Southend United mascot Sammy the Shrimp has been banned from Roots Hall over claims that he incited rival fans, it was revealed today.

Banned - Sammy the Shrimp

Lee Mason, the man in the distinctive pink costume, is not welcome at any Southend home games this season after a series of alleged incidents at the ground.

The life-long Blues fan, who watches games from the West Stand when his pre-match duties are over, today told of his anger at the move.

He said: "When we scored against Oxford I got up on my chair, banging my drum and cheering. One of the stewards warned me and then the stadium manager said I was banned."

After 18 months as one of the club's popular mascots, where Mr Mason regularly turned up for club events as well as matches, he finds himself frozen out of his beloved club.

He added: "It's pathetic, banning someone for this. It's not like I'm throwing missiles or running on the pitch."

But Dave Jobson, the club's safety officer, said: "Lee can come and talk to me any time he likes but we cannot allow this kind of behaviour.

"We have to encourage fans to stay in their seats or the licensing authorities will cut the ground capacity."

In the case of Sammy the Shrimp, he said, the club had pictures of Mr Mason standing on his chair taunting Oxford United fans during the recent 2-2 draw at Roots Hall.

Mr Jobson added: "We can't ask our fans to behave and then allow one of our own employees to act like that."

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Published Thursday, March 14, 2002