Wasn't Richard Short booted out a couple of hours before our first match in the 2014/15 season? Anyway, the way the Tweet was written it seems to me that the bloke's antics had been curtailed either by the club or the PL and probably wasn't enjoying it as much as he used to. It was plain to see that since the Zaha incident that he wasn't as visible.
He did do a good job, no doubt. But I see it from a different angle - a mascot should do the job he has been doing but anonomously, he should not get known more himself than the mascot and that is what has happened. We have had others employed to be the mascot and in fact in this situation I would say he has made it quite difficult for him to be directly replaced. It is not so easy this time to say the king is dead, long live the king. The club may have to find another option sadly.
I disagree. It's a pretty thankless and pointless role in and of itself. He made it into something special through sheer force of personality and passion. Any muppet can waddle around in a furry suit and wave to the crowd. Harry was a superb part of our club and a great loss to our home atmosphere. **** Richarlison and Sliver, they are no loss, but Harry is irreplaceable.
I heard he was sacked ahead of a Sun press story where Harry was caught drinking 2 bottles Baileys in bed with 2 furry bumble bees of ill repute.
Agreed. He's hardly likely to be footballer rich, but he's been more a part of the fabric of our club than many a millionaire journeyman.
The way I have always regarded Harry compared with other mascots is that he was Harry The Hornet. The other mascots were just men in costumes. Replacing Gareth with another employee of the club makes our mascot the latter. I am afraid, Harry The Hornet is dead!
Harry was good BECAUSE he wasn't like your normal club mascot. I think the costume will enable a decent replacement to be found. My enduring memory of him was when, during a minutes silence, the TV camera slowly scans the line of Watford players respectfully looking mournful with their hands clasped behind their backs and heads bowed - and then it reaches Harry The Hornet in the line with his daft grin, completely out of place. It cracked me up! There was a still image of it too, but I couldn't find it.
Does anyone remember we had a rather large Harry sporting a beer belly around the mid/late 90's I think?
Wasn't that the one in 2014 for first world War? Think some of the press got upset back then saying it was disrespectful!
I don't know who Gareth is as some you seem to but I'll shake his hand and buy him a pint any day, he's been brilliant, pictures and fun with the kids (including my own) and yet great banter with the crowd, both home and away. If he has been 'removed' it is a travesty, the energy and interaction he has created as Harry is beyond compare. You can't tell me there isn't a mascot in the land that doesn't wish it was them who dived in front of Zaha, and Hodgson bring it up is nothing short of hilarious. Although he likes a bit of a wind up I bet most away fans would say he has created a bit of a laugh for them also. We need a petition. I actually mean mist of that even if it makes me sound like Jeremy ******* Vine.
Can the 1881 get a huge Harry Hornet flag for the away end when Everton come. I'd love to see them covered in our Harry.
Ironically - it was against Utd, after the shocking events in Paris: He certainly made the character stand out in comparison to other mascots, and will be sorely missed.
Fair play to MDP too who put his arm around Harry as a normal act rather than thinking it was weird. I'm that moment, stupid as it may sound, it was just people respecting a moment.
