Post by Scully on Jan 25, 2009 6:08:59 GMT
Whistling parrot halts soccer game
pa.press.net
A parrot halted a football match with a perfect impression of the referee's whistle.
Me-Tu is a regular at matches at his local ground and often entertains fans by repeating what they say.
But referee Gary Bailey was not impressed when the parrot mimicked his whistle and brought the quarter-final of the Hertfordshire Senior Centenary Trophy to a standstill.
Mr Bailey told the parrot and owner Irene Kerrigan to leave the ground so the match between Hertford Heath and Hatfield could continue uninterrupted.
Hatfield FC chairman Ted Collie said: "It was a very tense game as we were 0-0 at the time. When Gary Bailey realised it was this parrot, he started towards it, pointing to the entrance and said 'would you mind leaving?' He said he should have red carded the parrot.
"I had my grandson with me who's 11 and he thought it was hilarious."
Hatfield won 5-2 in extra time and Mr Collie added: "This has put a smile on everyone's face. We didn't think for a minute it was a ploy by Hertford Heath to put us off."
Hertford Heath manager Clive Adlington said Me-Tu's owner Ms Kerrigan takes the parrot in his cage to nearly every home game but added: "It's the first time it's been whistling. Suddenly in the second half the whistling started and the players kept stopping.
"Fortunately it happened in the centre of the pitch but it happened about four times although it didn't affect the result at all."
Mr Adlington said Ms Kerrigan has said she plans to take Me-Tu to watch the team's reserves play at home on Saturday.
pa.press.net
A parrot halted a football match with a perfect impression of the referee's whistle.
Me-Tu is a regular at matches at his local ground and often entertains fans by repeating what they say.
But referee Gary Bailey was not impressed when the parrot mimicked his whistle and brought the quarter-final of the Hertfordshire Senior Centenary Trophy to a standstill.
Mr Bailey told the parrot and owner Irene Kerrigan to leave the ground so the match between Hertford Heath and Hatfield could continue uninterrupted.
Hatfield FC chairman Ted Collie said: "It was a very tense game as we were 0-0 at the time. When Gary Bailey realised it was this parrot, he started towards it, pointing to the entrance and said 'would you mind leaving?' He said he should have red carded the parrot.
"I had my grandson with me who's 11 and he thought it was hilarious."
Hatfield won 5-2 in extra time and Mr Collie added: "This has put a smile on everyone's face. We didn't think for a minute it was a ploy by Hertford Heath to put us off."
Hertford Heath manager Clive Adlington said Me-Tu's owner Ms Kerrigan takes the parrot in his cage to nearly every home game but added: "It's the first time it's been whistling. Suddenly in the second half the whistling started and the players kept stopping.
"Fortunately it happened in the centre of the pitch but it happened about four times although it didn't affect the result at all."
Mr Adlington said Ms Kerrigan has said she plans to take Me-Tu to watch the team's reserves play at home on Saturday.
i dont like football, but i would have loved to have been at that match!!! 
