Dummies
A rugby team was not just selling dummies on the pitch - but sticking them in the stands yesterday.
Nottingham RFC - known as the Green and Whites - imported 1,000 blow up dolls for their crucial League One fixture with Exeter Chieftains in a bid to snatch a vital win. Before the game started the club was lying fifth in the table.
"Everyone knows that supporters can sometimes be full of hot air, it's just that these are fuller than most," said Lee Harris, a Nottingham supporter and director of Airheads, a firm which normally supplies dummies for crowd scenes in film and TV productions.
"Unfortunately they can't shout or sing, but on the other hand neither do they swear or throw things. They just sway around a bit in the breeze and are very well behaved."
The inflatable supporters at least doubled the normal crowd at the Meadow Lane stadium and may be back next week when Nottingham play Leeds in the semi-finals of the National Trophy.
Mr Harris said: "As a local firm we are keen to support Nottingham Rugby in their quest to raise the profile of the club.
"It also provided us with an opportunity to showcase how Airheads can add value and enhance crowd scenes on TV and in film production.
"We hope the extra 1000 people in the crowd against Exeter will have encouraged supporters of both rugby and other sports to get behind the team.
"Hopefully it added to the atmosphere and inspired people to come back again next week to help the team qualify for the cup final by beating Leeds."