Waterford change crest and club name

Change continues apace in Waterford as the Suirside club prepare for their assault on the 2017 SSE Airtricity League First Division title. This week the club has changed its name back to Waterford FC.

As well as announcing the name switch, Waterford revealed a fresh club crest. The brand new crest is drawn from the rich annals of football in Waterford and from the past successes on the pitch by the men in blue.

The new emblem is an update of a crest used by the original Waterford FC, which was the club’s name for the first 52 years of its proud history. It also recalls the original Coat of Arms of Waterford City that featured on the crest that Waterford FC used at the club’s foundation back in 1930.

The club’s crest has altered in the interim, as has the city’s Coats of Arms, but new Chairman Lee Power sees a link with the club’s roots as a huge part of his vision for Waterford FC. The club dominated Irish football between 1965 and 1973, winning six league titles in that stretch.

At the name change and crest change announcement this week, Power (who also chairs Swindon Town) commented, “When I assumed control of the club in November, I wanted to look at the option of re-branding the club and returning to our original identity. I am delighted that we are returning to the Waterford FC name along with a modern crest that is inspired by the club’s historic past.”

Waterford General Manager Paul Cleary added: “It is an exciting time for Waterford FC. We are delighted with the squad being assembled on the pitch by Pat Fenlon and Alan Reynolds but we are also working tirelessly in the background to provide our supporters with a sustainable and long-term structure that will see us reach the next level.”

“We are delighted to finally unveil our new crest officially and in due course will make more announcements on Season Tickets, Merchandising and Sponsorship that we are sure will whet the appetite ahead of what promises to be a season to remember for Waterford FC.”

Most of the major football successes in Ireland’s fifth most populous city came when the club was previously called Waterford FC. Since the club became Waterford United in 1982, major national successes have been three LDivision One titles and a single League Cup victory in 1985.