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From The Times
August 27, 2004

Mascot rues rearguard action

By A Scotland Correspondent
A FOOTBALL mascot has lost his job after baring his backside in front of rival fans.

Dumbarton FC’s Pellie the Elephant was sacked after Morton fans complained to stewards and police when the 7ft mascot dropped his shorts and wiggled his furry bottom at their match last Saturday.

Iain MacFarlane, Dumbarton chairman, said: “Pellie had been warned in the past so we were left with no choice but to terminate his involvement with the club. He dropped his tracksuit bottoms then apparently gestured in a rude way with his hands. Although it wasn’t his real backside he showed off, it was still unacceptable. We now want to move on. Dumbarton FC has more important things to worry about than elephants baring their bottoms.”

But even Morton fans called yesterday for Pellie — Richard Blackhurst, 25, of Bonhill, West Dunbartonshire — to be given his job back, and bombarded their team’s website with messages of support.

Mr Blackhurst said: “I would like to be reinstated but I don’t think there’s much chance.

“There are too many stuffy, dusty old men on the board at that club. It’s just a cheeky bit of fun. When there’s a problem like sectarianism affecting Scottish clubs, an elephant taking his shorts down doesn’t seem that big a deal.”

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