Everyone knows that the snooker championships started at The crucible in 1977, but how many people know that the World Championships at Sheffield pre-dated that!

In 1971 Alex Higgins played two matches at the Ecclesfield ex-servicemen's social club.In September he played Maurice Parkin (a local Sheffield man) and in November he played Jack Rae. After this he would go on to win the World Championships.....these were matches 2 and 3 of his six match campaign.

I have not yet found anyone who actually witnessed these matches, but I am still trying.....still hoping.

Kobyhadrian.

I remember years ago seeing higgins playing at the top spot on attercliffe just before he was due to play the crucible v cliff thorburn i think I think he was late too

Does anybody remember Jack Seffers, a local snooker champion in the 50's? I think he worked on the trams or maybe the buses!

Does anybody remember Jack Seffers, a local snooker champion in the 50's? I think he worked on the trams or maybe the buses!

I have conducted research into snooker history but cannot say I came across Jack Seffers. However, my target was more the professional game....i.e. the World Professional championship from 1946 to (well) today! and Jack Seffers may well have been an amateur player. If Seffers was local to Sheffield at that time, can I infer that you were living in that part of the World (then) yourself?

All the best, John

Everyone knows that the snooker championships started at The crucible in 1977, but how many people know that the World Championships at Sheffield pre-dated that!

In 1971 Alex Higgins played two matches at the Ecclesfield ex-servicemen's social club.In September he played Maurice Parkin (a local Sheffield man) and in November he played Jack Rae. After this he would go on to win the World Championships.....these were matches 2 and 3 of his six match campaign.

I have not yet found anyone who actually witnessed these matches, but I am still trying.....still hoping.

Kobyhadrian.

get the crucible book on snooker history you would be amazed how many world champions came from within 16 miles of sheffield,also how far back snooker history goes in this city ,jack seffers was one of the top players of his time,but there were lots more. it even states mary queen of scots had a billiard table in sheffield castle although in those days it was round. it contradicts the popular theory of it orriginateing from india.

got a load of old snooker scene
magazines from 1980 - 82 running
if anyone would like them £30 for the lot

Hi I make leaded stained glass for a living and last year I made something I am really proud of. I wanted to get away from the usual door and window panels so I did some designs are for leaded snooker table canopies. Someone who sells furniture in my shop has a snooker table and commissioned one.
There were a lot of prototypes and design changers that seemed to take longer than making the finished item, but all in all it was an enjoyable time and I would now like to make them full time.
There is currently only one image of this on my website but there will be more in the next couple of weeks with a set of stained glass and oak wall lights.
Please visit my web site to see it in the glass gallery of the site and if you want to ask any questions about it then feel free.

Everyone knows that the snooker championships started at The crucible in 1977, but how many people know that the World Championships at Sheffield pre-dated that!

In 1971 Alex Higgins played two matches at the Ecclesfield ex-servicemen's social club.In September he played Maurice Parkin (a local Sheffield man) and in November he played Jack Rae. After this he would go on to win the World Championships.....these were matches 2 and 3 of his six match campaign.

I have not yet found anyone who actually witnessed these matches, but I am still trying.....still hoping.

Kobyhadrian.

I knew Jack Seffers very well. I played for the same club as him in the 70's (Firth Park W.M.C.) He was a lovely fella and a cracking snooker player as well. There were some very good players around at that time - Ken Phelan, Staffy Brittle, Cyril Goulty, Eric Lingard, Vic and Jim Derbyshire, Eric Peacock --I could go on all night. There were many more. Some of them would have turned professional if there had been the opportunity to do so as there is today.

I knew Jack Seffers very well. I played for the same club as him in the 70's (Firth Park W.M.C.) He was a lovely fella and a cracking snooker player as well. There were some very good players around at that time - Ken Phelan, Staffy Brittle, Cyril Goulty, Eric Lingard, Vic and Jim Derbyshire, Eric Peacock --I could go on all night. There were many more. Some of them would have turned professional if there had been the opportunity to do so as there is today.

knew staffy brittle, my pal vic derbyshire died a few years ago ,also jimmy lee, and ted hill.

I knew Jack Seffers very well. I played for the same club as him in the 70's (Firth Park W.M.C.) He was a lovely fella and a cracking snooker player as well. There were some very good players around at that time - Ken Phelan, Staffy Brittle, Cyril Goulty, Eric Lingard, Vic and Jim Derbyshire, Eric Peacock --I could go on all night. There were many more. Some of them would have turned professional if there had been the opportunity to do so as there is today.

I actually played snooker with Jack Seffers in the 50's when he and his team came to give a demonstration match at the YMCA (Fargate - up the rickerty stairs to the snooker room on the top floor). I lost the first game by only a few points (of course he was being polite as a visitor ad missed a few). The second game was a totally different story. He wiped the floor with me - I never got a chance to pot anything - I only got to the table 3 times, and one of those was to break off - he had a couple of 50+ breaks etc. It was like the village idiot playing Steve Davis! Still, I am able to look back positively and say proudly "I very nearly beat Jack Seffers"!

Eric Peacock, My Grandad .. :)