Pool had been popular in America for many more years than that but the UK game, with its smaller pockets and consequently higher level of skill requirement, suffered initially from the rather shady reputation American pool had fostered, a reputation that British pool largely overcame.

One of my early assignments as a pool reporter was to cover a contest in a Leeds hotel for a TV programme, presented by the late Fred Trueman, called Indoor League. His opponent in a special challenge match was Neil Hawke, a former Australian Test cricketer who was Fred’s 300th Test-wicket victim and who, at the time, was involved in making Hawke and Lord pool tables in Burnley.

I asked the late Barrie Denton, of Hazel Grove Music (HGM), whose company popularised the Superleague pool tables at the time: “What’s the score?” Hiding his surprise that such an ignoramus should have been sent to cover an important assignment, he proceeded to outline the rules of 8-ball pool. Nobody has since done it better.

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