Everton have unveiled the club's new crest which will be used from next season onwards.
Having
faced a backlash from fans after changing the club's badge in May
without much consultation, the Merseyside club revealed three new badges
for fans to vote on last month.
And Design A has come out on top with 78% of the vote after around 13,000 supporters took part in the voting process.
Popular choice: Everton boss Roberto Martinez holds up the club's new crest which received 78% of the vote
Alternate: As well as the new blue crest, the Merseyside club also unveiled a new reversed version too
Toffees
boss Roberto Martinez said: 'I was impressed when I saw it and it
captivates what we stand for. I think it is a really nice choice and it
is good for the club. We have got it right. The icons represent many
years of history and we have listened to our fans, taken everything on
board.'
Introducing a simplified, more
modern crest for the 2013/14 campaign towards the end of last season,
the club angered fans by controversially dropping the club's famous
Latin motto Nil Satis Nisi Optimum, which translates to Nothing But The
Best Is Good Enough.
Most Popular: Design A
Not liked: Design B
Not wanted: Design C
True blue: Everton left Leighton Baines sports the current badge as Everton took on West Ham last month
Fans
were angered at the change, claiming the club had failed to consult
them and made their feelings known with 22,000 supporters signing an
online petition condemning the badge as 'awful'.
Everton
admitted their mistake this summer and after consultation with the
club's supporters, the motto was included in all three of the new
designs.
However,
despite voting in their thousands on the new badge, when the three
crests were first unveiled, many supporters on social networking sites
Facebook and Twitter revealed they would have preferred to see the old
badge return instead.
Old and New: Given the choice, most Blues fans would prefer to revert back to the original badge (left)
The
club will hope fans eventually accept the new crest and a statement on
the official Everton Football Club website read: 'This option strongly
reflects the Club's heritage and status as an authentic, respected
football club.
'It brings together the key icons
of the Club's tradition - the Tower, Nil Satis Nisi Optimum and the
Shield, rendered in the strongly preferred Club colours of royal blue
and white.
'Overall this is a simpler, neater
presentation to meet modern day challenges, whilst retaining the strong
heritage so important to the Club and its supporters.'
Fans
will have to make do with the original crest for the rest of the season
until the new design is used from the start of the 2014/15 season.
Changes: Many Everton supporters were angry that the club had changed the badge used since 2000
Meanwhile,
speaking ahead of the club's trip to Manchester City on Saturday,
manager Martinez is keen for Everton to continue their impressive form,
as the club look to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
Impressive start: Roberto Martinez
'It
is only six games into the season and what is important is that we have
a strong squad. We have got a young generation with exquisite talent
that is pushing hard to be involved. We want to carry on and keep going.
We want to stay unbeaten for as long as we can. It will be a tough
challenge but we will do our best,' he said.
The Blues travel to the Etihad Stadium for this weekend's early kick off having won their last three Premier League clashes.
Despite
City's poor showing against Bayern Munich in the Champions League on
Wednesday and their 3-2 defeat at the hands of Aston Villa last
Saturday, Martinez is fully aware of the challnge that faces his side.
'They
have a really good squad. There is never a good or bad time to play
them. Bayern are European champions for a reason. They are the biggest
test you can have at club level. I thought they were magnificent. The
games have been close, very competitive. We are in a position where we
want to have as much pressure as we can. We will go there and give it
our best.' said the Spaniard.
The former Wigan boss also commented on young Everton hotshot Ross Barkley and insisted he will play on Saturday.
When
asked if the 19-year-old could be rested having featured in all of the
Toffees' Premier League games so far this season, the Everton manager
said: 'No. Ross is upset when he can't win in training, never mind in
games. He is desperate to enjoy every single second.'
Loving it: Talented Ross Barkley scored his first goal at Goodison Park against Newcastle on Monday night
And
the Goodison manager is also keen to watch another young player develop
at Goodison Park, on-loan Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku.
'His
away debut was impressive. His home debut was exciting to watch. This
is only the start and we are looking forward to seeing him grow.'
Martinez said of the Belgian international.
Exciting: On-loan from Chelsea, Romelu Lukaku has scored three goals in his first two Everton appearances
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