Wigan Athletic's Crusty the Pie and the worst sporting mascots in history

  • Crusty the Pie: Wigan's new mascot for the 2019/20 - designed by two local children as part of a competition, saying they took their inspiration from the fact everybody in Wigan 'loves pies'. Apparently.
    1/20

    Crusty the Pie

    Crusty the Pie: Wigan's new mascot for the 2019/20 - designed by two local children as part of a competition, saying they took their inspiration from the fact everybody in Wigan 'loves pies'. Apparently.
  • Say hello to Boilerman. West Brom’s mascot who appeared at the start of last season as part of the Baggies' sponsorship deal with Ideal Boilers.
    2/20

    Boilerman

    Say hello to Boilerman. West Brom’s mascot who appeared at the start of last season as part of the Baggies' sponsorship deal with Ideal Boilers.
    EMPICS Sport
  • Wichita State University’s mascot is described by the website as ‘a big, bad, muscle-bound bundle of wheat’. How very intimidating.
    3/20

    Wu Shock

    Wichita State University’s mascot is described by the website as ‘a big, bad, muscle-bound bundle of wheat’. How very intimidating.
    SIPA USA/PA Images
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  • Pretty much the only thing not great about London 2012 was the mascots. What Wenlock and Mandeville were meant to be is anyone’s guess, but they were far from memorable. The Usain Bolt poses did them no favours either.
    4/20

    Wenlock and Mandeville

    Pretty much the only thing not great about London 2012 was the mascots. What Wenlock and Mandeville were meant to be is anyone’s guess, but they were far from memorable. The Usain Bolt poses did them no favours either.
    PA Archive/PA Images
  • Bradford City have The City Gent as their mascot. He is quite literally a man from Bradford, wearing a hat, tying a scarf around his wrist and walking around the pitch. Each to their own…
    5/20

    The City Gent

    Bradford City have The City Gent as their mascot. He is quite literally a man from Bradford, wearing a hat, tying a scarf around his wrist and walking around the pitch. Each to their own…
    EMPICS Sport
  • Stanford University’s mascot is just laughable. There are a couple of different versions of the tree, each as ridiculous as each other. Another one that would scare you off.
    6/20

    The Stanford Tree

    Stanford University’s mascot is just laughable. There are a couple of different versions of the tree, each as ridiculous as each other. Another one that would scare you off.
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

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  • Sammy the Shrimp represents Southend United up and down the country. You cannot say he doesn’t look like a shrimp, but maybe that was the best route to go down for the Shrimpers. His extra-large head is a little scary.
    7/20

    Sammy the Shrimp

    Sammy the Shrimp represents Southend United up and down the country. You cannot say he doesn’t look like a shrimp, but maybe that was the best route to go down for the Shrimpers. His extra-large head is a little scary.
    EMPICS Sport
  • Grimsby Town’s Mighty Mariner looks like a budget version of a sad Father Christmas. Enough said.
    8/20

    Mighty Mariner

    Grimsby Town’s Mighty Mariner looks like a budget version of a sad Father Christmas. Enough said.
    PA Archive/PA Images
  • Patrick Thistle’s mascot, Kingsley, was international news when Turner Prize winner David Shrigley designed it five years ago. To this day, nobody knows what went through Shrigley’s mind when he came up with Kingsley.
    9/20

    Kingsley

    Patrick Thistle’s mascot, Kingsley, was international news when Turner Prize winner David Shrigley designed it five years ago. To this day, nobody knows what went through Shrigley’s mind when he came up with Kingsley.
    PA Images via Getty Images
  • Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

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  • Yeovil Town’s Jolly Green Giant is meant to be a happy man, instead he just looks a little petrified and ill.
    10/20

    Jolly Green Giant

    Yeovil Town’s Jolly Green Giant is meant to be a happy man, instead he just looks a little petrified and ill.
    Harry Trump via Getty Images
  • Fleetwood Town are the Cod Army, so you’d expect their mascot to be a nod to that. But Captain Cod is a bizarre looking fish.
    11/20

    Captain Cod

    Fleetwood Town are the Cod Army, so you’d expect their mascot to be a nod to that. But Captain Cod is a bizarre looking fish.
    Matthew Ashton - AMA via Getty Images
  • Burton Albion’s Billy the Brewer is an odd looking mascot. He certainly looks like he has spent plenty of time at the local breweries.
    12/20

    Billy the Brewer

    Burton Albion’s Billy the Brewer is an odd looking mascot. He certainly looks like he has spent plenty of time at the local breweries.
    Pete Norton via Getty Images
  • Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

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  • ...And Billy’s other half, Bettie, is of similar ilk. With eyeliner you’d expect from a KISS tribute band, you can’t imagine children flocking for photos with this duo.
    13/20

    Bettie the Brewer

    ...And Billy’s other half, Bettie, is of similar ilk. With eyeliner you’d expect from a KISS tribute band, you can’t imagine children flocking for photos with this duo.
    Barrington Coombs - EMPICS via Getty Images
  • FC Schalke’s mascot is Erwin Koslowski. What is it? Supposedly a caricature of a Schalke fan, it just looks like a weird, made up creature.
    14/20

    Erwin Koslowski

    FC Schalke’s mascot is Erwin Koslowski. What is it? Supposedly a caricature of a Schalke fan, it just looks like a weird, made up creature.
    Alex Grimm via Getty Images
  • Plymouth Argyle’s mascot Peter the Pilgrim could be normal, until an enormous moustache was plastered on his face. Coupled with a giant scarf that he must trip over at least once a season, this is not a great look.
    15/20

    Peter the Pilgrim

    Plymouth Argyle’s mascot Peter the Pilgrim could be normal, until an enormous moustache was plastered on his face. Coupled with a giant scarf that he must trip over at least once a season, this is not a great look.
    Pete Norton via Getty Images
  • Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

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    Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

  • This is Appy, the mascot from the 2012 European Athletics Championships in Helsinki. Appy was not actually meant to look like a dishwasher tablet, but it was supposedly a nod to technology and design.
    16/20

    Appy

    This is Appy, the mascot from the 2012 European Athletics Championships in Helsinki. Appy was not actually meant to look like a dishwasher tablet, but it was supposedly a nod to technology and design.
    Stu Forster via Getty Images
  • Suri was the mascot at Copa America in 2011. It was meant to be an ostrich, one that is permanently surprised by the looks of it.
    17/20

    Suri

    Suri was the mascot at Copa America in 2011. It was meant to be an ostrich, one that is permanently surprised by the looks of it.
    DANIEL GARCIA via Getty Images
  • The last time the Ashes were held in England, for some reason it was decided that we'd need to see a human-sized walking representation of what the two teams were playing for. Thankfully people have seen sense this time around.
    18/20

    Ernie the Urn

    The last time the Ashes were held in England, for some reason it was decided that we'd need to see a human-sized walking representation of what the two teams were playing for. Thankfully people have seen sense this time around.
    Tristan Fewings via Getty Images
  • Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

    Yahoo News is better in the app

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  • Despite the name, Hammerhead is not a shark but in fact might be more terrifying. The sense of fear is somewhat eased by his more chilled sidekick bubble - who for some reason is a bear.
    19/20

    Hammerhead (and Bubbles)

    Despite the name, Hammerhead is not a shark but in fact might be more terrifying. The sense of fear is somewhat eased by his more chilled sidekick bubble - who for some reason is a bear.
    Arfa Griffiths via Getty Images
  • A play on the popular song 'Puff the Magic Dragon' Stuff presumably gets around copyright infringement by distracting you with his bizarre big, green appearance.
    20/20

    Stuff the Magic Dragon

    A play on the popular song 'Puff the Magic Dragon' Stuff presumably gets around copyright infringement by distracting you with his bizarre big, green appearance.
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
Crusty the Pie: Wigan's new mascot for the 2019/20 - designed by two local children as part of a competition, saying they took their inspiration from the fact everybody in Wigan 'loves pies'. Apparently.
Say hello to Boilerman. West Brom’s mascot who appeared at the start of last season as part of the Baggies' sponsorship deal with Ideal Boilers.
Wichita State University’s mascot is described by the website as ‘a big, bad, muscle-bound bundle of wheat’. How very intimidating.
Pretty much the only thing not great about London 2012 was the mascots. What Wenlock and Mandeville were meant to be is anyone’s guess, but they were far from memorable. The Usain Bolt poses did them no favours either.
Bradford City have The City Gent as their mascot. He is quite literally a man from Bradford, wearing a hat, tying a scarf around his wrist and walking around the pitch. Each to their own…
Stanford University’s mascot is just laughable. There are a couple of different versions of the tree, each as ridiculous as each other. Another one that would scare you off.
Sammy the Shrimp represents Southend United up and down the country. You cannot say he doesn’t look like a shrimp, but maybe that was the best route to go down for the Shrimpers. His extra-large head is a little scary.
Grimsby Town’s Mighty Mariner looks like a budget version of a sad Father Christmas. Enough said.
Patrick Thistle’s mascot, Kingsley, was international news when Turner Prize winner David Shrigley designed it five years ago. To this day, nobody knows what went through Shrigley’s mind when he came up with Kingsley.
Yeovil Town’s Jolly Green Giant is meant to be a happy man, instead he just looks a little petrified and ill.
Fleetwood Town are the Cod Army, so you’d expect their mascot to be a nod to that. But Captain Cod is a bizarre looking fish.
Burton Albion’s Billy the Brewer is an odd looking mascot. He certainly looks like he has spent plenty of time at the local breweries.
...And Billy’s other half, Bettie, is of similar ilk. With eyeliner you’d expect from a KISS tribute band, you can’t imagine children flocking for photos with this duo.
FC Schalke’s mascot is Erwin Koslowski. What is it? Supposedly a caricature of a Schalke fan, it just looks like a weird, made up creature.
Plymouth Argyle’s mascot Peter the Pilgrim could be normal, until an enormous moustache was plastered on his face. Coupled with a giant scarf that he must trip over at least once a season, this is not a great look.
This is Appy, the mascot from the 2012 European Athletics Championships in Helsinki. Appy was not actually meant to look like a dishwasher tablet, but it was supposedly a nod to technology and design.
Suri was the mascot at Copa America in 2011. It was meant to be an ostrich, one that is permanently surprised by the looks of it.
The last time the Ashes were held in England, for some reason it was decided that we'd need to see a human-sized walking representation of what the two teams were playing for. Thankfully people have seen sense this time around.
Despite the name, Hammerhead is not a shark but in fact might be more terrifying. The sense of fear is somewhat eased by his more chilled sidekick bubble - who for some reason is a bear.
A play on the popular song 'Puff the Magic Dragon' Stuff presumably gets around copyright infringement by distracting you with his bizarre big, green appearance.
Yahoo Sports Staff

Wigan Athletic intrigued the internet when they announced a new mascot this week. It was a pie.

Not just any pie however, it is a ‘crusty pie’ armed with a perma-grin.

Designed by two local children as part of a competition, Crusty will be the guest of honour at the DW Stadium this season.

Speaking about their winning entry, Cayden, eight, and Neve, nine, said:

“We designed Crusty like this because everyone in Wigan loves pies.”

Fair enough.

The latest mascot joins the influx of weird and wonderful characters cheering on their teams.

Yahoo Sport has taken a look at some of the worst mascots from recent years.

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