Tartan Rebranding

Last updated : 10 May 2012 By Alex Horburgh

DUNDEE HIBS TO DUNDEE UNITED TO TANGERINE TERRORS
dundee_united_strip 2011-2012-2Dundee United's playing kit is tangerine in colour, first used when the team played under the Dallas Tornado moniker in the United Soccer Association competition of 1967, which they were invited to participate in after their first European excursion had created many headlines in the football world. After persuasion by the wife of manager Jerry Kerr, the colour would soon be adopted as the club's own in 1969 to give the club a brighter, more modern image. The new colour was paraded for the first time in a pre-season friendly against Everton in August '69.
 
When originally founded as Dundee Hibernian, they had followed the example of other clubs of similar heritage by adopting the traditionally Irish colours of green shirts and white shorts. By the time the club became Dundee United in 1923, the colours had been changed to white shirts and black shorts as they sought to distance themselves from their Irish origins. These colours persisted in various forms up until 1969, sometimes using plain shirts, but also at various times including Celtic-style broad hoops, Queens Park-style narrow hoops and an Airdrie-style "V" motif.
 
FERRANTI THISTLE TO MEADOWBANK THISTLE TO LIVINGSTON
Livingston_strip 2011-2012-2When Scottish football decided on a new Premier League / 1st and 2nd Division set-up in 1974 (introduced in season 1975/76) an extra club was required to make the 10/14/14 set-up work.
 
Works side Ferranti Thistle of Edinburgh were chosen as the new Scottish Second Division side for season 1974/5 ahead of a host of Highland League applicants as soon as the non-leaguers from the East of Scotland League made the step-up they were told they had to find a new name as the SFA and Scottish League decided that the team could not be known by the name of the Electronics firm Ferranti, established in the Scottish capital in the 1940's.
 
Ferranti finally became Meadowbank Thistle when they moved from City Park to the Commonwealth Stadium in Edinburgh's Meadowbank district to play their home games shortly before the start of the 1974/5 season.
 
In 1995 Meadowbank's then-owner Bill Hunter relocated the third Edinburgh Scottish League side to Livingston new town in West Lothian in probably the ultimate rebranding exercise for a Scottish League side and they became Livingston FC.
 
INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE
Highland League sides Inverness Caledonian and Inverness Thistle merged in the early 90's to become one club thus gaining entry into the Scottish League (Inverness, also known as "the Highland Capital" , had long lobied for a team in the Scottish League). Inverness Clachnacuddin, the third team in the northern city, still play as an independent side in the Highland League.
 
THE BLUE BRAZIL
Cowdenbeath_strip 2012-2013-2Cowdenbeath FC are as much known by their tragi-comedic nickname of South American origins these days as their given name. The club was formed in 1881 and were nicknamed 'The Miners' until a fateful day in season 1989/90.
 
Legend has it that during a particularly fine cup performance against Stranraer at Central Park one excited local shouted "Come on the blues!!". This shout of appreciation was followed by one from another home supporter of "Come on THE SILKY BLUES!!". The second shout was trumped by a third shout by another terracing dweller of "COME ON THE BLUE BRAZIL!!!!" and the nickname stuck after much hilarity amongst the often-success starved Cowden support !
 
The rather tongue in cheek moniker is now taken very seriously by the Fife club and since the turn of the century it has been appearing on strips and on merchandise. One wonders if the fan who shouted "Come on The Blue Brazil!!" will ever approach the club for what he might claim is ''his share'' of the cash made by Cowden FC from that throwaway terracing line back in the days of a Thatcher government and Scotland still qualifying for World Cups !
 
DIAMONDS FOREVER
airdrie_united strip_2011-2012Airdrie United were formed in 2002, following the bankruptcy of Airdrieonians FC.
 
Airdrieonians had finished runners-up in the First Division in 2001/2 but went out of business with debts approaching £3 million. The collapse of "The Diamonds", as they were known due to their distinctive kits, created a vacancy in the SFL (in Division 3). Accountant and Airdrieonians fan Jim Ballantyne attempted, with the help of others, to gain entry with a club called "Airdrie United" who were essentially to be a reincarnation of Airdrieonians. Their application however was rejected as the then English Northern Premier League side Gretna were preferred by league members over the new Airdrie United FC.
 
Ballantyne went on to complete a buy-out of the ailing Second Division side Clydebank and with SFL approval the club was relocated to Airdrie, the strips were transformed to resemble that of Airdrieonians, and the name was changed to Airdrie United. While this means that the club is therefore officially a continuation of Clydebank it is almost universally accepted as a reincarnation of Airdrieonians, with Clydebank having been reformed by supporters groups and entering into the Junior Leagues in Scotland.

If you are interested in the development of strips over the years check out www.historicalkits.co.uk