TS has always been a big believer in the ‘sport is like business’ mantra, so when Sir Geoff Hurst, he of insurance industry ­ and 1966 World Cup winning hat-trick ­ fame stood up to address last week’s Accountancy Age Conference, TS was all ears. Sir Geoff did not disappoint.

He regaled his rapt audience with some locker room banter before sharing the epiphany that teamwork was vital in both sport and business. Sir Geoff also indicated that a certain footballer by the name of Emile Heskey could be on his way into the accounting profession. ‘Heskey has scored five goals for England in 40-odd games. If I had had a scoring record like that I would have become an accountant,’ Sir Geoff said.

Altogether now: ‘Heskey for audit, Heskey for audit.’