Manchester United F.C. mascots

match programmes may have seen advertisements to hear "Michael the Bank Street Canary sing" for a nominal fee.

Fans who had paid money to hear a canary sing were unimpressed by Michael's tuneless honk, and was removed as the mascot shortly thereafter.

Still in financial difficulty, Stafford would send his dog around the crowd with a collection box on its collar in the hope of bringing in much-needed extra funds.

Stafford went out looking for his prize dog, and eventually found him in the possession of local brewer John Henry Davies, who wished to keep Major as a pet for his daughter.

in order to guarantee the club's financial security for the immediate future and in return gave Davies the dog.

After the 1909 FA Cup Final win over Bristol City, Billy took part in the post-match celebrations with the players, but drank too much champagne and died of alcohol poisoning soon after.

He failed to receive tickets for the 1948 FA Cup Final in the members' ballot, and as a result, an irreconcilable rift formed between him and the club.

Frank Hilton and Ronnie McWilliams both had spells "under the umbrella", but the practice of the "friendly mascot" had to be abandoned soon after, due to the rise of hooliganism in the United Kingdom.