The Bespoke Guardians Swindon Wildcats are saddened to confirm the retirement of our long serving, and much-loved mascot #00 Willie Wildcat.
Ever since the Wildcats name returned to Swindon in 2004 Willie has been there through thick and thin, but after 17 years on the job he’s informed the club now is the time to hang up his hockey stick and watch from the side-lines.
Having cheered in over 750 games, scored in less than 70 Will He or Won’t He’s and been hit by an unknown number of pucks in Chuck A Puck. Willie leaves the club with the best wishes in whatever cheering he decides to do next.
Speaking after confirming his retirement #00 said:
“It’s with a heavy heart I have decided to retire before the new season. I’ll miss the fans so much and the high fives as I walk around the Better Link Centre every night. My body is telling me I’ve almost ran out of my Cat lives and keeping up with the flag boy before the game was beginning to take its toll!
Watching the team lift the trophies will always be my favourite memory and hopefully Aaron and the boys can do it again this season!”
After a tough summer recruiting a replacement, we’re thrilled to say pen has hit paper on a contract and our new mascot will be ready to go for the 21/22 season!
In an amazingly kind gesture, Willie has offered our new arrival his name and jersey no. #00. As a club we feel it should be up to the fans to decide if the #00 Willie Wildcat lives on through our new mascot, or if we start our new season with a completely new look and name.
To have your say, click the link above and join us in thanking our furry friend one more time. The fate is in your hands Cats fans!
I like the Wildcat idea and the costume is awesome, just change the name from Willie.
Yes keep 00 willie
Thanks Willie.
Pass the baton on, stay with Willie
I love the Wildcat mascot and it should live on!
Have you also considered partnering with a local pet re-homing centre and every home game have a cat that needs adopting and make it this week’s ‘wildcat’?
I wish Willie Wildcat all the very best. He is a legend. Very generous of him to offer the name and jersey number to the new person, but I feel he should keep it and perhaps our younger fans should put there ideas forward for a new name. At the moment I can come up with “Cats About #007”