FANTASTIC TRIBUTE FOR FRET

Carlton Town's main sponsors MSR Newsgroup brought proceedings to a close for the 2007/2008 season at Stoke Lane as they won a charity match in support of their loyal employee Steve Frettingham who has had to stand down from his job as shop manager due to cancer

Fret as he is affectionally known has suffered two heart attacks and a stroke in a torrid few months and the companies employees, current and former MSR footballers came together to raise money which will hopefully give ‘Fret’ at least a nice holiday before he undertakes more chemotherapy.
 
Massive credit to former MSR employee Gary Boon who put the Nat West side together in what proved to be a cracking afternoon. For the record MSR with a squad of 18 had the better of the football and Carlton Head Coach Tommy Brookbanks himself a former MSR player was the star of the show with a fine hatrick.
   
For the first time ever MSR Manager Mick Garton played a 4-3-3 formation with John Hickling and Simon Wilkinson starting either side of Brookbanks. Dave Fryer, Lee Hanstock, Pete Knowles and Dayne Lowe proved to be rather rotund fullbacks and in Dave’s case as enthusiastic as ever as he powered in for big challenge after big challenge.
   
Nat West Boys James Hallam and Gary Boon also looked slightly bigger these days but their hearts were in the right place as they turned up to raise money for Fret. Muppet Dave as he was known in his MSR Days and his brother Steve were also on the Nat West team sheet and Steve was to score their only goal in the 2nd half and a corker it was.

Aside from Brookbanks’ hatrick, Dean Gent a former MSR worker who is still allowed the odd run out in an MSR 5 aside shirt scored 2, Sam Hilton got one as did Scott Greswell and Simon Wilkinson in MSR’s 8-1 win. Greg last, MSR’s 1st ever captain now 44 turned up and put in a polished display in goal and MSR’s Andy Bordognia captained the side, he and Fret had worked closely together when Andy first joined MSR. The Wilkinson family turned out in force which was much appreciated as did the May family and many of MSR’S staff along with Fret’s family. Christine Williams ran the raffle and Shannon Garton and Lewis Brookbanks ran a cake and card stall to raise money for Fret.

Carlton Chairman and MSR Managing Director Mick Garton had said on Friday he was hoping to raise £500 for Fret, the fact the fund made £731 gave him and the team at MSR, Carlton Town and Nat West massive satisfaction and Frets daughter Lucy on behalf of the family sent in a moving thank you card to Mick, Shannon and all at Carlton Town and Nat West Group for what they had done.

It was a truly moving day for a guy who after 10 years service at MSR has been going through hell. It was fitting that the long serving and highly respected Tom Bartles came up to present Fret with the proceeds, it was a day for the good guys and Fret undoubtedly is one of them, he MSR and the club thank everyone for their kind support, it was brilliant.

MSR TO HOST FORMER DOUBLE EUROPEAN CUP WINNER

MSR Newsgroup are to hold a book signing session at their Front Street, Arnold store featuring one of Nottingham Forest’s greatest ever defenders.

Forest’s double European Cup winning centre half Larry Lloyd is back in town promoting his superb new autobiography.

Larry, who was also a controversial radio pundit and popular local pub landlord for a time now lives in Spain but he’s back in the UK promoting the book entitled ‘Hard Man: Hard Game’ which tells of his fantastic career and a large part is devoted to his hugely successful time at Nottingham Forest and his ups and downs with the great Brian Clough.

He will be at our store at 30 Front Street Arnold on Saturday 5th April between 10am and 12 midday and will be personalising books for customers.

Any Forest fans who wish to order a copy can do by emailing us or contacting the office on 0115 9581735.

MSR DELIGHTED AT FANTA DEAL

MSR teamed up with Coca Cola and the Nottingham Evening Post to help launch the new Fanta Still range.

Free coupons appeared in a week long Evening Post campaign and were redeemable in all MSR stores and also the Derby Evening Telegraph.

MSR’s Marketing Director was delighted with the response “We struggled to cope with the demand at times, it was a hugely successful launch and we were delighted to be at the forefront of it in the majority of our 20 stores.” concluded Bell.

ANOTHER LOTTERY TRIUMPH FOR MSR’S LOUTH STORE

ANOTHER LOTTERY TRIUMPH FOR MSR’S LOUTH STORE

The MSR Newsgroup store in Louth, Lincolnshire which is still trading under the Spencer’s banner has once again produced another huge lottery win.

A syndicate from Louth won half a million pounds of which each member’s share was £90,000 and the shop has received mass media coverage.

The media coverage was not only to highlight the win, but due to the fact that the shop has a tremendous track record of producing big lottery winners.

In May 2005, Steve Appleby won £3.1 million after buying his ticket from the Spencer’s store while the Spencer’s staff themselves won £70,000 also in May 2005 which produced them £5,500 each.

A local Louth company won £36,000 in June 2005 while office workers and bin men at Mamby near Louth walked away with £65,000 in 2006 and already this year as well as the £500,000 win a customer won £1,800 in the Saturday 8th March draw.

There have also been some big winners on instants with a £100,000 prize being won at the newsagents and more recently a £5,000 winner came forward in the presence of MSR’s Managing Director Mick Garton who happened to be at the shop at the time.

He commented “There is no doubt this is a lucky shop, the number of wins and the amount of which people have won over the last two or three years has been staggering and while we have had some good winners at our other stores, nothing comes close to what has been achieved at the Louth store.

“I have been buying my tickets from our Radcliffe Road store in Nottingham but I think I need to rethink that and start buying them from Louth when I make my visits there.

“It certainly is a nice story and a good news one for a change.”

NEWSGROUP OPENS 20th STORE

MSR Newsgroup have opened their 20th store in Derby’s Westfield Centre and are proud to be part of the outstanding new shopping experience which is Westfield Derby.

“What a cracking shopping centre and we are proud to be part of it.” Said MSR’s Managing Director Mick Garton.

It is MSR’s second store in the much extended centre formerly known as the Eagle Centre.

MSR have also opened a new store in Arnold across the road from the other store.

The new store has a card gallery and alcohol for the first time and produces a much brighter and modern look than the old store which they had occupied since 1989.

With the re-launch of the MSR Memorabilia website from which you can now buy online, it has certainly been a busy time for the company and with the best ever range of Christmas offers including the big four tins; Quality Street, Roses, Heroes and Celebrations at £5.99 or 2 for £10 and book signing sessions for the first time at Louth, Arnold and the Victoria Centre, the future is looking bright.

Despite a declining market, MSR have continued to grow their share of the newspaper market and are now delivering more papers than ever before.