WORLD Cup winning football legends will visit the region later this year as an events entrepreneur  specialises in bringing sporting heroes to the North-East. 

Sarah Porteous set up her event management company called Sporteous UK a year ago and turnover is expected to treble over the next 12 months.

The 29-year-old from Teesside, who employs two members of staff, is organising a champions reunion event ahead of this summer's World Cup in Brazil, which will include three legends from England's triumphant 1966 team, Sir Geoff Hurst, Nobby Styles and Gordon Banks.

Her company has already attracted famous names in sport to the North-East, including former Manchester United star Lee Sharpe and last year hosted a sell out gala dinner for former England captain and Middlesbrough FC favourite Bryan Robson.

She said: “Sporteous has been my biggest challenge and believe me I have had a few in my life.

“I moved away from my parents when I was just 14-years-old and I have always worked more than one job to get by. I am a hard worker and I never like to fail. Sporteous has been the best thing that has ever happened to me and I am gobsmacked at how well it’s doing.

“There are so many event management companies around who are closing their doors. But Sporteous is thriving. I have really homed in on our love for sport in this region and it's certainly work.

“My sport is snooker. I have been playing for years and I enter the odd tournament here and there. That is why I work with snooker players as well as football players, rugby players and athletes.”

For more information about the event which will take place on May 30 at Hardwick Hall, visit www.sporteousuk.co.uk