Pukka Pies to Celebrate 50th Birthday

Pukka Pies have announced this week that they will celebrate their 50th anniversary with a calendar of events in 2013.

Britain’s favourite branded pie was founded in 1963 by current Chairman Trevor Storer and has grown from the family kitchen to produce 60 million pies a year.

Mr Storer’s first creation was the Steak and Kidney Pie and it was his wife Valerie who produced the recipe for the Chicken and Mushroom Pie which like all the pies, remains the same recipe today.

The family traditions still exist 50 years on with the co Managing Directors Tim and Andrew Storer, Trevor’s sons, who uphold the family values in everything that takes place at Pukka Pies in Syston.

As part of the celebration Pukka Pies will be hosting a 50th birthday party at the Syston manufacturing headquarters, which employs over 280 staff, as well as running a number of 50 themed activities throughout the year.

Tim Storer commented; “We are delighted that Pukka Pies has reached 50 years of business and will be looking to celebrate the year in typical Pukka Pie style. Our founding principle was to make superior quality pies and pasties using only the finest ingredients with highly trained and caring staff and these values continue today. In challenging economic times, we have enjoyed excellent levels of growth and the recent £7 million factory extension is enabling us to continue that success story.

Sales have increased year on year and signs are already very promising for 2013 and we look forward to many more years of Pukka Pies ahead.”

Pukka Pies serve the UK, Ireland, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Malta, Gibraltar and France with a network of National and European distributors along with their own multi-drop delivery vehicles in the Midlands.

Pukka Pies supply a range of pies and pasties – including Steak and Kidney, Chicken and Mushroom and Steak and Ale varieties – to hundreds of fish and chip shops, football stadiums and supermarkets across the country.

Soccerex continue winter signings with Macesport PR partnership

Soccerex is delighted to announce that Macesport have been appointed as the organisation's new official public relations consultants.

The partnership will see Macesport responsible for creating and co-ordinating a full media and public relations strategy for the Soccerex portfolio of global footballing events across Europe, South America and Africa. This will begin with the Soccerex European Forum, Europe’s premier football business event, in Manchester on April 10-11.

Macesport managing director Paul Mace said: "It is a great honour and privilege to play a role in further enhancing and developing the international profile of Soccerex globally. As an established member of the international football family, everyone at Macesport is delighted to have the opportunity to work alongside such an iconic brand as Soccerex.

"We work extensively with football brands, governing bodies, clubs and players and are delighted to add Soccerex to a portfolio which already includes England sponsors Vauxhall, the Football Association and the NFL.

"We look forward to generating even stronger relationships for Soccerex with our friends in global television, print and online sports media, and further leveraging and communicating the quality of debate among football's highest-profile executives and ambassadors to an even wider audience."

Soccerex Marketing Director David Wright said: “I am very excited to be working with Macesport; Paul and his team come with a fantastic reputation and a proven network both in the UK and internationally. The next two years will see the last Soccerex Global Convention held in Rio de Janeiro before the event moves to Manchester in 2014 and Macesport will play a key role in managing our media and public relations during this crucial period.”

Stuart Pearce Surprises Sholing FC

England Under 21 Manager and former England star Stuart Pearce surprised local side Sholing FC at their training session last week.

Pearce, who captained his club and country, visited Sholing FC at their training facility at VT Sports Ground in Southampton to handover their brand new kit, as part of England team sponsor, Vauxhall’s, Youth Programme initiative.

Local Vauxhall retailer, Picador PLC has shown their commitment to grass roots football in the area by supplying Sholing FC U’18’s with a brand new kit football kit.

The former England defender, Pearce, said; “It is great to see a local side enjoying their football and I am delighted to visit the team.”

“It is vital that we support grass roots football in England for the good of the game moving forward - this is a fantastic initiative and one I am proud to support.”

Read the full article - click here

Schmeichology 3 Launch Live on Sky Sports

Precision Goalkeeping ambassador Kasper Schmeichel launched his new Schmeichology 3 glove range live on Sky Sports by saving a late penalty to gift Leicester all three points.

Schmeichel gave the new gloves their first outing when high flying Leicester City beat Middlesborough 1-0 live on Sky Sports 1 in the npower Championship.

The third incarnation of the goalkeeping range designed by the Leicester City and Denmark keeper Kasper Schmeichel will be available to the public in April.

Precision Goalkeeping's Schmeichology 3 range includes three models; the Kasper Schmeichel Negative Cut, Roll finger and a brand new Hybrid glove which is a mix of a roll finger and negative cut.

Precision Goalkeeping Brand ambassador Kasper Schmeichel, said; "I am delighted with the new range of gloves - they just keep getting better.

“Goalkeepers love spotting new gloves and I am expecting to read plenty of tweets tonight about them!”

Become a Precision Goalkeeping fan on Facebook – click here

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MANTIS' New signing Steve Coppinger through to New York quarter Final

MANTIS' New signing Steve Coppinger is through to the quarter finals of the PSA World Series Event in New York City after beating off some tough opponents.

He first faced the most consistent player of the PSA World Series for the past 2 years, Peter Baker and eventually won 12-10, 11-6, 6-11,11-1.

Coppinger then endured a thrilling 90 minute game against Adrian Grant and finally came out on top winning 11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 9-11, 11-1.

Steve, "It is only my second year playing at the Tournament of Champions in New York. Arguably the most spectacular venue on the squash tour with a court being erected IN Grand Central Terminal. The sense of occasion is immense walking on to court "

Steve will take on top seed James Willstrop in the quarter finals tonight- good luck!

Become a fan of MANTIS on Facebook - click here

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Win England vs Brazil Tickets with Football Mash Up

Win the chance to watch England train or win tickets to England versus Brazil and get involved in Football Mash Up on Facebook.

Youngsters are being urged to get involved in Football Mash Upon Facebook, an initiative recently launched by The FA and Vauxhall Motors, the England team sponsor, with a chance to win tickets to see England take on Brazil in February.

Football Mash Up are offering the chance to watch Roy Hodgson’s team train at St George’s Park or win tickets to watch the game against Brazil at Wembley on the 6th of February.

Football Mash Up is an exciting new scheme aimed at tackling the football drop out of teenagers in the 14-17 age group and the initiative follows an extensive study commissioned by The FA and Vauxhall Motors, to determine the factors affecting drop out within this age group.

The Football Mash Up sessions aim to tackle these issues head on by offering a recreational form of football in after-school clubs played in quality small-sided facilities and run by specialist FA Vauxhall Youth officers.

To enter the competition - click here

Gordon Strachan Appointed as Scotland Manager

Gordon Strachan was appointed as the new Scotland National Team Manager last week

The 55 year-old is a member of the Scotland International Roll of Honour and the Hampden Hall of Fame having represented his country 50 times, including two World Cups; Spain 82 and Mexico 86.

Fans wished Strachan good luck via Vauxhall, the Scotland team sponsor, social media platforms.

Strachan's first game in charge will be an international friendly vs Estonia on 6th February in Aberdeen. Tickets for that fixture are up for grabs on @VauxhallScot's dedicated twitter page.

Become a fan of Vauxhall Scotland on facebook - click here

Follow @VauxhallScot on twitter - click here

SuperBowl Media Opportunities

SuperBowl media opportunities are currently being organised by Macesport.

San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens will contest SuperBowl XLVII in New Orleans on Sunday February 4.

And Macesport, retained UK pr agency for the NFL, are collating are media enquiries and placements for UK media ahead of the big game.

Several former major NFL players are expected to fly in to the UK for special promotional trips.

To book contact Aimee Preston - click here

Don’t forget there are two big NFL games coming to Wembley next year. On 29th September we welcome the Minnesota Vikings and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Whilst the Jacksonville Jaguars go head to head with the San Francisco 49ers on 27th October.

Buy your tickets - click here

Macesport win albion Brief

Macesport have won a European PR brief to offer public relations services to leading cricket brand albion in an important Ashes year.

Britain’s leading independent sports communications agency will provide a full range of sports media and public relations support services to the world’s number one supplier of cricket helmets, hats, caps and bags.

The contract win follows the recent announcement that Albion Sports have appointed Reydon Sports PLC as the European distributors.

Reydon Sports, the country's leading independent sports wholesaler, will distribute albion throughout their extensive network of more than 1,500 individual sports outlets.

Macesport Managing Director, Paul Mace, commented; “We are delighted to have won the tender for albion in Europe.

“With back to back Ashes clashes coming up in the next year it is an exciting time for cricket and one which albion will be looking to capitalise on.

“Having worked alongside the team at Reydon for a number of years helping to build their successful Precision and MANTIS brands we are confident we can make a significant difference to the profile of albion in Europe.”

Brendan Denning, CEO & Managing Director of Albion Sports, said; “Macesport come highly recommended and were the obvious choice for this brief.

“We look forward to building a long and successful relationship with them and in 2012/13 will see the introduction of a number of significant improvements and upgrades to our range and an extension of our product portfolio which has a particular focus on junior cricketers.”

albion count former Australian captain Ricky Ponting among their list of high profile ambassadors.

As Britain’s leading independent sports communications agency, Macesport handle sports pr for Vauxhall Motors' football Home Nations sponsorship of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

They also act as the retained agency for leading football events Leaders in Football, Pukka Pies and sports brands including Precision and MANTIS.

Macesport also manage media pundit Robbie Savage who recently starred in the BBC hit television programme Strictly Come Dancing.

Schmeichel Extends Partnership with Precision Goalkeeping

Leicester City and Denmark keeper Kasper Schmeichel has this week signed a partnership extension with goalkeeping glove brand Precision Goalkeeping.

Schmeichel, who signed as an ambassador with Precision Goalkeeping in 2010, has confirmed his commitment to the fastest growing goalkeeping brand for another two years.

His signature range of gloves, Schmeichology – the science of goalkeeping, which were designed and tested by the Championship star were an instant hit with retailers and consumers alike and have continued to go from strength to strength.

Schmeichology 3 was recently launched at the Stag Show to great acclaim and will be shown at intersport this weekend.

Schmeichel, who is currently number 1 at high flying Leicester City, commented; “I am delighted to have signed the partnership extension with Precision Goalkeeping.

“Not every goalkeeper gets the chance to design and create their own range of goalkeeping gloves; it has been an amazing experience and a partnership I am very excited about continuing.

“Seeing the gloves that you have put so much time and effort into designing being worn up and down the country from grass roots football through to the professional game is something I am very proud of.”

For more information on Precision Goalkeeping - click here

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Vauxhall Home Nations Football Photographer of the Year

The race is on to find Vauxhall’s Home Nations Football Photographer of the Year.

Entries have been flooding in and we are expecting a record breaking year following the buzz created by the competition in 2011.

Last year the Mail on Sunday's Mark Pain was crowned the inaugural Vauxhall Home Nations Football Photographer of the Year when his England portfolio enabled him to beat the cream of English, Scottish, Northern Irish and Welsh sports photographers in an eagerly-contested competition.

Following feedback from a number of entrants the prizes have been altered this year and there is now a cash sum of £3000 up for the grabs for the 2012 winner.

The individual national competitions for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales remain with two principal categories –Photographer of the Year and Best Individual Photo.

Each individual winner will collect £500 and the four Photographers of the Year will be entered into the final to win £2500 and the title of Vauxhall Home Nations Football Photographer of the Year.

For more information regarding entry please contact Aimee Preston - click here