With the return of the Championship this season there has been a new addition to all of the jerseys the 24 teams in the division. On the back of players' jerseys near the left shoulder and beside the player's name there is a squiggle graphic that has left many football fans stumped. Well, here's what it means.
What is the squiggle on Championship shirts?
The squiggle beside Championship players' names is the logo for mental health charity Mind.
The English Football League has partnered with the charity for the 2018/19 season, with their logo featuring on both Championship and League One and Two jerseys.
Mind was founded in 1946 as the National Association for Mental Health (NAMH), and offers information and advice to people with mental health problems and lobbies government and local authorities on their behalf.
The EFL announced the joint-venture in April, they laid out four goals for the partnership:
- Raise awareness about mental health with fans, clubs and staff
- Raise funds to deliver life-changing support
- Provide support for EFL players, managers and staff
- Improve the approach to mental health in the EFL, in football and in wider society.
When the affiliation was confirmed, Paul Farmer, Chief Executive for Mind, welcomed the deal:
We are delighted to be working with the EFL on this exciting new partnership which we hope will be a game changer in increasing awareness and understanding of mental health and raising vital funds to support Mind’s work. Football brings millions of people together and is a great platform to start positive conversations. One in four of us is affected by a mental health problem which means that at every Club, on every terrace and in every community we need to be prioritising mental health.
We’re looking forward to joining forces with the EFL to support thousands more people to get active and experience the mood boosting benefits of exercise. We know that getting physically active through team sports such as football can help us feel more connected and increase our overall mental health and wellbeing.
In choosing to partner with Mind, the EFL is showing a real commitment to an issue that affects players, staff and fans alike. Some good work is already underway by the Professional Footballers Association and League Managers Association to address mental health and this partnership will be a significant opportunity to broaden out that mental health support and raise awareness to wider club staff and supporters. Together, we hope to embed long-term change in how EFL Clubs and communities approach mental health.
