Man Utd mascot from Castleton ‘in the middle of’ handshake snub

Harry, 8, with United's Patrice Evra

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Luis Suarez’s refusal to shake hands with Patrice Evra may have overshadowed the Manchester United v Liverpool game on Saturday, but it didn’t spoil things for Evra’s mascot, 8-year-old Harry Bullows from Rochdale.

Harry, from Castleton, suffers from immune deficiency and other disabilities and was nominated as a mascot for Manchester United by the Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity, who visit him once a week.

Little did they know that Harry would be pictured on TV screens around the world over and over again, as the ‘handshake incident’ was replayed.

And luckily for Harry, Suarez shook his hand, as did the rest of the Liverpool squad.

Harry, a pupil at St John’s, Thornham, is a huge Manchester United fan and was thrilled to have been chosen as a mascot.

Harry’s mum, Liz Harrison, said: “Evra took him by the hand and led him onto the pitch and they lined up and Harry was stood at the side of Evra.”

Liz and Harry’s sister Ellie, 16, were at the game and hadn’t realised Harry was in the centre of the saga until they got home.

“I wasn’t aware of what had gone on, I didn’t even know until we got home.

“People were ringing up and laughing saying ‘trust Harry to be in the middle of all the controversy.’

“We kept seeing him when it was replayed on the news and people were posting about it on Facebook and sending me videos from You Tube. The phone was non stop with people ringing up.

Liz said that Harry had a “great” day.

Adding: “He had a really lovely time, he met all the players and they gave him a signed shirt. They treated him lovely.”