Under starter's orders at Millers!

Carlton Town’s brand new mascot ‘Miller Mouse’ is in training to make his debut in the world of mascot racing on Sunday at Uttoxeter Races!

More than a hundred mascots of all shapes and sizes are expected to take part in the annual event in aid of the Sunfield School, the West Midlands based national charity specialising in the care of children with severe and complex learning needs.

Miller Mouse, better known at the Evo-Stik NPL First Division South club as supporter Ross Willett, admits his biggest worry is that his head will fall off during the one furlong dash for glory over mascot sized hurdles.

He said: "I am proud to be representing Carlton and the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League and just hope my head doesn’t fall off!"

Carlton’s new mascot took up the job over the summer after Commercial Manager Tim Harris led a brain-storming session on fundraising and commercial activity at the club.

Main sponsors MSR newsgroup subsquently agreed to sponsor Miller Mouse who’ll also be available for functions when not training or entertaining fans at the Bill Stokeld Stadium on matchdays.

Sunday’s race is live on television during coverage from Uttoexter and is unlikely to be Miller Mouse’s last outing. If all goes well he could become a regular in the nation’s biggest event for mascots, the annual Mascot Grand National in aid of the Heart a Heart charity.

This year the race, which was first run back in 1999, moved in May from Huntingdon Racecourse to Kempton Park for the first time and was won by Barnet’s champion entry, Mr Bumble.

The event now has it’s own Facebook page and has expanded to include mascots from other sports and even non-sport mascots, the winners in 2005 and 2006 representing Kick 4 Life and The Sun newspaper respectively.

If Miller Mouse does enter he should avoid any controversy that has dogged the world of mascot racing recently by being a true footballing mascot. In 2010, many mascots, especially those from professional football clubs, boycotted the race over the way it was organised and the fact that mascots from any field could enter even if they were not 'day in-day out' performers!