A TRIO of World Cup winning football legends will visit the region later this year thanks to an events entrepreneur who specialises in bringing sporting heroes to the North-East.

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

While other media companies have struggled during the downturn, Miss Porteous attributes the rapid growth of her fledgling business to her decision to tap into the North East’s enduring passion for sport.

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 key figures 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 she 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 14 and I have always done more than one job to get by. I am a hard worker and never like to fail.

“Sporteous is the best thing that has 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 working.

“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 Friday, May 30, at Hardwick Hall, Sedgefield, County Durham, visit sporteousuk.co.uk