Inside the bakery

March 2nd 2008: Damien Duff’s 29th birthday, the 38th anniversay of Rhodesia’s Decleration of Independence but - most importantly - the Football League Awards!

“The Oscars of the Footballing World” will once again incorporate the presentation of the Wickes Young Apprentice of the Year Award and here at Cake, the Wickes team have been busy giving the shortlisted footballers the recognition that they deserve. The six young players in contention are:

- Anthony Acheampong, Cardiff City
- Mark Beevers, Sheffield Wednesday
- Mark Devonshire, Barnsley
- Lee Hills, Crystal Palace
- Joe Mattock, Leicester City
- Tommy Smith, Ipswich Town

Now in it’s third year, the award looks to recognise the best young talent in the Championship, and examines both the players’ skills on the pitch, and their committment off the field to learning and development.

Last year’s winner Chris Gunter - pictured below with his trophy and some helpful Wickes staff - has since been snapped up by ‘top’ Premiership side Tottenham Hotspur so we’re expecting big things for the boy that comes out on top at the exclusive awards ceremony in March….

Click here, here and here for some of the recent coverage around the award.

First came sheds, then there were baths: this season, we have unveiled our next installment of Wickes’ Half Time Entertainment. Colchester United captain Karl Duguid was on hand to launch the Wickes Wall Of Fame at Layer Road yesterday and the eagle-eyed amongst you may recognise the dashing ‘builders’ who make up the Wall. Yes, when posters went up around the building looking for ‘Cake’s Next Top Models’, Lee M, Lee W, Sam and Craig gallantly stepped up and are now gracing Layer Road’s pitch every Saturday.

The aim of the game is simple: two fans plucked from the crowd go head to head to chip as many footballs over the wall and into the goal as possible. At the end of the season the top five players within each club competing for the chance to win a state of the art kitchen from Wickes.

Karl had so much fun taking on Wickes Wall Of Fame himself that he even suggested to our spy: “If you get to win a kitchen, I might ask the gaffer if I can pop out and have a go at half time myself!”

Last Thursday was a monumental day for Cake. A day that had been a long time in the planning and was hugely anticipated by both client and staff alike.

Yes, the Wickes Christmas party at the Chapel Bar in Islington proved a momentous event for a lucky few from Cake PR, as the DIY giant’s staff and agencies came together in typical Christmas spirit. Beers flowed, nibbles were served and tales of baths and sheds filled the room…

But fear not, we’re not so dull that we talk home improvement products all evening. No, the sheds and baths in question were Wickes’ half time entertainment at Championship grounds: On Me Shed Son, at Wolves and A Game Of Two Baths, at Crystal Palace. Such is their success, that we’re in discussions with other clubs to take our own unique half time activity to other clubs. Watch this space…

Keep an eye out in January 2007 for the Wickes Groundsman Of The Year Award and other Championship initiatives.