Washed up pros
Mike Boorman
Patsy Hoolihan? - the guy that Jimmy White reckoned was the best he'd
ever seen, but never made it on the pro circuit because Joe Davis
froze him out. The story went that Hoolihan had hammered Davis a few
times in private and as Snooker began to take off, Davis used
Hoolihan's minor criminal record to prevent him from competing
professionally so he would not be challenged.
It was a cracking article. If you get a copy then I would thoroughly
recommend it. Anyone know more about the man?
One other thing in the article was the mention of Tony Meo, off the
cuff, and then in brackets it said "who's whereabouts are unknown."
The reason why I raise it is this journalist had gone to extreme
lengths to track down Patsy Hoolihan, yet had clearly failed to get
anything about Meo. (ok, it would not have been the main line of the
story so he wouldn't have the same effort to get info, but a quick bit
in brackets always reads well "Tony Meo, who is now..." etc.)
So does anyone know what Tony Meo is up to now? I've asked a couple
of people who've told me some bizarre things that I won't bandy about
here because I'm not sure of the accuracy, but whenever Meo comes into
it there always seems to be some mystery.
I'd love any info about the guy - he was a bit of a hero of mine as a
kid, as were all the players on the front of "The Matchroom book of
Snooker" (my bible!)
harry walters
my first international was against England i was playing for Wales the match
was held in Warrington it ended up 9 all, that's the first time i met Tony
Meo and Jimmy White we were playing cards in the hotel it was shoot the
pool, Tony+Jimmy had never played the game they asked if they could join in
i don't know if any of you have played that card game but its not a good
idea to play if you don't know the score, well anyway they both lost all
their money but Jimmy asked if he could shoot the pool with his watch we
said yes ,he lost then Tony asked if he could shoot the pool with his gold
silk shirt, we said yes he lost,ps he has got a very hairy chest,the
following morning we were on the team bus waiting to pull away when Tony and
Jimmy came running to the bus, they had managed to borrow the money to get
their shirt and watch back and to top it all they had a taxi back to London
and they said West would pay
"Mike Boorman" <tonyyeb...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
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Bob Jewett
> Did anyone read a feature article in the Observer Sport Monthly about
> Patsy Hoolihan? - the guy that Jimmy White reckoned was the best he'd
> ever seen, but never made it on the pro circuit because Joe Davis
> froze him out. ...
That would be
http://www.observer.co.uk/osm/story/0,6903,708304,00.html
Thanks for the pointer. We don't see OSM over here much.
--
Bob Jewett
Lorraine
Patsy Hoolihan.
Here is one: (you may have to copy and paste)
http://www.observer.co.uk/osm/story/0,6903,708304,00.html
Lorraine
"Mike Boorman" <tonyyeb...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
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George
Manchester in 1973 and I recall Higgins being late (and arriving to play
wearing a green cat-suit) but I don't recall the cue incident.
I also remember a match between Houlihan and Spencer at the Daily Mail
exhibition in London in 1969 (I think). Spencer was at his peak and had
made countless centuries all week in exhibition there, but Houlihan cam
along on the Saturday and beat him (something like 5-3 as I recall). He
was a very compact player, great cue-ball control, made the game look
very easy.
I also saw him in the London section of the Amateur Billiards
championships, also late sixties. He was no great billiard player and
relied mostly on potting the red, but I will always remember the
nonchalant way he hammered countless reds into the bottom pockets off
the blue spot.
In the late sixties he was clearly up there with Spencer and
Reardon...no question of that.
George
In article <f0c6b976.02050...@posting.google.com>,
tonyyeb...@yahoo.co.uk says...
Janie Watkins
"George" <boff...@wol.be> wrote in message
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Janie Watkins
"harry walters" <viv...@vrosser.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
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Reach Out
"Janie Watkins" <ja...@paw-print.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1020878038.1116.0...@news.demon.co.uk...
> one of the great hustlers of the old school
>
>
>
play Marcus Owen, final of English amateur championships.
JB safety was excellent but could not cope with Owen's overall game.
They used to jack up the table after a few frames
because the snooker room was on wood floors and sinking.
Both these men were good money players.
Wonder if still alive today.?
Reach Out
Janie Watkins
I believe Jonathan Barron is still around - our Cornish experts can provide
more details.
"Reach Out" <mi...@petshop.harford.to> wrote in message
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angusg
button!
"Bob Jewett" <jew...@sfbilliards.com> wrote in message
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harry walters
Englandnews:1020893565.15538....@news.demon.co.uk...
Janie Watkins
"harry walters" <viv...@vrosser.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
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harry walters
it was before my timenews:1020952443.13387....@news.demon.co.uk...
Reach Out
> If I am wrong Janie its Mario Bernie's fault when Gary Owen lived in
Neath
> it was before my time
> "Janie Watkins" <ja...@paw-print.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:1020952443.13387....@news.demon.co.uk...
> > When did they move Upper Tumble to Neath?
Mario has been blamed for a lot over the years,
but first time I heard this one.
Reach Out
Janie Watkins
all that Neath blood split - but everywhere I've seen Gary Owen listed as
being born and bred in Tumble - he may well have lived in Neath at some time
and probably played there quite a bit.
"Janie Watkins" <ja...@paw-print.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1020952443.13387....@news.demon.co.uk...
Reach Out
> Well I'd hate to cause a punch up between Tumble and Neath - I'd hate
to see
> all that Neath blood split - but everywhere I've seen Gary Owen listed
as
> being born and bred in Tumble - he may well have lived in Neath at
some time
> and probably played there quite a bit.
>
I will ask my spies and let you know.
I should see my own Gareth Owen next few days.
He should know.
Reach Out
harry walters
tonight he told me Gary moved to Neath because we had electricity, he
couldn't see his balls in Tumblenews:abenq6$heqdn$1...@ID-50647.news.dfncis.de...
Janie Watkins
has Mario tried you on his favourite quiz question..... everyone can have a
go at this....
Stored in the cupboards of the old Burroughes & Watts there used to sit a
trophy (it's still around today) that was competed for every year since
around 1910 and to this day has never been won... What is the trophy and how
come it's never presented?
"harry walters" <viv...@vrosser.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
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