Scunthorpe Fans Ignore Squirrel Taunt Plea

Scunthorpe Fans Ignore Squirrel Taunt Plea

Fancy dress shops have run out of squirrel costumes ahead of Scunthorpe United's match on Saturday, despite the club asking fans not to wear them.

The run on fluffy rodent outfits was prompted by the return of former manager Alan Knill, who last year suffered serious injuries in a bizarre collision with one of the animals.

Knill, who now manages Torquay after leaving Scunthorpe in 2012, was riding a bicycle when a squirrel ran between his spokes, causing him to fly over his handlebars.

The manager had to be taken to hospital and spent some time recovering. The squirrel died.

Knill told the Scunthorpe Telegraph: "It was quite serious at the time. I was flying through the air.

"I came off my bike at 20-whatever miles an hour, an ambulance was called and everything - I could have died."

Scunthorpe fan Ben Drage tweeted his club asking whether anyone who turned up to the match in "squirrel attire" could be banned from their Glanford Park ground.

A club spokesman replied on the official Twitter account saying: "No you won't be banned. However, the club would prefer it if you didn't dress up in 'squirrel attire'."

Concerns were raised at the club after a run on squirrel outfits at a number of the town's fancy dress shops.

The manager of Celebrate fancy dress store in Scunthorpe, Matthew Stevenson, told BBC's 5Live he had sold out of costumes before Friday.

A face painter booked to provide extra squirrel effects due to the high demand has also sold out and he is now hunting for a second.

Mr Stevenson told the BBC: "Since the beginning of the week, when (people became aware that) Scunthorpe were playing Torquay, customers have been coming in asking to buy squirrel outfits, squirrel tails, squirrel whiskers, little squirrel noses.

"We've completely sold out."

Knill had an unhappy return to Glanford Park as the hosts eased to victory with a 3-1 win over Torquay.