Who is Harry the Hornet, what’s the mascot’s real name, and why did Roy Hodgson label him ‘disgraceful’?
The Vicarage Road faithful love their mascot, who has incurred the wrath of former England boss Hodgson
HARRY THE HORNET has been stung by Roy Hodgson.
The Crystal Palace boss isn't impressed by the past antics of the Watford mascot, who infamously salmon-dived infront of Wilfried Zaha during a Boxing Day clash in 2016.
Who is Harry the Hornet?
AS is the way with almost every club in the English pyramid, Watford have a cuddly mascot who is primarily given the responsibility of 'having fun and entertaining supporters'.
That's at least what the official statement from Watford stated he should do after Harry was accused by Palace players and management of being 'out of order' following his diving antics two seasons ago.
No stranger to controversy, Harry appears to be adept at winding up former England managers.
As well as Hodgson, ex-Eagles boss Sam Allardyce wasn't impressed with the Zaha incident and told the FA to 'sort it out'.
A colourful character, Harry the Hornet first appeared in 1974 and has been a feature of Vicarage Road ever since.
He can often be seen banging a drum as he does laps of the pitch, whipping up the crowd and winding up opposition supporters.
Why did Roy Hodgson label him 'disgraceful'?
CRYSTAL PALACE boss Hodgson didn't take kindly to Harry mimicking Zaha during the Eagles' 2016 clash with Watford.
The flying winger was booked after going to ground in the box, which was deemed to be a dive by the referee.
In footage that would go viral, Watford's mascot had the home crowd cheering when he flung himself head-first along the Vicarage Road turf, right beside Zaha - but Roy was definitely not amused.
He fumed: "If you’re asking me whether Harry the Hornet, who I presume is the mascot, should dive in that way, I think it’s disgraceful.
"Because that’s not what football matches are about. If it’s provoking the crowd into looking for something that’s not there, it should be stopped. Wilf Zaha does not dive for penalties."
What's the mascot's real name?
GARETH EVANS is the man behind the Hornet suit.
He is active on social media and using his account @1HHornet tweeted following the Zaha incident: "I respect ALL professional footballers and always wish away supporters a safe journey home".
Following Hodgson's comments ahead of the meeting at Vicarage Road on August 26, he fired another cheeky barb in the direction of the former Three Lions boss.
Evans tweeted alongside a video of Hodgson putting his head in his hands: "Knowing you've just commented on a guy dressed in a costume..."
