Newton Heath just can't get a break lately. (tee hee)
The full article is rather amusing and is at Football365. Below is a snippet.

WHEN 70 football mascots gather in one place, it's bound to be a strange sight. But when that place is Wembley Stadium and there are cameras around, there can be little surprise that things get out of hand. Or rather in hand. Manchester United mascot Fred The Red went home from such a gathering last week soaking wet and without a tail between his legs after being ambushed by the notorious gang named The Mascot Crew. He only received his tail back today after United gave in and paid a ransom fee to the Crew! Psychologically, he may never be the same again. But don't feel too much sympathy, as one of the Crew, Preston's mischievous mascot Deepdale Duck, explained, Fred needed bringing down a peg or two. "We were at Wembley filming an advert for AXA to be used during the FA Cup Final and Fred was showing off, giving it all the 'I'm Man United's mascot, me' stuff," Deepdale Duck told Football365. "So we threw him in the bath  it was full and he was not happy at all. He went a bit mad. I don't think he realised until he got home that the tail had gone as well!"

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2000