Adventurous alpaca brings football match to a halt after invading pitch

Players from two football teams were left shocked when their pitch was invaded on Saturday — by an alpaca.

The match between Carlton Athletic and Ilkley Town was brought to a halt when the animal, named Oscar, escaped from a nearby farm and charged onto the pitch.

Officials spent 15 minutes trying to entice Oscar off the pitch with food before a farmer managed to retrieve it and get it back home.

It’s not the first time an animal has stopped play during a football match — last year a black cat strayed onto the pitch during a game between Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers, bringing the match to a halt.

Ilkley manager Simon Armstrong told the BBC that both teams play in the West Yorkshire League Premier Division, with Carlton well known for having alpacas nearby.

“After 35 minutes it escaped, came through the entrance and proceeded to get on the pitch,” he told the BBC.

Read more: Hancock: 'I would report my neighbour to police for breaking coronavirus self-isolation rules'

He added: “People didn't want to go near it in case it kicked. The farmer was then called and eventually it was tempted back in the field.”

It’s thought to be the first time one of the alpacas has managed to stop a game, despite being kept near the pitch for several years, and some of the club’s teams reportedly nominated fun-loving Oscar as man of the match.