Football Club Mascot Injures Himself In BMX Stunt

Oldham Athletic football club's mascot had to be carried from the pitch after injuring himself during the pre-match entertainment.

Chaddy the Owl ended up in hospital after falling off a bike in the build-up to his club's League One clash at Carlisle.

The 7ft bird, dressed in the club's fluorescent away kit, was pulling wheelies on the BMX before kick off when he fell off and ruptured ankle ligaments.

The mascot, Wayne Hurst, 34, said: "I was entertaining the crowd when I discovered a bike on the terrace behind the net. I was all right on a BMX when I was younger, so I thought I'd give it a go.

"I set off towards the fans and the bike went over. I put my leg down to stop it, but went over on my ankle. I knew as soon as I hit the ground I was in trouble.

"Eventually the St John's Ambulance people came. They wanted me to take my head off so they could give me gas and air, but I said no. It's an unwritten rule that I never take my head off in front of the crowd."

Wayne was then helped on to a wheelchair and taken through the players' tunnel.

"I got a standing ovation from the Carlisle fans, which was nice," he said.

His injuries were expected to rule him out of his team's clash with Crewe today.

Oldham's chief executive Alan Hardy bemoaned the latest injury to hit the club. He said: "It looked quite nasty. Clearly the pressure of the end of season run-in caught up with him."

Taken from the Telegraph.

Footballer Puts Wind Up Referee

Taken from the BBC website:

A referee ordered a penalty to be retaken in a Sunday league football game when an opposition player broke wind as the ball was kicked.

The Chorlton Villa player got a yellow card for the noise which was classed as "unsporting behaviour".

The team, who conceded a goal on the second take, went on to win the match 6-4 against International Manchester FC at Turn Moss in Stretford, Manchester.

Villa manager Ian Treadwell said their conduct was "normally exemplary".

"One of our players 'broke wind' and only the referee heard it and he booked the player," he said.

"The other player had the penalty saved because it was a bad penalty; it was nothing to do with any noise. They were as shocked as we were as to why."

Mr Treadwell said he was waiting for the Football Association to contact them after it had received a report.

The Manchester Publicity league club faces total fines of £97 for three dismissals and two yellow card bookings from the game.

Mr Treadwell said: "We are not a dirty team and we like to play football.

"While I won't condone the actions of the players, it is an emotive game and some of the players were sent off for entering into conversation with the referee.

"This has come at a bad time in the season as we don't have sponsor and we are looking for a new sponsor for next season."

Pauline Riley, secretary and treasurer of International Manchester FC, said both team were "very friendly".

"There's no animosity. It was just hilarious," she said.