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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Guardian sport

Northampton Town’s John-Joe O’Toole sent off … on John-Joe O’Toole Day

John-Joe O'Toole Northampton Town
John-Joe O'Toole is shown a red card by referee Lee Collins during the Sky Bet League Two match between Mansfield Town and Northampton Town. Photograph: Pete Norton/Getty Images

Northampton Town’s plan for ‘John-Joe O’Toole Day’, celebrating their distinctive long-haired cult figure, did not go quite to plan after the midfielder was sent off in the first half of their clash with Mansfield, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

The club encouraged fans travelling to Field Mill to wear wigs and headbands to resemble O’Toole, which many of the away support did with some gusto, only to be disappointed after their man was given his marching orders.

O’Toole had already been booked, but was dismissed after just 36 minutes for violent conduct, for lashing out at the Stags defender Ritchie Sutton while they waited for a corner to be taken.

The club’s official Twitter account retweeted several fans who attended the game in full O’Toole regalia, who may well have felt slightly silly, standing for the better part of an hour as the midfielder thought about what he’d done in the dressing room.

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