Pink propels local team's winning streak

A newly established football club is reaping the rewards from its recent shirt sponsorship that has seen the squad sport bright pink jerseys.

Sudbury Vikings Football Club, who is sponsored by Volkswagen Van Centre (Bury St Edmunds), is flying high in The Treadfirst Sudbury & District Sunday League after winning five of its last six games.

The run has seen the club propel into second place with just over half of the league campaign played, and according to team manager, Alan Tychowski, the sponsorship deal and choice of kit colour has been instrumental in the team’s success on and off the field.

He said: “We are delighted to have the secured the sponsorship deal with our local Volkswagen van centre.

“Setting up the team on a tight budget was hard work, but with the support of Volkswagen Van Centre (Bury St Edmunds) the whole process was much easier.

“We chose the striking strip colour as we were confident no other league team would be wearing the colour pink, so we wouldn't need to invest a second team strip,” said Alan.

“Also, wearing pink strips is excellent motivation for the team not to lose too often in the league campaign – and it seems to be working at the moment!”

David Nichols, head of business at Volkswagen Van Centre (Bury St Edmunds), said that the business was delighted to have helped the Sudbury Vikings get their feet off the ground.

He said: “It’s a pleasure to be the official sponsor of Sudbury Vikings Football Club and it’s great to see the lads performing well on the pitch, let’s hope they can keep it up.

“The local community is very important to us and we have made it our company policy to support individuals from the region where we can.”

For more information about community work and sponsorships with Volkswagen Van Centre (Bury St Edmunds), please call 01284 715900.

World cup fever could be an illness too far for region's employers

One of the region’s leading employment lawyers has set down some advice for employers on the eve of the World Cup.

Damian Kelly, a partner in Higgs & Sons’ employment department says that while most employers in the region will watch the World Cup themselves, some have given little or no thought on how to handle their employees during the tournament.

“Some employers will screen key matches at the workplace but this may not be possible for some businesses, even if they have the facilities. If employers can’t apply this consistently for all employees company-wide they could be exposing themselves to complaints and problems from those that are excluded.”

Alternatives for employers to consider include:

· Allowing employees to listen on the radio or via their computer – no licence required
· Where flexible working is in place, some employees may be able to work around the matches that they want to watch and make up lost time
· Employers may consider introducing flexible working for the duration of the World Cup or for key matches

Sickness Absence or Football Injuries

All employees should be required to report any absence to a trained and specified central person during the World Cup.

Damian said: “It’s vital that employers monitor absence closely during this period. The person to whom employees are required to report can ask more probing and appropriate questions when speaking to employees about their absence and can identify absence patterns on match days. This approach, coupled with advance warning to employees that unauthorised absences without a good reason and sickness absences that are not genuine will be dealt with under the disciplinary procedure, should help to discourage absenteeism during the World Cup period.”

If employees are absent during the World Cup employers should investigate further and question the employee when he or she initially reports the absence and conduct a return-to-work interview.

Damian said: “If you have a reasonable belief that the absence is not genuine, based on your investigations - perhaps because the employee has given evasive or inconsistent answers - you may take the matter further. Where there is evidence that the employee was not sick, for example he or she was seen in the pub watching a match, this will clearly be a disciplinary matter.”

Damian has produced a handy five point plan for employers in the region:

1. Before the tournament starts, remind employees that if they want to take time off work, they must make holiday requests in the usual way, and that it may not be possible to accommodate all requests, but explain the basis on which requests will be granted e.g. on a first come first served basis.

2. Remember to treat all employees equally regardless of nationality. If you allow England supporters time off to watch an England game, you should do the same for non-English nationals who want to watch their national team play. A failure to do this could lead to a discrimination claim.

3. Explain that standard levels of attendance and performance are expected throughout the World Cup.

4. Remind employees of your alcohol policy and re-enforce that any breach will result in disciplinary action.

5. Likewise remind employees of your Equal Opportunities Policy and any Non-Harassment/Bullying Policy and make it clear that offensive behaviour towards employees of other nationalities is unacceptable and will be dealt with under your disciplinary policy.

For one-to-one advice from Damian or a member of the Higgs & Sons’ employment team call 0845 111 5050.

HOT NEW WHEELS FOR RAMMIE

Derby County FC mascot, Rammie, will take to the road in a brand new personalised vehicle, following a two year sponsorship deal with Imperial Commercials Van Centre.

The Derby-based Volkswagen dealer has supplied Rammie with a Caddy van to support his growing number of public appearances in the area.

It is the first time that Rammie has received such a sponsorship and the brightly coloured Caddy even gets an exclusive place next to the club directors in the West Stand car park.

Rammie is regularly asked to attend school activities, charity events and local attractions in addition to birthdays and weddings. The new vehicle will enable the Derby County star to safely transport his inflatable goal and equipment to future events.

Derby County CEO and President, Tom Glick, said: “We are very grateful to Imperial Commercials for their commitment and support. Previously Rammie had to struggle to get all of his gear to the events but now he can safely travel in style.

“The spacious Volkswagen Caddy will accommodate all Rammie’s equipment and the striking livery and alloy wheels will certainly make it easy for fans to spot him on the roads.”

Matt Lawrenson, regional director of Imperial Commercials, said: “We feel it’s important to support our local clubs and businesses and as big Derby County fans there is no better way to show our support?”

Picture Caption 01: L-r, Matthew Lawrenson , regional director of Imperial Commercials, Rammie, Matt Lee, Imperial Commercial sales manager and Nigel Clough, manager of Derby County FC.

For further information please contact Sue Foster on 01902 714957 or email suefoster@connect-group.com

BACK OF THE NET! JOHNSTONE’S TO UNVEIL NEW WEBSITE

To celebrate its fourth season of sponsorship, the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy has unveiled an action packed new website in time to kick off the new season.

The new website offers fans the “ultimate coverage” experience, from exclusive news, manager interviews and team awards, to goal footage from each round of games with opportunities to win sought after prizes.

Fans can also access the match centre zone to view live statistics, listen to text commentary and monitor results via the match centre scoreboard.

The website is designed to engage with more supporters than ever before through a variety of means, including surveys, polls, and competitions, as well as keeping fans abreast of all the daily on-goings, via twitter and facebook social networking websites.

What’s more, the site now has an enhanced photo gallery, which includes images and video clips from past and present Johnstone’s Paint Trophy competitions and events.

In addition, the site contains a community section to showcase the community-led activities carried out during the season such as projects with local schools and community makeovers.

And finally, to offer fans a personal touch, there is the option to select individual team colours, which are then displayed on each click and reappears every time fans return to the site.

Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Sponsorship Co-ordinator Sally Binns said:

“We wanted to revolutionise the website by injecting colour and life into one of the most vital communication tools, allowing us to engage with more and more fans and followers of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy”

“We spent a great deal of time working on this site with fans and we think it has kicked off the new season perfectly for us. We now look forward to engaging with more and more fans as they sign up to the site!”

To visit the new website go to www.johnstonespainttrophy.com

Johnstone’s. Bringing colour to the beautiful game.

Issued on behalf of Johnstone’s by Ben Smallman, Connect PR, ben@connect-group.com ( 01902 714957

Notes to editor:

About PPG
Pittsburgh-based PPG is a global supplier of paints, coatings, chemicals, optical products, speciality materials, glass and fibreglass. The company has more than 150 manufacturing facilities and equity affiliates and operates in more than 60 countries. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: PPG). For more information, visit www.ppg.com.

PETERHEAD FC SCORE NEW SPONSORSHIP DEAL

Peterhead FC is geared up for the season after confirming a new sponsorship deal.

Aberdeen’s Volkswagen retailer, Specialist Cars, is helping to improve the second division club’s transport needs by providing them with three new Volkswagen cars.

The Blue Toon fleet comprises of a Passat, Golf and Polo and will provide the coaches, managers and players with a reliable and cost effective solution for the club.

The vehicles will be used for daily club activity in addition to attending competitor matches and helping to reduce the clubs transportation costs.

Peterhead FC manager, Neale Cooper, said: The Club is really pleased to have Specialist Cars on board and look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with them.

“Support from local businesses is vital for the future sustainability of Peterhead Football Club and in continuing to develop talent from the under 12’s through to the elite first team.”

Specialist Cars Volkswagen retailer’s sales manager, Tony Lanni, said: “We are delighted to be supporting Peterhead Football Club and wish them success for the season.


Picture caption: (l-r) Peterhead FC collects the keys of their new cars Peterhead FC manager, Neale Cooper, Specialist Cars Volkswagen retailer’s sales manager, Tony Lanni and Peterhead FC Youth and Community coach Scott McKenzie

For more information contact Sue Foster on 01902 714 957 or email suefoster@connect-group.com

A SUMMER SUBSTITUTE FOR THE BEAUTIFUL GAME?

As football supporters across the land continue to twiddle their thumbs during the excruciating close season, the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy has decided to ask fans what other sport is tickling their fancy as a substitute.

The ‘gentleman’s game’ of cricket is widely accepted as the nation’s summer sport, but Johnstone’s want fans to have their say as the meat pies and matchday magic remain a distant memory.

So whether it is cricket, tennis, golf or even darts, supporters are being urged to let the competition know what is tickling their fancy as a sporting substitute to football.

Johnstone’s Paint Trophy brand services manager Tom Newton said: “As passionate football fans ourselves, we are all missing the Beautiful Game, let alone the start of the new Johnstone’s Paint Trophy season.

“As a bit of fun to occupy people’s minds during the close season, we are going to find out what our official summer sport really is.”

One lucky person who enters the poll on the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy’s official website will win an official Johnstone’s Paint Trophy football, signed by goalscoring great and TV pundit Mark Bright.

To enter the trophy’s sporting substitute poll, click on http://www.johnstonespainttrophy.com/

Once each fan has entered the poll, they are asked to email sally.binns@ppg.com with their contact details to stand a chance of winning the prize.


Johnstone’s. Bringing colour to the beautiful game.

Issued on behalf of Johnstone’s by Ben Smallman, Connect PR, ben@connect-group.com ( 01902 714957

Notes to editor:

About PPG

Pittsburgh-based PPG is a global supplier of paints, coatings, chemicals, optical products, speciality materials, glass and fibreglass. The company has more than 150 manufacturing facilities and equity affiliates and operates in more than 60 countries. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: PPG). For more information, visit www.ppg.com.

JOHNSTONE’S SEARCH FOR TROPHY TOTS IN TEAM COLOURS

Football fans across Britain are being invited to help create a ‘young and hungry’ fan base for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, after the competition launched an appeal to find little dribbling stars of the future.

The trophy, which enjoyed its best ever attendance figures for the 2008/09 season, is now looking for happy new football faces courtesy of an alive-and-kicking baby competition.

Johnstone’s is asking all fans to send pictures of their little ones - clad in team colours – for the chance of their “young star” to feature on its new official website, where they will be displayed in a special Trophy Tots gallery section ahead of the new season.

The first 50 entries will receive a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy mini-football and a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy panel will then pick a shortlist of six in August, which supporters will be able to vote for on the website.

The competition has been created in an attempt to find some of the nation’s cutest and youngest football fans, in a light hearted effort to engage with Football League clubs up and down the country.

It will also coincide with the launch of the trophy’s radical new website, which has been redesigned to engage with more football fans than ever.

Johnstone’s Paint Trophy sponsorship manager Sally Binns said: “We have created a Trophy Tot competition in an attempt to find some budding new fans of the future.

“We’re always keen to interact with supporters of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy and we thought this would be another fun and colourful way of doing so.”

The Trophy Tots initiative will be split into three age categories; 0 - 12 months; 12 months to 2 years and 2 years to 4 years.

All fans have to do is email a picture and age of their little son or daughter, complete in club scarf, hat, shirt or any other memorabilia, to sally.binns@PPG.com by Sunday August 30.

Selected entries will be displayed on http://www.johnstonespainttrophy.com/ in three age categories once the new website launches in early August, each age range will then be shortlisted for fans to vote for the winner.

ENDS


Johnstone’s. Bringing colour to the beautiful game.

Issued on behalf of Johnstone’s by Sarah Allen, Connect PR, sarah@connect-group.com ( 01902 714957

FANS KEANE ON KEITH AS MIDFIELDER SCOOPS AWARD

Hundreds of Luton Town fans have given midfield dynamo Keith Keane the ultimate summer send off, after voting him as their official Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final man-of-the-match.

Ever since the Hatters’ historic win at Wembley on April 5, Johnstone’s have been urging fans to log onto the company’s website to vote for their player of the final.

More than 1,000 fans voted and Johnstone’s can reveal that Keane got the most nominations, polling 43 per cent of the votes, beating skipper Kevin Nicholls (27 per cent) into second place and Asa Hall into third (18 per cent).

Lucky fan Alan Burgess has been picked at random from those who voted and he will now present Keith with his prize at Kenilworth Road on Friday (June 5).

It will be the second time a Burgess has checked into Kenilworth Road, after Luton signed Andy from Rushden & Diamonds recently – the same name as Alan’s son!

Alan wins a magnum of champagne from the final, which was the only bottle not to get sprayed on the pitch after the final.

The Johnstone’s Paint Trophy decided to come up with the fans’ man of the match award in response to Luton’s phenomenal support for their side at the final at Wembley.

The Hatters’ legions of followers smashed a new-Wembley record for the largest contingent to support a single side at the venue.

Johnstone’s took the unprecedented step of allowing supporters to vote on their website for their man-of-the-match in an attempt to let them have their say.

Johnstone’s Paint Trophy brand services manager Tom Newton said: “We were amazed by the number of votes cast on our website. It is the highest amount we have received for any online competition we have launched.

“The whole project told us two things. Firstly, that Luton Town’s fans are some of the most passionate supporters that we have ever come across.

“Secondly, that pretty much every Luton player could have won the award, as every man received a good proportion of the votes.

“Keith Keane came out on top in the end and, for what it is worth, he was our personal choice too.”

After the celebrations had died down at Wembley following Luton’s win over Scunthorpe, Keane said his performance was the best one he had ever had in a Hatters shirt.

Kevin Nicholls scooped the Football League’s man-of-the-match award on the day, for a similarly inspiring performance.

For more information about the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy please click on www.johnstonespainttrophy.com

Johnstone’s. Bringing colour to the beautiful game.

About PPG

Pittsburgh-based PPG is a global supplier of paints, coatings, chemicals, optical products, speciality materials, glass and fibreglass. The company has more than 150 manufacturing facilities and equity affiliates and operates in more than 60 countries. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: PPG). For more information, visit www.ppg.com.

Issued on behalf of Johnstone’s by Sarah Allen & Ben Smallman, Connect PR, sarah@connect-group.com or ben@connect-group.com ( 01902 714957)