No medals for Dunfermline mascot's Olympic gold tribute

Published on Wednesday 10 March 2010 21:58

A FOOTBALL mascot has been reprimanded by club bosses after "sledging" down a flight of stairs in tribute to the gold medal-winning performance in the skeleton bob at the Winter Olympics by Amy Williams.

Dunfermline Athletic's Sammy the Tammy sped down the stairs on a red plastic sledge in the Norrie McCathie stand at East End Park during the club's 1-0 defeat to Ayr United a fortnight ago, despite being warned not to do so by the club announcer.

Unlike Williams – who was Britain's only medallist at the Games and won her gold after racing down a track at up to 90mph on a skeleton bob – Sammy started to lose control halfway down the concrete staircase.

Sammy, a brown bear in a hat who has "form" for previous unruly behaviour at matches, then veered to the left and crashed into seating.

Despite this, he won a roar of approval from the crowd, before limping off with his sledge.

One Dunfermline fan said he hoped that Sammy was not replaced as their club mascot.

He said: "Sammy's a bit of a legend for some of the younger fans. He's a bit much sometimes, but he's a bit more interesting than some of the more politically correct mascots out there.

"I was surprised to see him sliding down the stand on that little piece of plastic. I can see why the club probably don't want him to do it again, as he could have hit someone walking up the stairs.

"Hopefully he gets to keep his job, though, as I think some of the younger fans would be a bit gutted."

The football club's spokesman, Matt Ford, said he had stopped short of showing Sammy the red card.

"I saw what happened and I told him after the game not to put himself and everyone else at risk. I said really firmly, 'Look, don't do that again.'

"Sammy looked down at his feet and said, 'Aye, I know, I'll behave.' He took it on the chin."

Mr Ford admitted that Sammy had a past history of getting into trouble.

The week after Kris Boyd stopped playing for Scotland in October 2008, Sammy brought a pram on to the pitch and threw dolls out of it to impersonate the Rangers striker.

On another occasion he was "arrested" by officials for "stealing "a presentation cheque and holding it to ransom.

Opposition fans have also complained about Sammy, who calls himself a "boisterous prankster" on the Dunfermline website, for taunting them when Dunfermline score.

Mr Ford added: "He is not quite at the 'Asbo' level and we certainly don't think he has 'issues' which need addressed. He just maybe needs to calm down a bit."

The behaviour of other football teams' mascots has shown that life on the touchline can be controversial.

Cyril the Swan, Swansea City's mascot, was fined 1,000 for ripping the head off the Millwall mascot Zampa the Lion and then drop-kicking it into the crowd.

St Mirren's Paisley Panda has already shown delinquent potential and received an official police caution after taunting fans of fierce local rivals Morton for allegedly not using soap.

John Kaylor, chairman of Perthshire Tartan Army, said: "Football mascots are great and there's no way Sammy the Tammy should ever get an Asbo.

"Considering the state of football in Scotland, we need more people like Sammy, on or off the field.

"It's only a problem if people get annoyed by it. If they do, then they need to lighten up."

Sammy's real identity has never been revealed to fans.