H'Angus
Encyclopedia
H'Angus the Monkey is the official mascot of Hartlepool United F.C.
. The name "H'Angus" is a pun of the word hang
and the name Angus, and is derived from the monkey hanger
legend of Hartlepool. The mascot made his debut on October 31, 1999, during Hartlepool’s first round F.A. Cup victory over Millwall
.
with guest Robbie Fowler
on the show. Stuart Drummond
was the second person to play him. Drummond became the most popular version of H'Angus with his outrageous antics. During an away against Scunthorpe
on November 4, 2001, H'Angus was famously thrown out for the first time in his career. A steward took offence to H'Angus standing up and leading the Hartlepool fans into song. H'Angus once again angered the stewards when he simulated sex on a female steward and he was promptly escorted away in front of a bemused set of away supporters.
Drummond caused even more controversy during the first leg of Hartlepool's play-off match away to Blackpool
on May 13, 2001, after he played with an inflated doll. H'Angus was once again escorted off by police but was released without charge. A police spokesman later claimed that H'Angus had been "drunk".
with an idea for some publicity and asked him to fund the £500 deposit that would allow him to stand for election. Hodcroft accepted the proposal but wanted the club to stay out of politics so forced Drummond to make the agenda his own and separate from the club. Drummond ran for mayor under his own name, campaigning for "free banana
s" for all schoolchildren. He campaigned both at matches, much to the bemusement of opposition fans, and also locally and away from the football pitch. On May 2, 2002, Drummond was elected
the first directly elected mayor
of Hartlepool. Drummond immediately decided to concentrate on politics and ceased being H'Angus; he was quoted as saying, "I am Stuart Drummond, I am the Mayor of Hartlepool, not the monkey."
Drummond was re-elected in 2005, more than doubling his vote (up to over 16,000) and increasing his majority to over 10,000. At the same time, turnout increased from 30% to 51%. On the night of the election count, he proposed to his girlfriend, Beccy Buttery, who accepted. In 2009, Drummond was re-elected for a third term.
. He followed this by competing in the Great North Run 2006
, where he raised over £555. Llewellyn is aiming to lose weight in order to be a more energetic mascot and has won a competition to help him do so.
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
. The name "H'Angus" is a pun of the word hang
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
and the name Angus, and is derived from the monkey hanger
Monkey hanger
"Monkey hanger" is an affectionate term by which Hartlepudlians are often known.According to local folklore, the term originates from an incident in which a monkey was hanged in Hartlepool. During the Napoleonic wars, a French ship of the type chasse marée was wrecked off the coast of Hartlepool...
legend of Hartlepool. The mascot made his debut on October 31, 1999, during Hartlepool’s first round F.A. Cup victory over Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
.
Controversial behaviour
The first person known to have "played" H'Angus was James Auton who was a big Hartlepool fan and who launched the character on TV show Soccer AMSoccer AM
Soccer AM is a British Saturday-morning football-based comedy/talk show, predominantly based around the Premier League...
with guest Robbie Fowler
Robbie Fowler
Robert Bernard Fowler is an English footballer who is currently player/manager for Thai Premier League club Muangthong United....
on the show. Stuart Drummond
Stuart Drummond
Stuart Drummond is the first directly-elected mayor of Hartlepool in North East England. He was first elected in 2002 and was re-elected in 2005 and 2009. He was the first elected mayor in Britain to win a third term.-Biography:...
was the second person to play him. Drummond became the most popular version of H'Angus with his outrageous antics. During an away against Scunthorpe
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
on November 4, 2001, H'Angus was famously thrown out for the first time in his career. A steward took offence to H'Angus standing up and leading the Hartlepool fans into song. H'Angus once again angered the stewards when he simulated sex on a female steward and he was promptly escorted away in front of a bemused set of away supporters.
Drummond caused even more controversy during the first leg of Hartlepool's play-off match away to Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
on May 13, 2001, after he played with an inflated doll. H'Angus was once again escorted off by police but was released without charge. A police spokesman later claimed that H'Angus had been "drunk".
Election For Mayor
Drummond approached Hartlepool chairman Ken HodcroftKen Hodcroft
Ken Hodcroft is the managing director of Increased Oil Recovery and the chairman of Hartlepool United F.C. .-Early life:Ken Hodcroft was born in Newcastle but moved to Leeds when he was five with his family. There he was educated at Leeds Grammar School and took his A-Levels. It was at Leeds...
with an idea for some publicity and asked him to fund the £500 deposit that would allow him to stand for election. Hodcroft accepted the proposal but wanted the club to stay out of politics so forced Drummond to make the agenda his own and separate from the club. Drummond ran for mayor under his own name, campaigning for "free banana
Banana
Banana is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa and for the fruit they produce. Bananas come in a variety of sizes and colors when ripe, including yellow, purple, and red....
s" for all schoolchildren. He campaigned both at matches, much to the bemusement of opposition fans, and also locally and away from the football pitch. On May 2, 2002, Drummond was elected
Hartlepool Council election, 2002
Elections to Hartlepool Council in the ceremonial county of County Durham in England were held on 2 May 2002. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control...
the first directly elected mayor
Elected mayors in the United Kingdom
Directly elected mayors are council leaders elected by the general electorate of a council area for local government, instead of being appointed by members of a local authority, which is common in the United Kingdom. The Elected Mayor is elected from a number of candidates who put themselves up for...
of Hartlepool. Drummond immediately decided to concentrate on politics and ceased being H'Angus; he was quoted as saying, "I am Stuart Drummond, I am the Mayor of Hartlepool, not the monkey."
Drummond was re-elected in 2005, more than doubling his vote (up to over 16,000) and increasing his majority to over 10,000. At the same time, turnout increased from 30% to 51%. On the night of the election count, he proposed to his girlfriend, Beccy Buttery, who accepted. In 2009, Drummond was re-elected for a third term.
Ceri Anderson
The departure of Drummond forced Hartlepool to hold auditions for a new person to take over the role of H'Angus. Dozens of fans applied for the auditions and they were cut down to six. The final six auditionees then had to wear the famous costume and perform for a half during Hartlepool’s pre-season friendlies. Student Ceri Anderson was deemed the "most monkey-like" and won the job as H'Angus. She had applied for the job after being encouraged by her 7-year-old son, Ralf. Anderson refused to enter the world of politics and is quoted as saying, "I came into the job because I'm a Hartlepool fan, not because I'm looking to start a career in politics." Predecessor Stuart Drummond praised her for her performance as H’Angus.Scott Llewellyn
Scott Llewellyn was the next person to take the role. Since taking over as H'Angus he has achieved a third place finish in the WBX Mascot Grand NationalMascot Grand National
The Mascot Grand National is an annual race over hurdles between the mascots of various football and other sports teams. It is held at Huntingdon Racecourse in The Stukeleys near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England....
. He followed this by competing in the Great North Run 2006
Great North Run
The Bupa Great North Run is the world's largest half marathon, taking place annually each September. Participants run between Newcastle upon Tyne and South Shields in England. The run was devised by former Olympic 10,000 m bronze medallist and BBC Sport commentator Brendan Foster.The first Great...
, where he raised over £555. Llewellyn is aiming to lose weight in order to be a more energetic mascot and has won a competition to help him do so.