Salford give nod to history in new logo

SALFORD Red Devils have unveiled a new club crest, restoring the name of the city and replacing the caricature devil with several nods to the club’s history and the tradition of the surrounding area.

Over the course of the season, the Red Devils conducted extensive research, spearheaded by former player Robbie Hunter-Paul, and speculation mounted a decision would be made to rebrand the club Manchester.

However, that has not been the case and with owner Marwan Koukash signalling his intention to withdraw and hand the club over to a board of trustees, it is thought the club’s new identity will connect with supporters old and new. The centrepiece of the new design is the willow tree, symbolising the club’s spiritual home and indeed the city - the name Salford was initially derived from Sealhford, meaning a ford by the willow trees.

The devil’s trident adorns the top of the crest, while there are also five worker bees included to represent the five industrial communities that grew around the centre of the textile industry in the area. In a statement, the club revealed the crest ‘almost created itself’ on the back of the research. “Time and again, the same symbols and defining factors were brought up in the feedback - The Willows, Salford Quays, the downto-earth work ethic of those who live here,” it adds. “It seemed everybody we spoke to felt the same way. It became clearer than ever before that this could not just be about simply changing a logo.”