The EFL and Mind today revealed new-style names and numbers for the 2020/21 campaign - and supporters are being asked to share their stories.
Mental health charity Mind were chosen to become the EFL’s Official Charity Partner ahead of the 2018/19 season. It’s key aim is to raise awareness about mental health with fans, Clubs and staff, raising funds to deliver life-changing support and improve the approach to mental health in football and wider society.
For the past two seasons, Mind’s logo and ‘squiggle’ has appeared on the back of every EFL shirt across all Clubs in the Sky Bet Championship, Sky Bet League One and League Two, in a first for English football.
The new designs, created by Elms partnership, will continue to feature Mind’s logo with the number and the ‘squiggle’ remaining joined into the first letter of the player name – with the player’s name replacing the word Mind.
To celebrate the launch, the EFL and Mind are asking fans to share their stories of their chosen names and numbers they wear on a matchday via social media. It could be a family name, a year your Club won a league or a trophy, or in relation to a mental health experience of your own or another’s. The following provide good examples of stories from supporters of three EFL Clubs:
- Reading fan Jamie walked from Reading to Fulham overnight on New Years Eve, a total of 37.4 miles and was presented with his matchday shirt by midfielder John Swift for his efforts in raising awareness of mental health in football.
- Plymouth Argyle’s Stadium Manager, Trevor, uses his shirt to remember Rhys – a friend who took his own life - and wore it as he completed Mind United: Trek the Peaks in 2019 and raised vital funds for Mind.
- Southend United presented Robert with his shirt after he spoke out about his own mental health experience
Read more about their stories by visiting the Mind website.
Share your stories using #haveyourmatesback via our official Twitter and Facebook pages to get involved.