AS part of his stag weekend in Whitby, Northwich native Tom Ellis was looking forward to cheering on his adopted team Warrington Town.

Little did he know, however, that his best men and friends had arranged for him to be much closer to the action.

When the Warrington players were getting ready to face Whitby Town on Saturday, they found 33-year-old Tom waiting to lead them out as the team’s mascot.

As most of the assembled crowd watched in amusement, he was embracing the moment.

Tom leads the Yellows out at Whitby alongside captain Mark Roberts. Picture by Brian Murfield

Tom leads the Yellows out at Whitby alongside captain Mark Roberts. Picture by Brian Murfield

“It's the most memorable thing I’ve ever done in my life,” Tom told the Guardian.

“I didn’t really want to do it but once I got out there, it was fantastic. There was a point where I told myself to just embrace it.

“Credit to Whitby and Warrington – both sets of players, fans, officials just loved it.”

Former Witton Albion youth player Tom, who works as a department manager at Sainsbury’s, started attending Yellows matches when Covid-19 meant he could not head to Anfield to watch his beloved Liverpool on Saturdays.

Ahead of his wedding to fiancée Rebecca in April, he and his friends had already enjoyed a Friday night out on the Yorkshire coast before his best men – brother Will and best mate Jamie Bailey – revealed the surprise on Saturday morning.

“They presented me with the full Town kit – shirt, shorts, socks, kids shinpads,” said Tom, who moved from Northwich to Warrington three years ago.

“I was convinced they were all winding me up. They are all a bunch of wind-up merchants and I thought they had played a blinder by convincing me I was the mascot.

“I spoke to one of my friends who I knew wouldn’t lie to me and he said I really was the mascot. I’ve never been so anxious in all my life!

“(Warrington players) Sean Williams and Josh Amis were absolutely killing themselves laughing.

“Mark Roberts (team captain) came out and said he would look after me! He was chatting away about how my night was the night before then turned round to the lads and shouted “come on, let’s have this!”

“All my mates were videoing it as we walked out and shook hands with the Whitby players. Sean Williams had me going doing the warm-up with the lads, sprinting through cones.

“I walked off to rapturous applause – I can’t speak highly enough of the whole thing!”

Tom leads the pre-match handshakes. Picture by Brian Murfield

Tom leads the pre-match handshakes. Picture by Brian Murfield.

With his duties complete, all that was left was to hope Tom could prove a lucky mascot for Warrington.

That wasn't quite the case, with the game ending in a 1-1 draw.