I'd love to know when we first started using the current crest. People talk as if it's been part of our heritage for decades but I'm not sure how true that is. Personally I would like to see us in time move to a new crest that is a specific Alty FC design rather than the fiddly and fusty one we have now.
http://www.civicheraldry.co.uk/cheshire_pre74.htmlI think that this should answer your question. My own opinion of the Crest/COA (Coat of Arms) is that it lacks any modern day relevance and quite frankly, I think that it is somewhat unattractive and disappointing to the eye. The heraldic creatures are particularly ugly looking. It wasn't even commissioned for the Club - we just nicked it and used it after it was granted to the as was then Altrincham Borough Council in 1937.
Altrincham Borough Council ceased to be in 1974 and the Crest/COA was retired. Ironically our 1974/75 cup run heralded arguably the best period in the Club's history. I wonder how many other Football clubs maintain a defunct local government Coat of Arms as such an important club icon.
Now then, The motto 'ALTRINCHAM EN AVANT' meaning 'ALTRINCHAM LEADS THE WAY' I would keep as it does still relate and would be an ideal nod to the past.
I would like to suggest that the Club goes for a new Club Crest and it would be good opportunity to engage with supporters and open a competition for designs and ideas. If a prototype design was adopted by this means a couple of season tickets would be a great prize.