshire Rose, no football or even a local landmark. No attempt at a retro spin based on a previous incarnation. From a club that changes crests as often as they change managers then surely that would have been an easy task. Instead, they’ve come out with something that would be be better suited to a communist propaganda poster or some Orwellian nightmare. That said, one can only respect that speed with which they have slammed into reverse.
We changed our crest at Brentford just over a year ago. There was the apparent confusion of it looking like a wasp â it doesnât. The way to see this is to look at a Bee and then realise that’s the creature on the badge. There was some regret from those of us who were admirers of the cluttered clipart from the previous design â not me though. I loved the simplicity and modern twist on a 70s classic. I ignored the sneers about it only having four legs on display be reminding myself that this was not uncommon whilst, if you look at the previous badge and start counting legs there were only four visible on that design.
Yet supporters now seem to have warmed to it. The worst we had to put up with at the time were some snotty headlines from the gutter press:
 Brentford supporters left furiousâ. (Daily Mail) Â
âAre we the wasps now?â Â (Daily Mirror)
âBrentfordâs new badge angers fans who claim traditional bee looks more like a wasp.â (The S*n)
These, the same publications that used the rest of that dayâs front pages to all talk about the apparently âawkwardâ moment when Cliff Richard appeared on TVâs The One Show despite being in the process of suing the BBC. Hardly yardsticks of relevance.
Yet Iâve never seen anything like happened yesterday. Fairplay to the supporters for reacting so fast. One can only wonder what the crack marketing team who put this together thought as the comments rolled in. When Aston Villa have the moral high ground then three’s something seriously wrong.
I canât wait to see how this unwinds though.
Nick Bruzon
The best of the rest were led by Aston Villa …
So PLEASE. Do something great to help our club. What else will ÂŁ1.99 get you? What better way to spend some time on the daily commute, the beach, by the pool or even hiding out in the toilet at work?
Brentford football club launched our new badge yesterday and, now that the shock of the seemingly sudden reveal has worn off, what is your opinion? Brilliant? Terrible? Indifferent?
Brentford, Blackburn or Nottingham Forest? Who will win (or lose by less)?
6 MayThis is it. The last weekend of the season with so much excitement still to come. And thatâs just off pitch where the club have asked fans to dig out their retro shirts to mark the occasion of our current crest (badge) making one final appearance before being retired. Then thereâs the small matter of Mark Warburton and Nottingham Forest hoping Brentford can do them a favour when Blackburn Rovers are the visitors to Griffin Park. With Birmingham City still not safe either, live on TV we’ve Sunday’s relegation shootout.
So what will happen? Will Brentford take the foot off the gas and Blackburn survive? Can Forest get the home win they need and hope their goals are sufficient? Both they and Rovers are locked on the same points and so if they match each others results, it comes down to goal difference. Which is currently -13 Forest and -14 Rovers. It could even turn into a case of whoever loses less heavily stays up.
And I have to say that because I fully expect Brentford to win. Weâve a chance to get up to 8th place, which would be one better than last season. Then again, for that to happen it means we need to rely on victories for both Rotherham United and QPR. Weâve got to be realistic here.
But a win for the Bees, something that is in our hands, will see us surpass last season points total by two. That alone will be incentive for Dean Smith and a team that I fully expect to be focussed on going out in style.
I feel for the Nottingham Forest and Blackburn supporters in their having to rely on another result. Moreso, from teams who they may think are already on the beach or, in our case, at the Player of the Year awards that are taking place later on Sunday night. However, I refer you back to season 2014/15.
This was Brentfordâs first in the Championship and Mark Warburton was looking to go out in style. Despite a little wobble towards the end, the Bees went into that final weekend needing to beat Wigan Athletic then rely on a slip up from Derby County or Ipswich Town in order to make the play offs. The Rams were home to hapless Reading and needed just a point to secure their own spot. Weâd beaten the Royals a week earlier and they looked awful. Ipswich were on fire though and, likewise, avoiding defeat was all they needed.
On an incredible afternoon, BOTH results went our way. Despite taking an early lead at Ewood, the Tractor Boys were eventually reigned in and went down 3-2. As for Derby, they missed an early penalty and hit the self-destruct from that point. A 0-3 home loss to a bang average team with nothing, absolutely nothing, to play for was as unexpected as it was hilarious.
Post Wigan: Err. You know that holiday? Well, Derby and Ipswich have both lost.
The point being that strange results can happen. That the team who appear to have nothing to play for on paper wonât just switch off. Weâve definitely been the beneficiaries of this fact in the past.
However on Sunday, and I take no pleasure from this prediction, my gut feeling is that Brentford are going to be the executioners. Weâve more than just pride to play for. For Blackburn Rovers to stay up, itâs going to have to rely on Nottingham Forest losing by more than they do.
Then again, as has been said many times, Iâm just the numpty on the terrace. Take results based advice from these pages with a huge dollop of caution. Indeed, given the aforementioned favour they did us, thereâs a big part of me that hopes Blackburn losing by less than Forest is the way this one plays out. Everybody in TW8 can go home smiling. Especially if Rotherham and (something I can’t believe we need or want to happen) QPR also win.
Then again, there’s the Mark Warburton factor. A hero to many at Griffin Park, could we take any pleasure from putting a nail in his Championship coffin? Perhaps it’s not one to overthink. Let’s just go out and let the football do the talking – whatever will be will be.
Besides, there’s more to think about off field. I make no secret of being a kit nerd and the club putting out this challenge to supporters has got me intrigued.
Just what could we see? What will the fansâ âfavouriteâ be? Does anybody even own that wonderful Hummel-lite version from 94-95; our first to feature the current crest (badge)? Is there a Samvo shirt out there that still has the sponsor intact rather than having disintegrated the first time it went through the washing machine?
On a personal note, Iâve whittled it down to a choice of three. Or four. But there are more than a few stunners to pick from.
Being fortunate enough to take part in filming an episode of Britainâs top rated day time TV show Bargain Hunt yesterday, both the Bees and the kit obsession made it into that really awkward chat bit at the start.
And that bit, when the show goes out, is quite likely to be the highlight. Let’s just say it’s a lot harder than it looks ‘playing’ live rather than when you watch from home.
Just some of the shirt choices – although current crest (badge) only
Likewise, subject to any last minute editorial decisions then I gather the match day programme will feature a very special top ten. Although after last weekendâs Brian Guest affair at Fulham, which the club knew nothing about in advance, we probably shouldn’t take anything on that front for granted.
So if you havenât done it yet, why not have a root through the back of the wardrobe and see what you can pull out? Whatever your thoughts on the current crest (badge) why not help see it off in style?
The next time we all get together, there’ll be a new design in place….
Coming soon. To a shirt near you….
Nick BruzonÂ
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