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Pitch Invader Delays Under-18s Game

Photo by James Bremer on Unsplash

Monday’s under-18s fixture between Croydon Athletic and Corinthian Casuals at Mayfield Stadium took an unexpected turn when a hedgehog wandered onto the pitch just before kick-off, bringing the 7:30 pm start to a brief standstill. The prickly guest made an appearance in the Lane End goalmouth, sparking plenty of smiles from fans and players alike.

Croydon Athletic’s home ground, The Mayfield, sits in an ideal spot for wildlife, nestled between Croydon Cemetery and Mitcham Common. We’ve been working with the Mitcham Hedgehog Project to keep an eye on local hedgehog activity, even setting up footprint tunnels and detection cameras around the grounds.

The little hedgehog, perhaps lured by the pitch’s worm-rich soil, likely didn’t expect the evening floodlights. After a few gentle nudges, it safely retreated to nearby fields, where junior footballers usually play on Sundays. This marked another recent sighting of hedgehogs near the stadium, with these shy creatures occasionally spotted on nearby allotments as well.

Once common across the UK, hedgehogs have become increasingly rare, often affected by habitat loss and garden chemicals. Seeing one wander across the pitch was a rare delight for supporters at the game and a gentle reminder of the area’s wildlife.

And as for whether Croydon Athletic will be swapping the “Rams” nickname for “The Hogs”? We’ll leave that one up to the fans.