THE MAN BEHIND ARSENAL MASCOT GUNNERSAURUS

he man behind Arsenal mascot Gunnersaurus has been let go by the club as part of their coronavirus cost-cutting process, according to The Athletic.

Jerry Quy, who has dressed up as the friendly green dinosaur at home matches since 1993, is the latest victim of the club’s streamlining measures in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

By tom dutton

Arsenal announced 55 redundancies in August as the club contended with the financial impact of Covid-19, and the absence of fans on match days has now cost Quy his job – for now at least.

The Athletic reports the Arsenal mascot will return, but Quy, who even missed his brother’s wedding to dress up as the iconic dino at an Arsenal home match, will hang up his suit for the time being.

Gunnersaurus is a popular character among Arsenal fans and is celebrated as much for his work in the community as at home matches. An Arsenal fan since 1963, Quy has worked with Arsenal Junior Gunners and the Travel Club.

A measure of the mascot’s popularity is the speed with which fans flooded social media on Monday morning, paying tribute to Quy and the role he has performed over the last 27 years.

Shiv Whorra tweeted: “They fired Gunnersaurus?! That’s the last straw surely.”

Within hours of the news breaking a GoFundMe page was set up by Arsenal fan George Allen, encouraging fellow fans to donate in a bid to save the furry mascot.

A post from Allen on the fundraising page said: “Gunnersaurus has been the Arsenal club mascot for 27 years. He’s a club icon and we cannot let him become extinct. Played by lifelong fan Jerry Quy, it would be a terrible shame to lose him.

“Lets raise some money to keep Gunnersaurus going. Please give generously!”