Millers' mascot competition kicks off at Parkgate - 28 April

A unique new competition for children and young people across Rotherham designed to celebrate the Millers’ historic move to the New York Stadium will kick off at Parkgate this week.

Rotherham United’s Miller Bear Design a T-shirt Competition will launch with a special family fun event at Parkgate Shopping Centre, Rotherham, on Saturday, April 28 between 11am and 1pm.

To celebrate the new Ben Bennett Family Stand and get the children of Rotherham involved in what is to be the most amazing stadium of its size in the country, the club are giving all school aged children the opportunity to design a new T-shirt for the club’s mascot, Miller Bear, and win a fantastic, money can’t buy prize.

The lucky winner will have their design turned into the T-shirt for Miller Bear to wear at the first league game to be played at the New York Stadium and win the same design for themselves. They will also receive a family ticket to the game and have a commemorative photo taken with the mascot.

At the Parkgate family fun event, children and parents can collect their entry forms for the competition, meet Miller Bear, Ryan the Lion, Rother FM's station mascot, and take part in football coaching from Mini Kicks.

Inside the Rotherham United Community Team’s Hub, there will be interactive games, colouring equipment and a Miller Bear post box for youngsters to create and submit their T-shirt designs on the day.

Rother FM will broadcast live from the event and the Millers will be giving away free Rotherham United ponchos.

The exciting Miller Bear Design a T-shirt Competition is also being supported by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC). All Entries will be displayed in competition books in the children’s library and on plasma screens at RMBC’s Riverside House throughout May.

Rotherham United chairman, Tony Stewart, said: “The children of Rotherham are our future. They are the future players, fans and business people and we want to make them feel part of this fantastic stadium.

“Having recently won the Football League’s community award, it demonstrates how import the local community is to us, and what better way to celebrate the children of Rotherham than to get them excited about sport, football and this superb new stadium for the town.

“The club is offering incredible value for money with our family ticket, which allows all your children under eight to go free with a full paying adult season ticket holder for a fantastic, affordable day out in a family-friendly stand.”

Denis Copeland, Manager of Parkgate Shopping, is equally enthusiastic: “We welcome this competition, which I’m sure will capture the imagination of young fans throughout the area.”

Entry forms for the competition can also be collected and dropped off at Riverside Children’s Library and Rotherham United’s club shop. They can also be downloaded from Rother FM’s website www.rotherfm.co.uk and the Miller’s site, www.themillers.co.uk.

Parkgate will also have an entry form collection point at the security office by Marks & Spencer, which will be open shop hours.

The overall winner will be chosen by Tony Stewart and a representative from Rother FM at the end of May.

The mascot competition will run from 28 April to 31 May 2012 and is open to all children aged 16 and under. Full competition details are available at www.themillers.co.uk.

Additional information:

Media are welcome to attend the launch event at Parkgate for filming, interview and photographic opportunities.