History Of The Crest

 



The first official Everton crest to feature on our kit dates back almost to 1920 - the era of Tom Fleetwood, Bobby Parker and Sam Chedgzoy.

In those days it comprised the white letters ‘EFC' entwined upon a blue shield.

It was a version that remained - with a one season absence - for a decade, before disappearing from our jerseys for 40 years.

But while there was no crest on the official shirts donned by the heroes of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, the Club did have a crest which represented the ethos of Everton Football Club, a crest which has provided the template for many of our previous designs.

It was in 1938 that a design was created which would lay the foundations for all future versions. Club Secretary, Theo Kelly, was asked to design a crest which would be used on official Club neck-ties.

"I was puzzling over it for four months," Kelly said. "Then I thought of a reproduction of the 'Beacon' which stands in the heart of Everton."

The 'Everton Tower' or 'Prince Rupert's Tower' - the ‘Beacon' to which he refers - has been inextricably linked with the Everton area since its construction in 1787. It still stands today on Everton Brow in Netherfield Road. 

Accompanied by the Club motto, 'Nil Satis, Nisi Optimum' - 'Nothing but the best is good enough' - the ties were first worn by Kelly and Everton's chairman, Mr E. Green, on the first day of the 1938/39 season.

But the design didn't move from the boardroom to the dressing room. There was no crest of any type on the Everton jersey until 1972, when white ‘EFC' letters were simply embroidered onto the shirt. This lasted for four seasons before a simplified font was introduced instead.

Then, in 1978, came the return of the Tower. This was the first time Kelly's design had been used on the kit and it remained for four years. In 1982, a simplified, circular design was produced, with the shield and the Latin motto removed.

Twelve months later, the crest changed again and the motif, which marked Everton's most successful period, was born. It comprised the letters ‘EFC' above a slightly reshaped Tower and laurel wreathes.

Eight years on and in 1991 a version resembling the 1978 edition was introduced and was worn on the shirt when Everton lifted the FA Cup in 1995.

In 2000, this design was modified to add ‘1878', the year the Club was founded, and the word ‘Everton'. It is a design remained in place until 2013.

An updated version of the crest was used for 2013/14 but this proved unpopular with supporters so a wide-ranging consultation exercise was undertaken which resulted in the production of three new crests.

These were put to a fan vote and the current crest was the overwhelming winner. It was introduced formally in July 2014.