A big headline in the Halifax Evening Courier as Halifax beat Huddersfield in the Yorkshire League. A big headline because they didn’t do it very often; especially with their favourite, Albert Birkby, beating Jack. Albert would have won a few more Halifax trophies if Jack hadn’t played in their Billiards Championship for four years along with Harold Burkinshaw.
1970
Jack wins his tenth and last Huddersfield Billiards Championship aged 56, 30 years since he won his first Huddersfield Snooker Championship. The headline says he “Struggled to win” and perhaps the writing was on the wall. His opponent, Stuart Hill, would have his day when he won it four times in consecutive years, between 1985 – 88.
1971
This would be Jack’s last appearance in the final, alas he couldn’t go out on a high as Tommy Donlan won. How fitting that the student should beat the teacher for his first title and that he would go on to win it a further ten times as the teacher did. One great champion bows out and another takes the stage. I wonder if Tommy’s children are as proud of their father as I am of mine.
1997
This is the photo that accompanied the report that the Huddersfield Billiards and Snooker Association had just withdrawn their snooker team from the Yorkshire Inter-District League, after an acute shortage of players. Several reasons were given, not least the defection of players to the rival Huddersfield Federation. Fortunately the billiards side have no such problems. Ted Warren, Tony Clegg and Brian Cousen are bidding to emulate the glory days of the past when the above side won the League eight years in succession, from 1952 – 59.
And so to the last newspaper photo – or is it? Only time will tell. This was my attempt to contact other people who have memories of those halcyon days. The days when honest, hard working men would meet in smoked filled rooms, to discuss all manner of things, and participate in a simple game, just for the love of it; no or little reward for their dedication to hours of practice on the green baize. Since I wrote that, I have been able to fine tune things and I think I know what the trophies are – but would like anyone to contact me if they know as well.
Jack Mellor 