Griffin wings in to cheer the juniors

YOUNG footballers are set to be cheered on by a unusual supporter — Chaddy the Griffin.

He will be on the touchline cheering at matches at Chaddy Park FC which is believed to be the first junior club in the country to get its own mascot.

The idea came about because the man behind Latics’ favourite Chaddy the Owl coaches at the Chadderton Fold club.

Committee member Craig Simpson did not want to unmask him to the young players, but said: “Through his contacts with all the official mascots from the professional clubs he asked a company if they could give us a quote. The red griffin comes from the official Chadderton coat of arms and the company came up with a design for us from that.

“We are the first junior football team that I know of to have a mascot. I have done a web search on Google and I can’t find another one.”

Chaddy the Griffin is costing around £1,000 and is on order.

He should make his his debut at the club’s fun day on June 25.