Harry the Hornet
Encyclopedia
Harry the Hornet is the mascot
of English
football club, Watford F.C.
He is decorated in the club colours of yellow, red and black. The club are nicknamed the Hornets.
As well being the mascot at games at Vicarage Road
, he also attends some away games and regularly visits schools and hospitals in the Hertfordshire
region.
On 28 August 1998, Harry got married to Harriet the Hornet. The marriage took place on the pitch at Vicarage Road before the start of the game against Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
, and was witnessed by Wolfie, the Wolves mascot, who acted as Harry's best man. The club held a full wedding ceremony for Harry and Harriet, rounded off with a sing-along to the chorus of "Elton John's Taylor-Made Army". Elton John
was Chairman and Graham Taylor
was manager of the club at the time.
From that point on, Harriet joined her husband on the pitch at most home games, although she has not been seen for a number years. They were very similar in appearance, although Harriet wore a much longer football shirt, which was made to look like a dress, and had long eye-lashes.
In 2000, Harry won the second Mascot Grand National
held at Huntingdon Racecourse
.
In the second redesign, Harry lost his large posterior which was meant to resemble the rear section of a hornet, but apparently caused backache when worn for a period of time. Harry now wears standard football style shorts and his resemblance to a hornet
is therefore reduced.
Harry was present at the play-off final at Wembley Stadium
in 1999 and at the Millennium Stadium
Cardiff in 2006, both of which Watford won. In 2006, when the town of Watford hosted an Italian weekend, Harry's cousin was let loose on an unsuspecting public. Harry the Hornetto, looking suspiciously like Harry but with Italian clothes and a pencil moustache, entertained the crowd.
The club has used the popularity of the mascot to sell club merchandise, and his face can be found on baby gear, mugs and T-Shirts, all of which are available from the club shop. The club has also sold toy versions of him. In 2004, the club commissioned a local artist to create artwork of Harry to appear in the matchday programme.
The mascot of Watford's arch-rivals Luton Town
, is called Harry the Hatter.
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
of English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football club, Watford F.C.
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
He is decorated in the club colours of yellow, red and black. The club are nicknamed the Hornets.
As well being the mascot at games at Vicarage Road
Vicarage Road
Vicarage Road, a stadium in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, is the home of the football club Watford and their tenants, the Saracens rugby union club. An all-seater stadium, its current capacity is 17,477.-History:...
, he also attends some away games and regularly visits schools and hospitals in the Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
region.
History
Harry the Hornet has undergone at least three different guises over the years. He looked quite fierce when he first became a regular on the touchline at Vicarage Road in 1995, but has now adopted a child-friendly demeanour. The main reason for the first change was a dispute between the club and the man who worked inside the suit, which resulted in him retaining Harry's head and so a redesign became necessary.On 28 August 1998, Harry got married to Harriet the Hornet. The marriage took place on the pitch at Vicarage Road before the start of the game against Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, and was witnessed by Wolfie, the Wolves mascot, who acted as Harry's best man. The club held a full wedding ceremony for Harry and Harriet, rounded off with a sing-along to the chorus of "Elton John's Taylor-Made Army". Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
was Chairman and Graham Taylor
Graham Taylor (football manager)
Graham Taylor OBE is a football pundit, ex-football manager, and a former player. He is best known as the manager of the England national football team, as well as being manager of Watford, a club he took from the Fourth Division to the First in the space of five years, then from bottom of the...
was manager of the club at the time.
From that point on, Harriet joined her husband on the pitch at most home games, although she has not been seen for a number years. They were very similar in appearance, although Harriet wore a much longer football shirt, which was made to look like a dress, and had long eye-lashes.
In 2000, Harry won the second Mascot Grand National
Mascot Grand National
The Mascot Grand National is an annual race over hurdles between the mascots of various football and other sports teams. It is held at Huntingdon Racecourse in The Stukeleys near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England....
held at Huntingdon Racecourse
Huntingdon Racecourse
Huntingdon Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in The Stukeleys near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England.It is also the venue for the annual Mascot Grand National, a race between the mascots of various football and other sports teams....
.
In the second redesign, Harry lost his large posterior which was meant to resemble the rear section of a hornet, but apparently caused backache when worn for a period of time. Harry now wears standard football style shorts and his resemblance to a hornet
Hornet
Hornets are the largest eusocial wasps; some species can reach up to in length. The true hornets make up the genus Vespa and are distinguished from other vespines by the width of the vertex , which is proportionally larger in Vespa and by the anteriorly rounded gasters .- Life cycle :In...
is therefore reduced.
Harry was present at the play-off final at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
in 1999 and at the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
Cardiff in 2006, both of which Watford won. In 2006, when the town of Watford hosted an Italian weekend, Harry's cousin was let loose on an unsuspecting public. Harry the Hornetto, looking suspiciously like Harry but with Italian clothes and a pencil moustache, entertained the crowd.
The club has used the popularity of the mascot to sell club merchandise, and his face can be found on baby gear, mugs and T-Shirts, all of which are available from the club shop. The club has also sold toy versions of him. In 2004, the club commissioned a local artist to create artwork of Harry to appear in the matchday programme.
The mascot of Watford's arch-rivals Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
, is called Harry the Hatter.