Mascotgate – The Final Word

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The Arsenal first-team has suffered a massive social media pile-on in the last 24 hours, following a well-intentioned Twitter post from the club showing the players signing a shirt held by the mascot for the game at West Ham as she looked wide-eyed at her heroes. What the players didn’t do in this clip was seem to acknowledge her in any way.

I don’t know his football allegiances, if he has any, but being a media personality you’d think he’d know the pitfalls of offering his opinion on a short video offering the briefest of snapshots of the mascots experience on her special day – I’ll return to this later.

Taken out of context that possibly looks bad. And of course it was taken out of context and copied liberally on Twitter, first by some pretty awful click-bait blogs, and then by the BBC’s own Nick Knowles (from DIY SOS I believe).

You might have guessed that TalkSport would pick up this Twitter furore, and so they did.

What’s disappointing is that, from what I understand, Arsenal supporter Laura Woods availed herself of their own sticking in of the boot. This is disappointing not just because she supports Arsenal and should be shouting down the clowns that pervade that channel, but because one of her previous jobs in the media involved her working in the area of the players tunnel on match days and she will absolutely know that this video was not representative of the experience of the Arsenal mascot at any game.

I guess when you take the dollar of the reactive phone-in type of radio show then you end up toeing the line.

How do I know that the matchday experience of the Arsenal mascot isn’t accurately shown in the video? Well the answer is simple – my nephew has been one.

At Sunderland in 2012, the final game of Thierry Henry’s second spell (at which the great man scored the last minute winner) our Freddie was the Arsenal mascot.

Like every other Arsenal mascot he was given the time of his life by Arsenal (and Sunderland). He met the players in the dressing room, had his photo taken with everyone, then was taken on to the pitch by the club photographer Stuart MacFarlane for more photos with the players.

Anyone who goes to watch Arsenal, home or away, will see this happening at every single game.

Freddie then led the team out with Robin Van Persie on to the Stadium of Light pitch, lined up with them for the pre-match formalities, and then met the Sunderland skipper and match officials at the coin-toss. Stuart took more photos. Then Freddie joined the family in the away end for the game.

Arsenal gave him a full away kit for the match. They sent through the photographs taken by Stuart.

He had an amazing, never to be forgotten day as the Arsenal mascot. And it didn’t cost a thing – as a member of the Junior Gunners he was selected at random for the day of his life.

The way in which the Quy’s, Debs Wakeford, Sue Campbell and others ran the Junior Gunners has thankfully remained part of the clubs main values.

Most of the other clubs charge for this experience, and it isn’t cheap – West Ham had 10/11 kids there the other day whose parents had paid literally hundreds of pounds each for the privilege.

A friend of mine had to pay for her boy to do the same thing at Spurs a few years ago, 500 quid plus, and she then had the option of buying a match ticket for herself to accompany the lad!

Now back to Mr Knowles and his Twitter platform, given to him by his role in the BBC, and his irresponsible use of it – all a bit Lineker, this.

He was tweeted by the father of the young girl who was the Arsenal mascot in the video. In this tweet we found out that she’d had a brilliant day and loved every single minute.

Mr Knowles has not apologised, nor has he deleted his own tweet that caused the pile-on to Arsenal’s players overnight. In a week where Bukayo Saka has once again been abused online for missing a penalty (and these idiots claim to follow Arsenal, albeit from afar) it shows a frightening disregard from someone who also lives in the public eye to ignore the power of social media as a stick with which to beat someone.

Shame on you Mr Knowles.

Dover Marksman

More Arsenal fans share their mascot experience

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Following yesterdays blog sharing the mascot experience of Max and his family, more Arsenal fans have reached it to share what happened on their big day (or their childs!).

My son was met on arrival as the team entered the stadium.

Once they settled he was invited into the dressing room and was also accompanied by the club photographer. He was invited to go around each player and they kindly each had a photo taken.

He was then invited on to the pitch during the warm up where again he had some photos and obviously joined them for the coin toss.

Additionally a few days later an envelope arrived with a series of photos taken by the club of his day. Not many clubs would do that – in fact the old boy who looked after him from the opposition commented how good Arsenal are and different from other clubs.

Mark

Day, start to finish, is a dream as a kid.

I was 12 years old walking out of the tunnel with Robin van Persie live on ITV1. The guy who looked after me all day got the coach up there with us and sorted free tickets for me and my family.

They gave me a free kit. I had taken my own home kit to wear but as we were playing away, they wanted me to match the players.

I walked into the dressing room with the players and had a chat with them all whilst they signed a match ball Arsenal had given to me. I particularly remember Francis Coquelin and Theo being very welcoming and helping with the lads who’s English weren’t great.

I played on the pitch with some of the subs and then got a photo with every player as they were getting changed for the match.

As the game kicked off walked round to the arsenal end to a huge applause from the fans.

Henry

Obviously it’s a while ago. It was at Wigan.

They supplied a full kit for the lad and 4 tickets in the Arsenal end. Wigan gave a tour of the stadium (they were also very good) and we met the managers.

All mascots went in the away changing room, but ONLY the Arsenal mascot was allowed in our changing room.

Then usual kick around with the players and lead them out. Afterwards AFC submitted an article to our local paper (with photo) and sent A4 copies of all the photos they took.

The club were brilliant – My lad is now 24 still talks about it.

Steve

I was mascot away to Fulham in March 2006. Everything about the day showed the class of The Arsenal.

The players walked into the changing rooms with their game face on (like the video shown this week), and that had no impact on the day I had.

I then got to go into the changing rooms and meet all the staff and players. They were all superb, Bergkamp, Freddie and Cole were the standouts. Freddie even remembered me from a Junior Gunner Christmas party 3 months earlier, so the players must interact with the kids!

I then got to have photos on the pitch during the warm up, come out with Thierry and take a few shots with mad Jens. The whole day couldn’t have gone any better.

I’ve also been on the pitch for Bergkamp’s testimonial, carried a flag out at Highbury on 3 occasions, had a nerf gun fight with the first team at the training ground, two Christmas parties and also won competitions for my junior gunner brother and now my own kids. And on every single occasion the players and the club have been first class.

To me it’s the same old story, we are back and everyone else is finding anything to try knock us down. UTA.

Adam

My eldest was a virtual mascot during lockdown. Obviously it wasn’t the full experience because the stadium was closed so we didn’t get to meet the players.

They both had an interview with Nigel Mitchell which went out on the big screens and social media, got sent some merch (including a full kit) and had a personalised video sent from a player (ESR & Partey).

My youngest was then a mascot for the Brighton game so we got given 2 tickets (was a very small crowd, 10k I think?). Unbelievable considering it was free.

They also both got to take penalties on the pitch. The news articles suggesting that Arsenal don’t care about kids are absolute bollocks

They also both got a programme with their name listed among the subs!

Damian

I was actually a mascot in a home match in the early 90s.

Got four tickets in the east stand I think, had a form to fill out asking favourite player, band , hobbies etc.

Got a free kit and a football. Had a few shots at David Seaman in the warm up.

There was a function after the match and got their autographs.

FWF

We also had lots of fans share their mascot experience with us on Twitter:

As we said yesterday, judging Arsenal’s mascot experience by a 102 second video is just lazy journalism, and promoted by those that look for easy hits as they montise their accounts off your gambling losses.

The real lived mascot experience over at Arsenal is “incredible”.

SheWore

What is it actually like to be an Arsenal mascot?

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By now you have already seen the video that has gone viral of Arsenal players signing the shirt of the mascot for the day ahead of the West Ham match.

The video led to a pile on by those strange social media accounts that just copy / paste content. Whose ultimate aim is to gain lots of RTs, attention and therefore followers, rather than take the time to understand the truth behind something.

They subscribe to the view that it is better to share false information that builds their accounts which they then montise, rather than share videos with truthful comments that might not garner the same attention.

The majority of these accounts are betting affiliates, where they promote gambling, and then earn money off your loss. So you can excuse us if we laugh whilst they try and promote themselves as some sort of beacon of morality.

One major issue is that people have built their opinion on what it is like being a mascot based on a 109 second video.Being a mascot at Arsenal is a full day. Part of that day is being able to “welcome” players as they come off the bus. But this is just a small part of the experience.

So what is it like to be an Arsenal mascot for the day? We spoke to Max Downer, a father whose child was recently an Arsenal mascot.

What happened before the day?

We were given 4 free tickets for the game, plus the option for additional extras if needed.

I had to give his measurements so that the provided him with a kit for the day, which he kept.

We were also advised to bring along a shirt for all players to sign.

What happens pre-game?

On arrival my son and the Everton mascot for the day got to go to their teams changing room where their kits are hanging up ready for them to put on.

We then go to the players entrance door where he greets the players off the coach. Some high five him as they walk through. We then go pitchside where he is interviewed, which is shown on the big screens.

After the interview, the cameraman and just my son go into the changing room where he meets every player. He has a photo with every single one of them and they all sign his shirt.

What happens during the warm-up?

As the players are warming up, he was allowed on the pitch to join them for a little kick-around. All the time more photos are taken of him on the pitch with players.

After the warm up we wait in the tunnel before he walks out the team. We are then taken to our seats.

What happens after the game?

Arsenal send all photos of the day to us.

Anything else you would like to add?

He got emotional at times as it’s quite nerve wracking and all players and staff were very comforting and supportive.

As you well know Arsenal are class in these kind of things. An absolutely amazing experience. I’d be shocked if that girl didn’t feel the same.

The video could does it no justice really and unless you experience it you just don’t know how wonderful it is

This is an account from someone whose son was an actual mascot. Not the commentry of a faceless twitter account that is only interested in hits and monitising their “influence” – usually through profiteering off your gambling losses.

It is sad that these days have attempted to ruin what would have been an incredible day for the young girl who was mascot for the day at West Ham. And in face, that father of the young lady in question has spoken about her special day.

The club does a lot wrong, as we document, but Junior Gunners is one area they have always been very attentive.

Players do so much seen and unseen for younger fans, from zoo visits, school visits, hospital visits and more. Sadly, many of these big accounts only highlight a perceived slight by a club as that is what gets them the RTs and follows.

Being a mascot at Arsenal is also free. Many clubs, such as West Ham, charge for being a mascot. Their pricing for the 2022/23 season is as follows:

  • Category A = £375 inc. VAT
  • Category B = £375 inc. VAT
  • Category C = £175 inc. VAT

We have never seen any parent complain about how their children, or themselves, were treated on the day. All the critcisim has come from people who have probably never even been to the Emirates for a football match, let alone had a family member be an Arsenal mascot.

We asked on Twitter for more Arsenal fans to share their mascot experience:

https://twitter.com/adam1494_/status/1648230413226180608

Keenos