Tony Aldridge (Totton Rec) has decided to hang up his cue after suffering a broken wrist in 2011. He says “I am not able to maintain a reliable stance, finding it difficult to produce accuracy over the full length of the table, It’s very frustrating”.

Tony has promoted Snooker, Billiards and Tenpin Bowling Leagues and Tournaments in Southampton for just over 50 years.

Prior to 1960, Tony served his "snooker and billiards apprenticeship” at the Beaulieu British Legion Club winning the Club Snooker Trophy, three years on the trot. In 1961 he secured a place with the Freemantle Club A team, and won the club billiards handicap against the late Reg Fells.

During the 60's much of Tony's social time was taken up with Tenpin Bowling after the game arrived here from the States. Organizing no less than 26 events at the Top Rank Bowl, over a period of eight years which included one National Tournament won by the Brunswick Jets (Manchester). In local league play Tony scored at best a 186 average over 60 games, a high game of 269 and a high series (3 games) of 676.

Back with the snooker and billiards, Tony came into his own during the 70s and 80s winning the Ken Sydenham Handicap Billiards trophy on 3 occasions, won the Billiards League trophies with Bitterne Park and Pot Black (with Paul Adams, Paul Harrison, Colin Smith, Kevin Smith and Paul Stenning) the Burroughs & Watts snooker KO, Social Clubs Div 1, 2 and 4, and the Town Pairs Badger Shield (with Geoff North, Atherley).

In 1978, at Bitterne Park Tony devised the Southampton Summer Snooker Bonanza. A four-man snooker knockout, run on the same format as the Football World Cup. It proved to be a very popular event reaching an entry of 100 teams in 1986 under the sponsorship of E.M.Lawson (Tools) Ltd. The Snooker Bonanza is still running today under the jurisdiction of Jim Everett at Chandlers Ford Snooker Centre.

Tony boast's of knocking in a 109 break in the inter-town Billiards match when he represented Southampton A - a wonderful achievement.

At the Atherley Club, Tony won the in-house Snooker Handicap Trophy in four successive years. More recently he helped Bitterne Park A win the Div 2 title and with his newly formed team at Woolston Cons, won the Southampton Billiards League in 2004 and 2007.

Over his 52 years in the Southampton Leagues Tony has represented no less than eleven clubs, has enjoyed reasonable success in each, but has fondest memories of his achievements at Bitterne Park. Here he played alongside Jeff James, Albert Gunner, Jim Monele, Charlie Nicklen, Don Payne and George Welby. Also in 1981 Tony beat Derek King 3 – 1 to lift the annual club trophy.

Playing for Woolston Cons C in the Invitation Summer Snooker league Tony scored a 63 break at St Deny's Cons, clearing the last nine reds with 6 blacks and 2 pinks to win 74 - 4 with 27 points left on the table, against Mark Emm. Tony's previous breaks at snooker are lost in the annals of time, but the dusty record books show that he scored breaks of 52 and 58 some 25 years ago...

League Secretary Ted Richards (Shirley Cons) passed away in 1996 and Tony was asked to act as Games Secretary for the Social Clubs League. He held this position until 2004 when he resigned after the death of his brother, Colin who was chairman at Beaulieu R B L.

Paul Adams says, "when Tony first came to Pot Black he saw a group of youngsters who loved playing snooker but didn't understand the finer details of the effect side spin, top spin and screw could have on our game". After hearing that I had not yet made a 100 break at snooker, he said, "If I show you how to play Billiards I guarantee you will make a century at snooker within the next year or so". Well I couldn't wait to learn about this 'dark art' of Billiards. And Tony was right; within the year I had made my first snooker century!

But what Tony had done was light a smouldering love for the game of Billiards. Before he came along we didn't know about wonderful shots such as the 'short Jenny', the 'double kiss cannon' and the 'long run through cannon' (which Tony turned into my favourite shot!). As a Pot Black team we went on to great things, but most of all, Tony had passed his wonderful knowledge on to us, and for that we will be forever grateful

We will remember with fondness his signature shot - the 4 or 5 cushion cannon, which we stood and could only admire as he showed his knowledge of the angles on a billiard table!

I'm sure Tony will still be seen at some of Totton's matches, offering encouragement and knowledge, as he did for us all those years ago, but in the meantime have a good retirement and enjoy those Tenpin Bowling games up at Eastleigh.

Well-done Tony

Tony's insight into the game of billiards (and also tenpin bowling) is available if you wish to take either game up. To arrange an exhibition you should e-mail him on sotonsnooker@f2s.com

(Words and picture from Tony Aldridge. Additional reporting by Paul Adams)