Chester FC: Rhino Mania at the Deva Stadium as club takes delivery of new ‘mascot’

Jun 3 2010 by David Triggs, Chester Chronicle

RHINO Mania has rumbled into the Deva Stadium!

In a week which saw Chester FC acquire their first batch of new players, the club also took delivery of its very own fibreglass model rhino.

‘BiG Deva’ will soon be painted up in the team’s famous blue and white colours and put on view at their Bumpers Lane home ground.

He will be one of up to 70 decorative rhinos who will be on display across Chester from July 5 to September 12 in a massive street art project that cements the city’s affinity with its famous zoo.

Chester FC’s rhino has been bought for the club by local businessman Andrew Donaldson, a partner at BiG Storage on Sealand Road.

Andrew is eager to see the revived football club welcomed into the heart of the city.

He said: “The rhino really represents the power of the people and the new spirit of not only Chester FC, but Chester as a whole. It’s a new era for both club and city.

“The people’s club represented in the people’s event.”

Chester FC chief executive Steve Ashton, who was joined by Blues goalscoring hero Gary Talbot for the rhino’s first trip to the Deva, said: “It’s about bringing the club back to the city and hopefully, with that, other companies in Chester will get involved.

“Chester FC absolutely should have its own rhino!”

Part of the ‘Chestival’ programme, Rhino Mania has been conceived by local and regional artists from Cheshire, Wirral, and Merseyside.

For further information, visit: www.rhinomania.co.uk