Lord’s in Shark attack!
Sid's been banned from Lord's ... Sign the petition to get him in
The home of cricket has slammed the Grace Gates shut in the face of Sussex County Cricket Club mascot, Sid the Shark.
With Sussex heading for the Friends Provident Trophy Final on July 25, the Lord’s top brass have banned the fans favourite mascot from entering the world famous ground.
The Sussex faithful are up in arms and have vowed to fight the ban on Sid with the launch of a campaign to get the cuddly man eater into Lord’s.
Harry Gape, aged 11 from Eastbourne, said: “It is so unfair. Sid is great fun and everyone will miss him if they don’t change their minds. Sid is not like the vicious shark in Jaws, he is really friendly and has never bitten anyone.”
With public opinion running high in Brighton & Hove, the Sussex management team has succumbed to pressure and opened an online petition to allow disgruntled fans to show Lord’s how much they care about Sid being at the grand finale. Simply leave your comments below to show your support!!
Sussex Chief Executive, Dave Brooks, said: “It was quite a surprise to hear that Lord’s would not let Sid in. He enjoys great support amongst all the Sussex fans at Hove and it is clear that they want to send a message to the authorities that this decision needs reversing.”
Sid the Shark would not make any comment about the controversy and remains on duty with the Sussex team, who are currently playing their Lord’s opponents Hampshire in a County Championship game at Arundel.
If the campaigners fail to overturn the Lord’s ban, Sid the Shark will be back on duty for the Sussex Twenty20 quarter final on Monday 27 at Hove against the Warwickshire Bears.
Sign the petition below!!
Comments
Mr
I can't believe that Lord's can be so petty, especially as fancy dress is allowed at Test matches. Sid adds to people's enjoyment, especially young spectators, and they are what cricket needs to attract.
Support for Sid from the MCC
What pride I felt as England dismantled Australia. For five days I lived every ball from the comfort of the Allen stand, proud of my country and my club, the MCC. What a difference a week makes. Tonight I feel no pride in a club that confuses tradition with bone headedness.The decision to ban the Sussex mascot from Saturday's FP Trophy final because in the words of the club's media spokesperson "Lord's has a no fancy dress policy in place for all matches and this applies to anyone entering the ground, including mascots," is stupid in the extreme. I'm all for keeping the Pink Panther, Tom and Jerry and the Flintstones outside the Grace Gates, but come on, a mascot designed to entertain the kids we so need to attract to cricket! It's hardly the same. I don’t think Sussex were threatening to let Sid loose in the Long Room. The idea, as I understand it, is for the Mascot to keep the kids occupied before and after play and during breaks in the day. I didn’t see the MCC telling the ICC it couldn’t have scantily clad male and female dancers at the 20/20 World Cup. Colin Maynard, MCC Deputy Chief Executive, told the BBC: "As a general observation, the club is not in favour of spectators attempting to draw attention to themselves by what they wear or how they act. Anything which enhances the game is always seriously considered, and with the exception of the comments in relation to Sussex's mascots there are very few complaints at MCC's position of prohibiting fancy dress.Also, Sussex played in the 2006 final, and there were no requests to accommodate Sid the Shark or any other fancy dress costume. The club is looking forward to the FP [trophy] final, which promises to be a good match, and MCC's concentration is in that direction." A few points Mr Maynard… Sid is not a spectator. This will enhance the game for hundreds of kids tomorrow, so I doubt you can have seriously considered it. And as you say there are very few complaints regarding fancy dress aside from those on this issue. What does that tell you. That you've got this one right? I don’t think so. It matters not a jot that they didn’t ask for Sid in 2006. This is 2009. And finally MCC's concentration is in the direction of the game itself. Well it shouldn’t be, and let me tell you why. I want my sons, in years to come, to understand why the traditions and values of the MCC matter, why I am proud to be a member of the club, and why I would want them to be members eventually. Today I want my boys to know that cricket can be fun, and frankly if that means them concentrating on Sid rather than Silly Point at this stage then great. This club has a responsibility to preserve protect and promote cricket worldwide. That means the next generation not just this one. If one Dad chooses on Saturday to stay away, and a future Freddie Flintoff is lost to football or X Box as a result, then we the MCC are totally to blame. Will Walden, MCC Member and Sid supporter
Let him in!!!!!
I'm not even a Sussex fan but i saw this on the bbc website and just had to sign the petition! Let him in, its not going to hurt anyone, all that talk about him obstructing the view for people is rubbish otherwise there would never be any mascots in any sports anywhere!! LET HIM IN
Go Sussex
Next time any of those Lord's top brass go swimming in the Pacific, we know what will happen... it's bad Karma. Good luck Sussex!!!!!
mr
Lords is still a bit stuffy with over zealous security,lighten up lords let the mascots in.
Mr
Sid is my hero x
Mr
I am a Kent surporter and this is silly. Cricket is meant to be fun; so why not have some fun! Let him in!
What century are we in?
The Final ticket envelope sums up the ancient MCCs atitude: "All spectators are reminded that flags, banners, musical instruments.....are prohibited inside the ground. The wearing of fancy dress costumes and oversize hats inside the ground is prohibited" ENJOY YOURSELF!
mr
Don't be so stuffy, you've had pop groups in for TwentyTwenty
Mr
Get SID in! After all, John Major's allowed in
Mr
That's a real shame. If the MCC continue to dig their heels in though, I have a mate who could stand in. More like wally the whale if I'm honest....but he's up for it...
Mrs
How can Sid not be aloud in? If MCC are happy to let scantily dressed cheerleaders into the Twenty20 World Cup games then there is little wrong with Sid the Shark. And we don't want to see the Hampshire mascot let in if Sid isn't.
We want our Sid!!!!!
Come on you old duffers at Lords let our mascot attend!!
30 year rules!
Come on Lords- 30 years rules were never meant to last that long! Let Sid In
Boooooo!
Come on MCC drag yourselves into the 21st century, learn to have fun !
Miss
The MCC allowed several scantily clad women and men to 'dance' every time a boundary was scored in the group matches of the world 20:20 tournament - and now they're banning Sid the Shark?! Lord's is possibly the most anachronistic organisation in the country. But they do send a beautiful booklet with their tickets.
BRING IN SID!
Lords could do with some sharky goodness. Let him in!
Mr
Let Sid in he's as important to Sussex CCC as the players and fans. Note to Lords he's not a real shark honestly LOL
Bite back!
For heavens sake, get the fin in!
Mrs
Is this not a case of double standards? Mitchell Johnson got in the other day claiming to be a bowler! Remember MCC - Fish are Friends.
Get Him In!
What a joke! Get him in!
Get with the times Lord's
Let Sid in you old fashioned killjoy's!
Why the killjoy attitude ?
Sorry, I meant Will Carling, not I.T.B.
Why the killjoy attitude ?
For goodness sake let him in. Has Lords discovered the famous 57 referred to by Sir I T Botham ?. Looks that way to me. FP: I'm sure Notts CC would welcome Sid & his chums, try booking Trent Bridge for future events.
Bah Humbug
I'm a supporter of Notts but felt compelled to register after seeing article on BBC website. Come'on MCC, you keep your ban if you need to but allow the official mascots. Cricket is intended to be enjoyed by the whole family and the MCC should be doing all it can to encourage youngsters - to watch & to play. The mascots (both sides) will be fun for the children which is really important. Come'on MCC stop being so stuffy!
super sid !
Sid makes watching sussex even more enjoyable than it normally is and all the little kids love him and love having their picture with him ..get him in !!!
Miss
Sid deserves to be there, he has supported the team all season.
Facebook Shark
Everyone loves sid even so much that they have a group on facebook for Sid and another group to take him to lords so please join those groups!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mrs
Can we somehow disguise Sid as a Corporate Yuppy with no interest in cricket....he'd be sure to get into Lords then. I can provide the mobile phone and prawn sandwiches...
Let Sid Go to Lords!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHAT IS WRONG WITH SID GOING? HE IS AWSOME!HE CANT DO AY HARM! IT WOULD ALSO MAKE THE DAY MUCH MORE FUN FRO KIDS! HE DOESN'T DESERVE THIS! LET SID IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let him in
Same old Lords, some fins never change! Come on, let him in!
Lets see cricket as fun !!
Just because the Lords ground is being used for the match the game is between Sussex and Hampshire and it is their fans buying the tickets to see them, surely it is what the "fans" of these clubs want that should matter !!!! Let SID in !!!!!
Mr
Shark Attack!!! Lords, dont get caught out with this sorry tail. Rise to the bait , let the Shark put the fin in Final and net another win for the Sussex buoys.....
mrs
You gotta let sid in cause it would not be nice for the fans if he was not there!!!! ( the last message was wrong so do not use it..)
Mr
If they don't let Sid in, it will never be safe for any MCC member to bathe off the Sussex coast again.
mr
come on chaps.....to ban Sid would just not be cricket!
C'mon the Shark!
Let Sid in! Support wins finals, and mascots raise the support in the ground! Lords are being ridiculous.
Mr
Poor old Sid, i'm sure he would promise not to bite anyone so let him in, spoil sports
get sid in
get him in. his in the heart of the sussex faithful
Mr
How can they NOT let sid in ?? thats riddiculous!!!
Let him in
Once again Lords are missing out on creating atmosphere! Let the Shark in and get some great atmosphere going
Mrs
Its such a wonderful experience to be at Lords for the Team and Spectators, so why not enjoy the experience with 'Sid' as well. Come on Lords enjoy it too.
Sid Vicious?
Sid is the one-day mascot and should be allowed in. I take it he'll still be allowed at Edgbaston for the T20 finals?
Mr
They let women into Lords now so Sid should fit in quite well.... (-;
Ms
Just do the sensible, grown up thing and let him in.
Mr
Sid is just a bit of fun but at the same time means a lot to the fans. In this day & age, especially one day cricket & sports such as Rugby League, this is how it is going - mascots are all the rage & do no harm. By all means stick to the rules in a Test match, but not a one day final with all the razz - a - ma - tazz that goes with it.
lordy lordy
what is going on? what has sid done to them? sid must take this up with the european court of sharky rights. surely we can strike a deal, they may change their minds if he wears a blazer, tie and billy bunter cap.
Mr
If not Sid why are they allowing Mr Punch? Whats wrong with Sid? Or more to the point whats wrong with Lords offiials. Can somebody please tell me why on earth they should ban Sid? Outrageous I call it. Come on Lords - sort yourselves out
MR
Come on you old boys move with the times,get with it
mr
we want sid in at lords
Utter nonsense
Next thing will be they'll ban people wearing club colours or any clothing displaying club logos. Give me Hove rather than the 'home of cricket' any day.
What? No Sid???
Ban coloured benches, maybe. Confiscate their trumpets and 4 piece bands, possibly. Don't allow noise, apart from a very slow hand clap, when their side strikes a 6, it'll come. It's getting worse folks. Now, it's Sid the Shark. Whatever next?!
Spoilsports
The Lords Final is a family day. Mascots are part of the family fun. Why ban them from the Final? Dont Lords officials realise that the enthusiastic kids of today are the future of cricket?!! How short sighted!
NASHA
GET SID IN WHAT IS GOING ON HE DESERVES TO BE WITH US AT LORDS HE IS SO FUNNY AND ALWAYS GETS THE FANS IN THE MOOD.GET SIDE TO LORDS OR IT WONT BE THE SAME WE LOVE YOU SID BUDDY
Basking shark
Are you afraid of letting Sid bask in the glory of another Sussex win. Don't be so silly. Incidentally, if you ban Sid you must also ban that Hampshire mascot - Mr Punch.
Get him in
get sid in. Would make the day great for everyone. particualy the kids who go and watch the game.
Register or login to post a comment