Sunderland Echo
Meet the Sunderland fan who took his dog to QPR
Sunderland supporter Billy Longworth with three-year-old Jarvis the Cocker Spaniel, who were seen in the crowd during the Niklas Bendtner goal celebrations at Queens Park Rangers.
Published on Saturday 24 December 2011 11:30
THE Sunderland-supporting canine who became an internet hit after he was spotted celebrating during the Wearsiders win over QPR has been found.
Cocker spaniel Jarvis was caught on TV cameras during Wednesday�s 3-2 win down at Loftus Road and sparked a media frenzy to find out who he is.
Since his TV appearance, hundreds have logged on to YouTube to see him celebrating along with owner Billy Longworth.
Owner Billy explained that he travels the length of the country to watch his beloved team.
But he has had to miss certain games as dogs are not usually allowed into grounds
�For the QPR match I had my train ticket and my match ticket bought so I thought I might as well go down with Jarvis and see if we can get in,� explained Billy, a retired maintenance engineer from Shildon, County Durham.
�I told the stewards there that I couldn�t leave him on his own.
�But the QPR people were brilliant. They told me the stewards would keep an eye on him during the game, they understood I had come a long way.
�I told them I would just leave if he started to play up but he didn�t. There were loads of kids near me and they were all coming over to see Jarvis.�
Avid fan Billy also said that although he attends every game, this past year he has had to miss matches because he feels he cannot leave Jarvis.
For home games at the Stadium of Light he can be back at his house to see the dog in four hours.
�I follow Sunderland all over but this last year I�ve had to miss a few matches.
�I just can�t leave Jarvis on his own. I don�t like doing it. I love him to bits.
�I took him to a couple of places during the pre-season games at Kilmarnock and York and they let him in,� added Billy, 52, who is married to Pat, 62.
�My attitude is just that if you approach people in the right manner they will be OK with you.
�I�d take him to every game if I could do, but I know they have to stick by the rules.�
Billy has also been impressed with the start Martin O�Neill has made in the Black Cats hotseat, with the team taking six points from a possible nine since he took over following the dismissal of Steve Bruce.
SAFC are now 15th in the table.
�I think if any club was left without a manager then Martin O�Neill would be in the top three candidates,� said Billy.
�Steve Bruce was a nice guy but he was just too negative.
�Hopefully O�Neill can lift us up a bit now.�
Twitter: @davidallison88
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