It’s the football mascot that has seen fans of the beautiful game around the world send social media into meltdown – and it was created by a De Montfort University (DMU) graduate.
Turner Prize-nominated artist David Shrigley, who completed his Art Foundation course at DMU and was made an Honorary Doctor of Arts at the university last year, has designed Glasgow club Partick Thistle’s new mascot Kingsley.
But when Kingsley was unveiled to the public yesterday there was a shocked reaction from the media due to the character breaking with the traditional cuddly creature that entertains young children before kick-off.
In fact Scottish national newspaper The Daily Record said Kingsley “will most definitely get young fans off their seats - and running for their mums and dads next season”.
While the Daily Telegraph this morning called Kingsley “the physical embodiment of nightmares”.
Thousands of people took to Twitter and Facebook last night to try and best describe the spikey yellow creature with a hastily penned monobrow, empty eyes and ghoul-like open mouth.
Some compared it to Lisa Simpson on drugs, the ever-so-slightly creepy sun baby from the Teletubbies and the sort of surreal monster people used to see in an episode of Power Rangers.
A new hashtag #LessTerrifyingPartickThistleMascots also started trending which included one post of Apprentice star and love-her-or-hate-her Tweeter Katie Hopkins and another of a Dementor from Harry Potter with Kingsley’s head.
Glasgow-based Shrigley, who was brought up in Leicestershire, had designed branding for the American investment firm Kingsford Capital and is a big fan of Partick Thistle, whose nickname is The Jags.
He introduced the football club to the company and it led to The Jags securing what is believed to be a large six figure sponsorship deal with Kingsford Capital.
David Shrigley’s response to the money-can’t-buy global publicity was a picture of Kingsley reading a mobile phone with the words “Kingsley is very excited about his presence on social media".
Kingsley was quoted on the BBC website as saying “I'm just as cuddly as all the other mascots.
"I was out in Glasgow today and gave out loads of hugs so I'm sure none of the Junior Jags will be too scared at the start of the season.
"I'm just new to this game but hopefully all the other mascots will realise that it isn't what's on the outside that counts and we can all be friends.
"When it comes to passion I certainly won't be leaving anything in the dressing room and look forward to getting all the Thistle fans up for every game here at Firhill."
Shrigley was made an Honorary Doctor of Arts in July last year. He also visited the university last year as part of our Cultural Exchanges festival and revealed to a sell out audience that he had come up with his design for the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square - a massive thumbs up!
Shrigley's art attracts collectors from around the world and he is best known for his drawings that make witty and wry observations on everyday life.
Posted on Tuesday 23 June 2015