Football mascots...

I see the boys and girls walking out onto football pitches, hand-in-hand with the players. I assumed that parents might have to pay for the privilege, but, until I read an article today on the Guardian website, I had no idea how much. While some clubs, including Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and the two Manchester clubs, make no charge for the privilege of being a mascot, West Ham charge an eye-watering £700. Oh, and parents need to stump up another £80 for the pint-sized replica club kit which the kids wear on their special day…