The latest SporTedd event aimed at raising funds for local sport-themed projects in the Teddington area raised over £3000 despite a last-minute hitch.

The chief guest for the evening at riverside restaurant The Wharf was due to be Gary Lineker who was, unfortunately, unfortunately struck down with COVID on the morning of the event – making him unavailable for SporTedd as well as FA Cup football commitments on TV over the weekend.

However, the panic-stricken organisers agreed to push ahead with the event, informing guests that Gary would only be able to join us by zoom for an interview with Alison Kervin but had generously agreed to answer questions from guests from his sickbed.

Out of the 110 expected guests only six chose not to attend and those who did had the extra surprise of sharing fantastic insights into the Six Nations rugby tournament from top England referee Wayne Barnes, who lives locally in Twickenham ad South African referee Craig Joubert, who kindly contributed too.

Raffle prizes included two tickets and hospitality for Chelsea’s Champions League match against Lille later this month, a personalised Tim Henman tennis racket, two giant boxes of Walkers crisps and a full set of Masuri cricket gear.

But the most sought after item was the Gary Lineker ‘substitute’ – a strangely life-like cardboard cut out of the former England striker which guest Toni Corbin paid £50 for and the happy couple left the venue arm in arm.

SporTedd hopes future guests will include former F1 Champion Damon Hill and British tennis star Tim Henman.