1st Division…
The new formedOur Lady’s A team captained by Matty Pollocks mob, faced off against the original main man of Our Lady’s, Alan Parker now of Scarisbrick E, with both sides looking to establish themselves in the first division after making promotion to the big time last season. In a competitive night’s snooker, both captains had to settle for on a 3-3 draw in the end, sharing the frames throughout the night. Nobby Lee lost out on the final colours to Keith Turner 49-57, as did Stan Hughes, going down 40-33 on the final black to Drake Crook. Mike Langford edged the Formby lads in front once more when beating Phil Fellows 57-17, Chris Foley having no chance in his heads up with newbie Chris Connelly getting a right ole thumping, losing out 44-99, Chris making his second break in the 40’s already this season, this week one of 44, after last week’s break of 46 against Tarleton B. With Our Lady’s a player short, it was left to Matty Pollock to secure the draw if he could manage to beat Martin Forshaw. Both players had a break in the 20’s, Martin one of 26, Matty’s a slightly less in number, 21, but Matty would take it 63-47 and so snatch the draw.

Banks A had to come back from 3-1 down to earn the 3-3 draw with the visiting Birkdale Cons A team, leaving Banks still searching for their first win, Birkdale unbeaten, so far. A great start for the Con club lads as they took both of the opening two frames. The big clash of the night between ‘The Boy Wonder’ Connor Ormerod and the ‘Birkdale Bandit’ Phil Fitzgerald went the way of the senior player, Fitzy taking it with a bit to spare 75-45 in the end. Like father, like son, Neil Ormerod was unable to get over the winning line, Martin Deeney taking him out in similar fashion to Connor going down 67-45 in the end. Lee Holmes started the comeback of sorts as he rattled in a break of 32 to beat Ricky Webb 62-54, Paul Shawcross still showing signs his good form is still there as he beat Alan Johnson 66-26 and Birkdale held on to a 3-1 lead. But the Banks lads showed a bit of fight as drafted in Graham Melvin proved equal to Mark Horan to beat him 66-58, despite the Birkdale captain having a break of 27 in the frame. As the two ole swingers in town, Billy Cummings and Ronnie Brooks playing out a low scoring frame, Billy making home advantage pay, beating Ronnie 45-29 and so snatch the win away from the Birkdale lads.

The Birkdale Cons D team got their 2024 season under way with a 4-2 win over the last seasons League Champions Tarleton A, needing to come back from 2-0 down, both black ball defeats. Kev Smith had only himself to blame as he missed the final black for Simon Swarbrick to take it 55-45, Gav Robinson distraught after sinking the final black only to hand the frame over to Andy Bolton 53-43 by going in off. Bugger…!! No doubt about who won the middle frames as the Birkdale pair of Mark Hopgood and John Rimmer went on a potting spree. Mark dominated Ray Forshaw to beat him 94-27, breaks of 28 and 21 doing all the damage, John’s break of 24 helping him on his way to beating Andy Marsden 79-38, 2-apiece and game on. A comfortable 79-20 win for Dave Blease against Marcus Jackson edged the Con club towards the win, Ste Collier pushing his side over with Birkdale’s own black ball victory, a 65-61 defeat of Colin Boston.

2nd Division…
Although it is the only result in so far, the Les Dodd’s A team currently sit on top of the table for the 2nd division, after securing a 4-2 win over the visiting Fleetwood Hesketh B team, though that will change once the results of the other teams comes in. The opening frames got shared, and in similar fashion, as Alec Davies beat Chris Ashcroft 59-26, Danny Clegg returning that win with one of his own, a 59-15 win over Chris Alker. Martin Calvert hung on as long as he could to Larry Scholes, eventually going down 50-79 in the end, Steve McCluskey coming out on top in his battle with Andy Reynolds 73-47 and were locked up Desmond 2-2 going into the last pairings. Tony Halliwell needed to sink the final black to beat Al Sutton 69-62, though John Delahunty was in no need of any final black drama, easing past John Gearie 72-32 and so secure Les Dodd’s their opening win of the season.

3rd Division…
Two matches into the new season and we have an unusual front runner in the 3rd division as Scarisbrick B followed up last week’s 6-0 win over British Rail with a 5-1 home thumping of Fleetwood Hesketh C. Although Wayne Cooper was giving Max Riley 40 start on the handicap, he took the frame 76-56 a break of 23 helping things along nicely, Scott Burbidge needing the final black to beat Bob Fairclough 67-63, 2-0 up, great start. Mick Hodge lost out the Marshside captain Guy Riley going down 71-32, James Simpson however restoring the two frame gap between the two sides with a 58-38 victory over Colin Coffey. The confidence, now running strong within the team now, saw Ian take out Tony Gowland with a bit to spare 70-39, Peter Simpson matching that with his own 67-33 win against Dave Brown. We might have lost the dominant Scarisbrick C this season, but the B team, for this moment in time, are stepping up to the mark and proving the team to catch so far this season.

The Birkdale Cons B team sit top of the table for now having gone two from two so far this season, a 4-2 win over the visiting Churchtown Cons D team being their latest result. The Rocket Men got off to a flyer as Reg Dobson managed to keep Billy Pye quiet enough in their frame to see him off 49-30, Phil Green coming out on top of his battle with Trevor Ford sinking a superb pink to finish plumb on the final black and take it 52-44, 2-0, great start Birkdale. That lead wasn’t to last long as Dave Quinn outscored and out played David Robinson to secure a hefty 72-33 victory, Russ Walsh needing a couple of the final colours to beat Dave Winfield 44-34, and all square, 2-apiece, game very much on. The final two frames were decided on the final black, and both to the home side Birkdale, as Geoff Tyas just about got the better of Mike Pickles 72-69, John Stringfellow beating Al Graham 48-36 to complete Birkdale's first home win of the season.

Another team who opened up their account with a home win this week were the Churchtown Cons C team who beat the visiting British Rail lads 5-1 to follow on from last weeks 3-3 draw with Birkdale C. On of the opening frames saw the Railway get their first point and win of the season as captain Kyle Cromwell led from the front to beat Peter Parkinson with a bit to spare 72-43. However, Tony Baldwin proved too strong for Peter Wareing in their match up, taking it 66-21 so levelling up the scores 1-apiece. Ken Dumican came out on top of a shoot-out with Josh Moore 73-53, Graham Marshall having a slightly easier ride in his 67-23 win over Mason Galley. Three one up, the Con club pair of Malcolm Green and Adam Rothwell showed no mercy to the Railway lads Tony Smyth and Tom Bolton. Malcolm getting his first win of the season when beating Tony on the final colours 45-33, Adam snuffing out Tom in a scrappy frame 41-22 to complete the 5-1 thumping.

Our Lady’s B played their second home fixture of the season so far when playing out a very entertaining 3-3 draw with the visiting Birkdale Cons C team. Both the opening two frames were settled on the final colours as Jim Blackhurst lost out on the final black 60-57 to John McGee, Paul Rimmer doubling Birkdale’s lead with a 58-45 win over Karl Bellman. Another close finish went the way of the visitors as John Melvin just about managed to see of Ryan Walker by ten points 57-47, John Blackhurst having no need for final ball antics running away with it a little to secure an 84-30 win over John Hulse. That comfortable win for John must have given the final pair of Phillip and Andrew Marsh a much needed boost at their new home in Formby as both players out played and outscored their opposition to square the match up 3-apiece. Phillip had a field day against Ian Tyson, flooring him 71-14, Andrew equally impressive taking out Chris Aughton 66-37 and so secure a well fought 3-3 draw.




I have been informed of the sad news that Norman Hallsworth, of Scarisbrick and more famously British Rail, passed away last Saturday, tomorrow would have been his 92nd birthday. Our thoughts go out to all his family and friends.

Norman played for many clubs in his time within the Southport Snooker League, but it would be the Ormskirk League who would first see this young man make his debut, where, I have been reliably informed by Chris Starkie, was for Skelmersdale Wardens aged 16 years of age, back in 1948…!! Not many of that generation are still playing, so more than likely he’s the very last of his and that generation of players.
He dressed almost exclusively like the professional snooker player did in those days, shirt, trousers, often with a tie, his shock of white hair and open-eyed gaze making him quite the formidable opponent back in the day. And he could play, making plenty of century breaks in practice, a top one frame match player, he certainly knew his way around a snooker table. He had a quick sense of humour and would tell stories of the good ole days when snooker halls were full of watching punters, the air thick with smoke, where some very competitive snooker got played.

His first recorded club within our league was for the Lathom & Burscough Royal British Legion C team, who won the 3rd division title in their debut 1977-78 season. This team, with Norman very much to the front, would go on to win three consecutive league titles as the 78/79 season brought the 2nd division title, followed up with the 1st division title in the 79-80 season. Not a bad return for three seasons of snooker now, was it.

The following season and ranked one of the top players within the league, he made the move to the Keith Cheetham led British Rail A team where again the honours came thick and fast. Runner up in 80/81 season, the Railway lads would go on to dominate the Southport Snooker League winning the next eight titles, Norman involved in helping them do this alongside fellow players Chris Huyton, Alan and John Tomlin, Peter Sutton and of course Keith Cheetham.

Although Norman left the Railway after three glorious years, he did win three titles along with the Lucas Cup, which was the 1st division title then, not the James Yates as we know it today, that came about the following year for the 1983 season.

In the end he turned out for several clubs over the next decade or so representing Banks, Mere Brow and Birkdale Cons all the time still playing in the top division of the league. His final destination would be Scarisbrick, where he would stay to play right up to October of 2023, some 76 years since he started out playing on the green baize of a snooker table.

He will be missed for his quick wit, sharp sense of humour and for being a true gentleman both on and off the table.

Rest in peace Norman

Good luck, have a great season and don’t forget to enjoy your snooker.



Chris Giil
Gen Sec.