From World Cup Willie to Tip and Tap: a nostalgic nod to the era of lovably quirky mascots

This year’s World Cup serves up yet more soulless, corporate animal slop to leave fans pining for the days of unique talismans World Cup Willie marched on to the scene in 1966 with a spiky mane, bovver boy stance, bulbous brogues and – intriguingly for a World Cup held entirely in England – a union jack shirt. The product of a five-minute sketch by children’s illustrator Reg Hoye, who went on to create a red devil mascot for Manchester United, Willie was a marketing sensation. The first World...

By Alex Reid