Snooker Stars Business venture

The 40-year-old from Walton-le-Dale, near Preston, and his business partner Neil Marginson, from Bamber Bridge, have launched North West Sports Events.

The firm provides professional management services for charity fundraisers, snooker and darts exhibitions, dinners, presentations and corporate events and books famous after dinner and motivational speakers from the sports world.

Its forthcoming events include a lunch with former Southampton and England footballer Matt Le Tissier at Wellington Park in Leyland, an evening with snooker great Steve Davis at the same venue and a dinner with snooker legend Dennis Taylor at the PNE Invincibles Lounge at Deepdale.

Ian called time on his own playing career earlier this year after undergoing two shoulder operations.

He said: Ive done events for a long, long time, 15 years. Im a Preston lad born and bred and Ive known Neil for years and years.

Obviously after 20 years in sport Ive got a lot of people I know and Neil assists on the press side.

Neil, 32, spent 10 years in the Royal Air Force working as a radio technician on the Tornado F3 before moving to Buckshaw Village.

He said the partnership came about after the duo teamed up to run a charity night at the Yew Tree Inn in Walton-le-Dale.

The dad-of-one said: They made quite a bit of money for their football team and for Help for Heroes, so this seemed like a natural progression for us.

Long term were hoping to hold a couple of events per month.

If people have £50 to spend they dont want to spend it in their local pub thats only got three people in it. Were trying to batter places down for prices for food and get people a good night out which is value for money and entertaining.

The pair also manage professional darts players Wes Newton and Colin Lloyd and are working to raise their profile by getting them sponsors for tournaments.

For more details visit www.nwsportsevents.co.uk.