Some kids grow up being scared of clowns, others dread the bogeyman under the bed. Now children in Scotland have a new monster to haunt their dreams – or at least end up hidden away safely in the closet.
A terrifying depiction of what is allegedly supposed to be a sun, “Kingsley” is the new mascot for Glasgow football club Partick Thistle.
Designed by artist David Shrigley, the yellow creation – which bears some resemblance to a mutated Lisa Simpson – will feature at every home game for the 2015-16 Scottish Premiership season.
It was unveiled as Partick – nicknamed “The Jags” – announced a new partnership with California-based investment firm Kingsford Capital management, owned by U.S. businessman Mike Wilkins.
Wilkins, a shareholder in 2015 NBA champion Golden State Warriors, had been looking for a UK business opportunity. A commissioner of the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, he met Shrigley – who was nominated for the prestigious Turner Prize in 2013 – at a dinner in San Francisco.
“When I got talking to David Shrigley about Partick Thistle it seemed like it could be the perfect fit,” he said in a statement on the club’s website. “I hope that this relationship will become more than just your average sponsorship deal.”
Partick Thistle managing director Ian Maxwell described the two-year deal as “a real coup.”
“We need to look at how to attract new people to football in Scotland, both in terms of funding and in terms of supporters, and some of the ideas that Mike and David have already brought to the table are really interesting,” Maxwell said.
Glasgow-based Shrigley has also designed a Kingsford logo to appear on the team’s shirts and at the stadium.
“As a Jags man it’s an honor to be involved with the club in this way. I can’t wait to see my design on the front of the shirts and around Firhill,” he said.
He might be the only one.
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