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Guest
Guest
How old is Poacher, and what is the history behind him becoming club mascot?
Poacher is now 11 years old as of July 27th, it was July 27th 1998 I put in my first appearance, and I’ve done it for the full 11 years. The story behind Poacher is actually rooted in the John Beck era. Put aside the long ball philosophy and sheer brutality of his team, he also initiated the popular but often forgotten ‘Team Lincoln’, taking the players out to hospitals and schools and trying to bring the community and the club together. Part of this he felt included having a mascot and the idea of Poacher was born. He left before the suit was delivered, but it still came and was left with then Commercial Director Jerry Lonsdale to deal with. Jerry advertised on the back of the Echo for a mascot and that’s where I came in.
I actually decided to do it to annoy a girl I was seeing at the time! She made me miss the 1998 promotion parade through the City centre and at the time I let her, but as revenge I decided to apply for the job as mascot. I was interviewed by Jerry and Alan Long, initially believing that I’d get paid for it. Obviously that wasn’t the case, but as a fan of the club I couldn’t turn it down when they offered me it, and it was the best decision I ever made. They’ll have to carry me out of Sincil Bank in a 6ft wooden box before I give the job up.
The name Poacher comes from the song The Lincolnshire Poacher, ironically a song first written down in York in the late 1700’s, and the Imp comes from the carving in the cathedral. The one in the angels choir is the famous one but in actual fact there are three Imps to be spotted around the cathedral in various places.
Poacher is now 11 years old as of July 27th, it was July 27th 1998 I put in my first appearance, and I’ve done it for the full 11 years. The story behind Poacher is actually rooted in the John Beck era. Put aside the long ball philosophy and sheer brutality of his team, he also initiated the popular but often forgotten ‘Team Lincoln’, taking the players out to hospitals and schools and trying to bring the community and the club together. Part of this he felt included having a mascot and the idea of Poacher was born. He left before the suit was delivered, but it still came and was left with then Commercial Director Jerry Lonsdale to deal with. Jerry advertised on the back of the Echo for a mascot and that’s where I came in.
I actually decided to do it to annoy a girl I was seeing at the time! She made me miss the 1998 promotion parade through the City centre and at the time I let her, but as revenge I decided to apply for the job as mascot. I was interviewed by Jerry and Alan Long, initially believing that I’d get paid for it. Obviously that wasn’t the case, but as a fan of the club I couldn’t turn it down when they offered me it, and it was the best decision I ever made. They’ll have to carry me out of Sincil Bank in a 6ft wooden box before I give the job up.
The name Poacher comes from the song The Lincolnshire Poacher, ironically a song first written down in York in the late 1700’s, and the Imp comes from the carving in the cathedral. The one in the angels choir is the famous one but in actual fact there are three Imps to be spotted around the cathedral in various places.