What better to accompany the tea or coffee, or stronger, in your rollover pair of prize mugs than a few tasty wafer-thin mint chocolates with cream inside?
The idea of asking Nestlé to stump up the modest price of a box of After Eights as part of this week’s prize was put in Salut! Sunderland‘s mind by Ian Wilkinson, a member of our Facebook group (join the 400+ members at https://www.facebook.com/groups/salutsunderland/).
Ian posted this image as his verdict on Southampton 8-0 Sunderland with Arsenal at home to come:
Sadly, the Men and Women in Suits who decide how to promote the food and beverages giant were having none of it.
An e-mail was ignored and a follow-up call proceeded as if the man on the other end of the line had no idea of the impact of one result – highlighted on the national news, interviews with forlorn fans (including our old friend Cass Farrar, who had been at West Ham and Watford, too) and finally the players’ offer to refund travelling fans the price of their tickets.
Monsieur Salut suggested that any public relations or promotions department worth its salt would jump at the chance of such a burst of very nearly free publicity. Finally, he wearied of these efforts to get him and Nestlé to enter into the spirit of the occasion, flatly pointing out that all sponsorship requests had to be made months in advance.
If only we could tell that far ahead that our team was going to be walloped to within a solitary After Eight’s width of its life.
See also: Shocked by such displays as Sunderland’s at Southampton but completely against the moneyback culture:
https://safc.blog/2014/10/gambles-rambles-yes-to-mannones-humilty-a-resounding-no-to-moneyback-culture/
But where corporate Britain (and Switzerland and the world) let us down, our own star writer Pete Sixsmith lifted us up. The sponsorship budget at Sixsmith Towers is smaller, or so we believe, but the great man instantly offered to buy the box of chocolates himself.
This, along with two slick Sunderland mugs from our much more fun regular sponsors Personalised Football gifts (or Arsenal ones if you support them and win), awaits this week’s winner. It is a rollover because, oddly, no one predicted 8-0 last week.
Guess the score for Saturday’s match. If you are right, first to be so and post your scoreline before kickoff, you win the lot. You must have a UK delivery address but there are otherwise no restrictions; even supporters of neither club may enter. M Salut’s decision is final.
Ha’way the Lads.
* Check out the Personalised Football Gifts range at http://www.personalisedfootballgifts.co.uk/.
The Sixer has what would have been a 1-1. So I will have to go for a bore draw. 0-0.
2-2 and pride restored ….. a bit
Can’t see Welbeck wanting to score against the team what made him. Therefore must be 2-0 to us, especially if we have our new full back playing.
Ha’way lads… time to bounce back. 3-1
Oh for the After Eights so I must put away any negative thoughts and go for a high scoring 0-0!
SAFC 3 – 0 Gunners, ever the optimist, which Sunderland will turn up?
It had better be a stirring performance after last week ends humiliation, I’m still traumatised by it!!!
Why all the gloom? Losing one game 8-0 has to be better than losing eight games 1-0.
1-0 to the lads in red and white – Arsenal thank goodness will have to play in yellow!
Ha’way the Lads!
There must be a reaction, the fans will demand it. I think we will battle hard, but I can’t see a victory – or a draw.
SAFC 0 Gunners 2
Looks like you win William. M. Salut will doubtless be in touch.
Another William C win for another of his gloomy predictions. Something must be done. Two mugs and the Sixer box of chocs are his
Gloomy, but unfortunately, accurate!
3 nil to Arsenal, I am afraid we are entering a plummeting period. No chance in Saturday.
I have my doubts we will recover so quickly. My prediction is 2-1 to Arsenal. Hope I am wrong. Howaythelads.
I shall win my own After Eights by forecasting a 1-1 draw and a 2-1 win for Shildon at Norton United.
Ps I hope im wrong and dont win the bloody cups. 😉
1-0 to the lads, has to be.
Ahem, I am the rather good looking chap (carrying a few pounds i grant you, after eights not responsible) mentioned in the article above, aye up there. My forcast is based on which team Gus will field, will he throw the same 11 on to the park to sink ot swim, or could Cabral, Graham and Dozy start. The thought has just made me burp an unpleasant burp. My forcast is for us to sink again 1-3 and just hope to god im wrong.
Ha Way me bonnie lads.
“but you can throw the minty things in the Tyne. They are awful, sticky, sickly things which probably only get eaten After Eight pints when you no longer care.”
Well said Eric012.
Two Nil to the boys who seem to play appallingly in blue but will return to form with a vengeance in their beloved red and white stripes. If I am lucky enough (or skilful enough) to win I will happily accept the mugs, but you can throw the minty things in the Tyne. They are awful, sticky, sickly things which probably only get eaten After Eight pints when you no longer care.
I’ll eat them if you don’t want them 🙂
2-1.
I’m not eligible for mugs or chocs so someone else can use this score if they wish