For anyone who has missed it this is a brilliant article set from Bulldogs.com.au running through the evolution of our beloved clubs logo.
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News Evolution of the Bulldogs Logo
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PART 1: 1935 to 1977
Courtesy of: https://www.bulldogs.com.au/news/2020/05/22/evolution-of-the-bulldogs-logo-1935-1977/
Fri 22 May 2020, 11:17 AM
The inaugural emblem in 1935 was a 'CB' inside a blue shield, and emblem which represented 'Canterbury-Bankstown'.
In the club's early days, references in Rugby League programs and newspapers were many and varied. On May 6, 1935, the Rugby League News headed its story: "St George v See-Bees". The story explained: "Some of the Hillites have already shortened Canterbury-Bankstown club's title to the more easy to handle one of 'See-Bees'."
On May 11, there was reference in the same program to the 'Berries'. Canterbury were also known as the 'C-Bs' and the 'Cantabs', the latter reference coming from the club itself in its chatter column in Rugby League News.
Inaugural 1935 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Team Photo
Even in 1942, the club persisted with the title 'Cantabs', again in their weekly chatter column. 'Cantabs' are all gleeful at the fact that they have won their second premiership in eight years as a district club, which is a fine achievement," said the report.
In 1936, however, the club earned the somewhat derisive title of 'country bumpkins' because of their buying spree in the country at the start of the season. The game had rarely seen such an intense buying drive, and it took Canterbury to the semi-finals.
But it was obvious in 1940, as the 'country bumpkins' title wore thin and became outdated that Canterbury was still searching for an identity. In the midst of references such as 'Cantabs', 'Berries' and 'See-Bees,' came a new one, 'Canter-Banks'.
'Berries' on the charge
It wasn't until the club moved well into the 1940s that Canterbury began to be known more and more as the Berries, derived so obviously from the name of the club Canter(bury). One can imagine how difficult it would have been to come to grips with 'Buries'. The spelling was simply poetic licence. It had nothing to do with stoneless fruit, or the like.
But 'Berries' ran off the tongue easily and it was a recognisable catch-cry at matches. By the end of 1977, however, the modern game, with its ripe marketing opportunities for licensed characters and merchandising virtually insisted on a link with an animal.
The logo varied between 1935-1977, however the changes were only minor - such as colour reversal and slight alterations to the text used for 'CB'.
Courtesy of: https://www.bulldogs.com.au/news/2020/05/22/evolution-of-the-bulldogs-logo-1935-1977/
Fri 22 May 2020, 11:17 AM
The inaugural emblem in 1935 was a 'CB' inside a blue shield, and emblem which represented 'Canterbury-Bankstown'.
In the club's early days, references in Rugby League programs and newspapers were many and varied. On May 6, 1935, the Rugby League News headed its story: "St George v See-Bees". The story explained: "Some of the Hillites have already shortened Canterbury-Bankstown club's title to the more easy to handle one of 'See-Bees'."
On May 11, there was reference in the same program to the 'Berries'. Canterbury were also known as the 'C-Bs' and the 'Cantabs', the latter reference coming from the club itself in its chatter column in Rugby League News.
Inaugural 1935 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Team Photo
Even in 1942, the club persisted with the title 'Cantabs', again in their weekly chatter column. 'Cantabs' are all gleeful at the fact that they have won their second premiership in eight years as a district club, which is a fine achievement," said the report.
In 1936, however, the club earned the somewhat derisive title of 'country bumpkins' because of their buying spree in the country at the start of the season. The game had rarely seen such an intense buying drive, and it took Canterbury to the semi-finals.
But it was obvious in 1940, as the 'country bumpkins' title wore thin and became outdated that Canterbury was still searching for an identity. In the midst of references such as 'Cantabs', 'Berries' and 'See-Bees,' came a new one, 'Canter-Banks'.
'Berries' on the charge
It wasn't until the club moved well into the 1940s that Canterbury began to be known more and more as the Berries, derived so obviously from the name of the club Canter(bury). One can imagine how difficult it would have been to come to grips with 'Buries'. The spelling was simply poetic licence. It had nothing to do with stoneless fruit, or the like.
But 'Berries' ran off the tongue easily and it was a recognisable catch-cry at matches. By the end of 1977, however, the modern game, with its ripe marketing opportunities for licensed characters and merchandising virtually insisted on a link with an animal.
The logo varied between 1935-1977, however the changes were only minor - such as colour reversal and slight alterations to the text used for 'CB'.
PART 2: 1978 to 1996
Courtesy of: https://www.bulldogs.com.au/news/2020/05/27/evolution-of-the-bulldogs-logo-1978-1996/
Wed 27 May 2020, 10:45 AM
The transition from 'Berries' to 'Bulldogs' in 1978 was simply a case of necessity.
Canterbury and Newtown were the only clubs without an animal for their emblem. Even the relatively new clubs, Cronulla and Penrith were known respectively as the Sharks and the Panthers.
To determine the emblem, the club went to its supporters and undertook their own market test. The most popular name without question was 'The Bulldogs'. From the start of 1978, the 'Berries' were dead and buried.
1985 NSWRL Premiership winning captain Steve Mortimer
The Bulldogs seemed the perfect solution. Like Manly in the late 1960s when they changed their emblem from the seagull to the more aggressive sea eagle, the switch was to coincide with premiership victories for both clubs.
For the supporters, the famous Bulldogs chant developed into an institution which would spur the players on when heard from the grandstand. It was time for the players to dig deep and take control of the game.
Terry Lamb breaks through the Parramatta defence
In 1995 the club was known as the Sydney Bulldogs when they moved their home matches to Parramatta Stadium. This was a marketing strategy to broaden the Bulldog boundaries in the first season of the national competition.
Courtesy of: https://www.bulldogs.com.au/news/2020/05/27/evolution-of-the-bulldogs-logo-1978-1996/
Wed 27 May 2020, 10:45 AM
The transition from 'Berries' to 'Bulldogs' in 1978 was simply a case of necessity.
Canterbury and Newtown were the only clubs without an animal for their emblem. Even the relatively new clubs, Cronulla and Penrith were known respectively as the Sharks and the Panthers.
To determine the emblem, the club went to its supporters and undertook their own market test. The most popular name without question was 'The Bulldogs'. From the start of 1978, the 'Berries' were dead and buried.
1985 NSWRL Premiership winning captain Steve Mortimer
The Bulldogs seemed the perfect solution. Like Manly in the late 1960s when they changed their emblem from the seagull to the more aggressive sea eagle, the switch was to coincide with premiership victories for both clubs.
For the supporters, the famous Bulldogs chant developed into an institution which would spur the players on when heard from the grandstand. It was time for the players to dig deep and take control of the game.
Terry Lamb breaks through the Parramatta defence
In 1995 the club was known as the Sydney Bulldogs when they moved their home matches to Parramatta Stadium. This was a marketing strategy to broaden the Bulldog boundaries in the first season of the national competition.
PART 3: 1998 to 2009
Courtesy of: https://www.bulldogs.com.au/news/2020/06/03/evolution-of-the-bulldogs-logo-1998-2009/
Wed 3 Jun 2020, 11:38 AM
When the NRL was formed in 1998, the club opted for a change of logos to present a new modern image moving forward.
There were two issues that forced this decision;
Front page of Daily Telegraph after 2004 NRL Grand Final
The change in jersey and new logo presented a modernised image which proved to be successful. In 2000, the club changed the name to the Bulldogs in an attempt to broaden the supporter base.
Today, the Bulldogs enjoy the success of maintaining the traditional supporter base from within the Canterbury-Bankstown district while building an expansive supporter base by playing in Sydney's leading sporting arena, the Telstra Stadium at Homebush.
A momentous occasion for Canterbury-Bankstown
Courtesy of: https://www.bulldogs.com.au/news/2020/06/03/evolution-of-the-bulldogs-logo-1998-2009/
Wed 3 Jun 2020, 11:38 AM
When the NRL was formed in 1998, the club opted for a change of logos to present a new modern image moving forward.
There were two issues that forced this decision;
- The Bulldog logo was claimed to be the intellectual property of the ARL.
- The demands of meeting the NRL Rationalisation Criteria before the year 2000 meant that the club needed to be pro-active in making sure that all marketing opportunities were realised.
Front page of Daily Telegraph after 2004 NRL Grand Final
The change in jersey and new logo presented a modernised image which proved to be successful. In 2000, the club changed the name to the Bulldogs in an attempt to broaden the supporter base.
Today, the Bulldogs enjoy the success of maintaining the traditional supporter base from within the Canterbury-Bankstown district while building an expansive supporter base by playing in Sydney's leading sporting arena, the Telstra Stadium at Homebush.
A momentous occasion for Canterbury-Bankstown
<< Reserved for Part 4 (Final Part) >>