Football club's mascot reprimanded for swearing at own fans and challenging them to a fight

A football club's giant seagull mascot has been ruffling feathers after allegedly calling home fans "c*nts and cocks" - and challenging them to a fight. Torquay United's Gilbert the Gull was spotted arguing with his own supporters as the team crashed at home to visitors Grimsby. Shortly after the game fans took to the internet to complain about the novelty character's alleged bad language and threatening gestures. Torquay chief executive Andrew Candy launched a probe into the bizarre spat at last weekend's Conference Premier clash which Grimsby won 3-2. He cleared the mascot to resume his duties at the team's Plainmoor ground - but banned him from the Popside home stand to avoid further aggro with die-hard fans.

One supporter told the fans forum afterwards: "Around five minutes after Grimsby scored their third, Gilbert came over to us and shouted 'where's the drummer!' We all thought he was having a laugh, but then he called us a bunch of "c***s and c**ks" and after a few words exchanged he waddled off back to the Family Stand. At the end of the game, Gilbert came over again and in front of us on the pitch, he gave the 'come on then' body language towards us and wouldn't stop until hiding behind the stewards and again waddling off as we moved towards the exits. I (and many others) complained to the stewards about this and I personally spoke to Andrew Candy about this issue and he will be having a word. We have the worst mascot in football."



Another supporter added: "The mascot was, and no doubt about it, offering fans on to the pitch for a fight. What would have happened to the club if 10 or more decided to take up the mascots offer and jumped over the wall and on to the pitch?" Mr Candy confirmed he had reprimanded the employee who was inside the mascot costume. He said: "There was an exchange of views between Gilbert and the fans in the Popside. Gilbert was trying to generate some support and get the fans behind the team but it appears that there was a small altercation with the fans. There was no malicious intent in what was said but things were said that, in hindsight, should not have been. Gilbert has been spoken to and been told that this should not have happened and that this will not happen in the future."

Gilbert the Gull admitted getting into a spat with home fans but denied swearing during the angry exchange. Steve Jegat, a dad-of-two, has been donning the novelty costume for the past year to gee up supporters. He said: "Basically after Grimsby scored their third goal I went over and said 'where's the drummer gone' and ended up getting a load of abuse," he said. "The fans on that side had just given up. But I didn't swear like they were trying to say. I went and told the stewards 'I'm more welcome at the away end'. I even had a load of abuse on Gilbert's Facebook page when I got home. They say that I'm the ambassador for the club but if I'm the ambassador why are they trying to knock me about?" Despite the altercation, Steve vowed he wouldn't be put off going back on the pitch. He said: "I'm going to be there for the next home game. I do so much for the club, with charity things and other games, that when the club spoke to me they said 'just stay away from the Popside'."