An advertising company Y&R (Young & Rubicam) wanted to bring the honey monster to a new generation, whist trying to invigorate the Sugar Puffs brand, so they turned to the geordie messiah.
Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan was the man chosen for their advertising campaign. His choice was a natural one, with his success as a footballer and of his wide appeal to the younger generation. Sugar Puffs latest £1,000,000 signing.
The first advert was first aired in 1996. Wembley was the scene for the Honey Monster's footballing début coming off the bench to rescue Newcastle United cup hopes. The rest, as they say is history...
A diving header winning the cup for Newcastle! Let the celebrations begin! Not before a bowl of the Honey Monsters finest vintage of course. Fortunately this was not real, as the Toon Army would be dining off it for years.
A year later Y&R and the Honey Monster had moved clubs, along with a new face for the campaign. Manchester United and Denmark goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel. The Honey Monster was thrown in at the deep end for his new club.
The Great Dane had come out to challenge the Italian striker, tactfully named Ravioli, injuring himself badly. Sir Alex Ferguson turned to super sub...
In one of the greatest save ever seen in the Stadio delle Alpi, the honey monster mimics the scorpion kick save, premiered by Rene Higuita for Colombia against England. The Manchester United players wanted to celebrate. The Honey monster just wanted a bowl of his finest vintage.
4 years in the footballing wilderness followed but Y&R wanted to capitalise on the start of the 01/02 season so they brought the Honey Monster back from retirement with a candid look back at the life and times of the monster, with Dennis Wise the new face of the cereal.
Note the micky taking aimed at Dennis Wise's height. Well done Honey Monster. With these 3 adverts they had firmly placed themselves as one of the cereals we can't live without, but what really had us rushing to the shops for a box was the free toy in the box in the late 90's.
The pencil toppers came in a selection of clubs. Originally there were Arsenal, Chelsea, Leeds United, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hostpur, Nottingham Forest, Rangers and Celtic varieties. As the range developed European sides were added (Barcelona and Real Madrid)It was another thing to get one over your mates "I've got Gianfranco Zola on the end of MY pencil, and all YOU have is Steve Stone!"
The excitement when we bought another box, only to be crushed when you get Gunnar Halle (Leeds) again, we weren't swapping stickers at school anymore. It was pencil toppers. The new craze.
These days it's all match attax trading cards and FIFA 11, what we had was special, a phenomenon, nothing will compare to a free toy from a box of cereal which made your wee smell like them.
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