The Richard Spooner Column: Long lunch with 'arry�

'arry was still talking when I had to make my excuses and leave. Disappointing because talking is what Harry Redknapp does best, now that he has retired as a football player and manager.

He had regaled his audience at the launch of The Sporting Club Birmingham with a series of stories gathered from a rich field of sources over his many years involved in the beautiful game.

And what a joy it was to listen to the man who has become a national treasure since he won I 'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here and then endeared himself to the nation through several television shows. And in the process, he put Sandbanks on the map.

But the launch of The Sporting Club in Birmingham by founder Ian Stafford, a journalist, broadcaster and author, was a joy for many other reasons.

Suddenly, life is returning. After a Covid-imposed exile the gentleman and ladies who lunch and dinner (doesn 't sound right as a verb; perhaps it should dine) are at last coming out to play again.

Invitations to numerous events have resumed and the diary is filling up. There were about 100 guests at Edgbaston for the Sporting Club launch - they were already running in venues in London, Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool.

There were many familiar faces there from the Birmingham business glitterati well known for never passing up a good, long lunch with a bit of jollying thrown in between courses. It 's reassuring to know that old habits die hard.

It is time that the long lunch returned to our diaries - the hospitality sector needs us and we agreed at Edgbaston that everything should be done to ensure their revival and survival.

Some of the most memorable sporting lunches were staged at Opus, now sadly closed having failed to survive the ravages of the economic impact of the pandemic.

I can remember sharing numerous lunches there (all in the line of duty, of course) with icons such as Willie-John McBride, Ian Botham, Jimmy Greaves, David Duckham and even Jo Brand, although I 'm sure the wonderful British comedian and her mum were not there as a result of sporting acumen.

And the great news is that those lunches, organised by Karl Ward, are on their way back. Even more encouraging, his comeback event, is scheduled for 29 October featuring cricket 's Phil Tufnell. And, even better, it will take place at the newly-refurbished Grand Hotel in the heart of Birmingham 's business district.

Karl, managing director of Office Recycling Solutions, has several other dates lined up for next year, featuring rugby 's James Haskell and boxing 's Frank Warren.

He told me: “We 're obviously keeping our powder dry because restrictions could change at any time and we want everyone to feel safe and comfortable. But the October lunch will go ahead and is already sold out. Our last lunch was at Christmas, 2019, featuring Rugby Union 's Lawrence Dallaglio so it will be great to be back. ”

Back to 'arry, who may still be talking at Edbgaston, for the final word. He generously helped to raise a considerable amount of money for the Get Ahead Charity and added a bonus when he offered for auction the chance to join him in two four-balls at his local golf club. “Why not, ” said 'arry, “I play every day anyway... ”