Jaggy MacBee
Jaggy MacBee | |
---|---|
Created by | Partick Thistle F.C. |
Information | |
Species | Bumble Bee |
Occupation | Former Mascot |
Jaggy MacBee is a giant bumble bee and was previously the mascot of Scottish Premiership club Partick Thistle and currently the mascot of Junior side Rossvale. He became mascot at the start of the 2011–12 Scottish First Division season when Scottish drinks company MacB took over from Ignis Asset Management. His predecessor was a large purple toucan named Pee Tee.[1]
Social media
Jaggy is active on Twitter,[2] and regularly tweets on match days about the goings-on in the build-up to the match, and "Jaggy's pre-match tunes". A fan favourite on Twitter is Jaggy's regular sparring matches with his predecessor, Pee Tee,[3] which are usually light-hearted and revolve around the toucan wishing he had his mascot job back. Jaggy also has an Instagram page, which is run by the club and features photos taken by Partick Thistle, Jaggy, Jaggy's Chaperone Eilidh, and regrams of pictures posted by fans.[4] Jaggy does not have a dedicated Facebook page, although there are some unofficial ones.
MacBecome
During Partick Thistle's time in the Scottish 1st Division the person in the Jaggy MacBee costume was the Under-20s player who had been the worst performer in training that week. When Partick Thistle joined the Scottish Premiership a decision was made between them and sponsors MacB Water that a dedicated person should be Jaggy rather than have it as a punishment. As a result MacB launched the MacBecome competition[5] to find their new Jaggy. The eventual winner was James McGhee,[6] who has held the role since and won plaudits for what he brings to it.
Controversy
On 23 November 2014, well known Scottish football pundit Richard Gordon (broadcaster) called Jaggy MacBee "the most ridiculous thing in Scottish football" live on BBC Radio Scotland's football show Sportsound. Jaggy did not take to kindly to this and challenged him to a half time dance-off.[7] Richard Gordon declined[8] and has avoided commenting on Jaggy since.
Blue Peter
Jaggy took part in a penalty shoot out on the BBC children's entertainment program Blue Peter alongside other mascots including Arsenal's Gunnersaurus Rex, Leicester City's Filbert Fox, Manchester United's Fred the Red, Queens Park Rangers' Jude the Cat and Swansea's Cyril the Swan.[9]
Withdrawal
The mascot of the club was changed on 22 June 2015 to a large sun-like character named Kingsley, to promote the club's new main sponsors Kingsford Capital Management. The new mascot caused high controversy online, and was described as being "terrifying" compared to Jaggy.[10] As of the 2015–2016 season Jaggy MacBee is now the mascot of Junior football side Rossvale.
External links
References
- ↑ "Jaggy MacBee". www.ptfc.co.uk. Partick Thistle F.C. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
- ↑ "Twitter: Jaggy MacBee". www.twitter.com. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
- ↑ https://twitter.com/PeeTeePeeTee
- ↑ http://instagram.com/jaggymacbee
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/macbwater/app_486254294756872
- ↑ McQueen, Craig. "In Pictures: Scottish Football Mascots all Ready for the Big Kick Off". www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport. Daily Record. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
- ↑ https://twitter.com/JaggyMacBee/status/536521503668723713
- ↑ https://twitter.com/RichardGordon48/status/536583183807283200
- ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/watch/bp-mascot-penalty-shoot-out
- ↑ Grez, Matias. "Partick Thistle's new mascot Kingsley: Scary or sun-like?". www.cnn.com. CNN. Retrieved 22 June 2015.