Question Re Toby Tyke

My Mrs was asking me when we first used him? And why is he a bulldog? (And yes I know his parents were bulldogs) but in all seriousness I’d love to know myself if there’s any reason why we opted for a bulldog, Anybody any ideas? I’m intrigued to know myself,

 

Back in the olden days - the 90s - someone I knew at the time asked that same question and was told TT was based on the 1966 World Cup mascot, World Cup Willie in the late 60s. I assume a bulldog was chosen as it's a national symbol. How true that is I couldn't say.

 

I can only dream about such stimulating conversation topics with my missus

 

You should hear our different shades of magnolia emulsion conversation

 

I always thought world cup willie was a lion?

 

At the end of the 1960s, around about the time when Jimmy Robson was playing for us and the crowds were pretty healthy again, we started parading a bulldog around the perimeter track. His name was Toby Jug. I don't know who owned him but I believe this was the inspiration for the new Toby Tyke logo.

I remember the little round stickers coming out about 67, or 68 - I still have one stuck to my school wooden pencil box. A class mate, the late David Buttle (used to be a Barnsley well known DJ) was a Wednesday fan and he stuck an Ozzie Owl sticker on there as well. For some bizarre reason I left it on there

As stated above I think World Cup Willie was indeed a lion, so nothing to do with that.

 

I love the toby tyke badge, I'd love us to do a shirt one season with it on.

 

Seem to recall some photos with a bulldog as mascot circa early 1900s don’t think it was called TT though

 

Wasn't that a porno?

 

Wish they'd go back to original oakwell badge of 70s and most on 80s

 

Toby was a real bulldog and was paraded round the pitch in the 60s I think. Didn't he belong to some military unit?

 

It is a long time ago, and these days I have trouble remembering last week, but this is how I remember it.

Our nickname had long been The Tykes or The Colliers. Around 1965, a junior supporters club was formed, which used to meet in a small hall near the ground. After the world cup in 1966, mascots became a must have attachment for all clubs, preferably with some alliteration in the name. In a previous season, a bull dog was paraded around the field before FA cup games. Tyke refers to any dog, but I suppose a link was established because of the previous appearances of that dog. Chris Burrows, who had helped start the JSC and organised bus trips to away matches via Yorkshire Traction had moved on and had become secretary of BFC. He brought a few of the stickers up to the JSC one Thursday night, and as I recall, they were received enthusiastically. Thus encouraged, the ball was set rolling. I do not know who did the original artwork though.

 

Our first mascot was a Donkey ...that said weve had one or two donkeys make the first team over the years lol ....Amos was his name..1912 FA cup team were paraded with him ..Toby was introduced in the 60s..British bulldog spirit and all that jazz

 

This was him outside Clarence Hotel which was the club headquarters

 

The first game at which I recall Toby Tyke, the bulldog, being paraded around the pitch was before the Southport FA Cup tie on 26th November 1966. A couple of Southport fans thought it a bright idea to run on to the pitch and confront Toby, who proceeded to snap at them so fiercely that they ran away, much to everyone's amusement. I don't know whose dog he was. He was paraded around again at the Port Vale and Cardiff City cup ties as well, which was where our Wembley dream ended that year after a replay at Ninian Park. Johnny Evans equalised with the last kick of the third round tie at Oakwell. He then started appearing on matchday programmes as well. And so the legend was born....unless someone knows otherwise. Happy days!!

 

Thanks for all the info folks. Can anyone remember when the Toby (the one we know and love today) first appeared?