From World Cup Willie to Tip and Tap: a nostalgic nod to the era of lovably quirky mascots
The Guardian Football ·
W orld Cup Willie marched on to the scene in 1966 with a spiky mane, bovver boy stance, bulbous brogues and – intriguingly for a World Cup held entirely in England – a union jack shirt. …
W orld Cup Willie marched on to the scene in 1966 with a spiky mane, bovver boy stance, bulbous brogues and – intriguingly for a World Cup held entirely in England – a union jack shirt. The product of a five-minute sketch by children’s illustrator Reg Hoye, who went on to create a red devil mascot for Manchester United, Willie was a marketing sensation. The first World Cup mascot featured on everything from bedspreads to beermats, ceramics to cereal boxes. …
Original source: The Guardian Football