 Players from the Chalk Farm Pool League celebrate another successful season: Carly O’Connell, Tony Dunbar, Eddie O’Connell, Andy Baker, John Cinnamond, Stephen Moriarty, Kenny Dunn and Alp Sezer |
Pool league challenge aims to breathe new life into the sport
League sets sights on being bigger and better than ever before
ONE of the most established pool leagues in north London are challenging players from Camden and Islington to help revive the sport and force pubs and clubs across the country to stop getting rid of their tables.
Premier potters from the Chalk Farm Pool League are holding a special registration night at the Boston Arms pub in Tufnell Park on Monday, where they are hoping to sign up a host of new teams and prove that the sport is as popular as ever.
In a bid to strengthen their grip on the game, members within the league have just selected a new committee ahead of the coming season. The first thing it did was to introduce a rule change allowing teams to take part with six players instead of nine, a move that organisers hope will encourage teams to return to the table.
The league boasts a great mixture of talent, including internationals, amateur players, female members and disabled players. Proving that it’s never to late to join in, there are even three players within the league who are over 70-years-old.
Chairman Dave Hempstead admits that the sport has suffered in recent years, but has no doubt that the Chalk Farm Pool League is on the verge of re-establishing itself as one of the best competitions in London.
“The sport as a whole is suffering because pool tables are being taken out of pubs that are opting to go down the ‘gastro pub’ route – so teams are dropping off and leagues across the country are suffering.
“Another major body blow for us personally was the closure of Kentish Town Snooker Club, which was a central venue for the league. But we’ve survived both these tests and the standard of play within the league last season was as impressive as ever.
“Our aim now is to continue to push forward and we’re hoping that by giving teams the chance to take part with less players it will encourage more pubs and clubs from across Camden and Islington to join in the action.
“We’ve set our sights on becoming even bigger and better than ever before.”
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