The beginning
The Chesterfield & District Snooker League was formed way back in 1928, but its origins date back even further than that. The Chesterfield Whist, Crib & Billiards League, formed in 1910 precedes the snooker league we can recognise today and records show a young Joe Davis winning the Amateur Billiards title in 1915 at just 14 years of age. The Davis family would go on to own their own club in the town centre where patrons would compete in the Chesterfield league for many years, including Joe’s brother, Fred.
The 1940’s
The 40’s produced the league’s first rising star amongst our ranks. An 18 year old named Ken Siddall becoming the first multiple winner of the Chesterfield Amateur Competition,now known as the Premier Competition. Ken would win the blue ribbon event for 4 consecutive years. This would only be matched by Mike Watterson in the 1970’s.
Mike Watterson 1942-2019
The 1970’s
The 1980’s
The 80’s saw a boom in snooker nationwide, mainly due to new, young and exciting players emerging into the game plus the addition of Pot Black on our tv screens.
The Chesterfield League was no exception to the popularity of this game and the league quickly rose to a peak of 154 teams within 10 divisions. Where a table could be fitted, it would be and a new team was formed.
The league has seen quite a number of players try their hand on the professional circuit over the years, there are currently 2 ex league players with a tour card. But the most notable professional player to come from our ranks is Nigel Bond. Nigel received his tour card back in 1989 after dominating all areas in league snooker including making the most recorded centuries in all competitions. His tally of 11 centuries still stands today. Nigel peaked at number 5 in the world, shortly after reaching the final of the World Snooker Championship in 1995 against Stephen Hendry.
Although no longer on the tour, Nigel spends much of his time coaching and is based within Lennons Pool & Snooker Club in the centre of Chesterfield.
It would take almost 50 years for the league to see it’s first century break. Mike Watterson making exactly 100 in 1974 starting off the tally which now stands at 113 century breaks made in all competitions.
As great a player as Mike was, many will know him more for being the person who brought the World Snooker Championship to what is regarded as the home of snooker, The Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
Mike turned professional in 1981 and would reach a career high of number 34 in the world rankings but not before amassing an impressive collection of titles within the Chesterfield League, including an equalling 6 Premier titles who he shares today with Martin Finnigan.
The 1990’s
The 90’s arguably created the greatest hotbed in talent within our league. More centuries were made in this decade than any other in the league’s history. The biggest being made by who is regarded as the league’s most naturally gifted player, Lee Spick. In 1996 Lee made a superb 142 break which up to now is yet to be matched or beaten.
Lee Spick 1980-2015
Today
As we approach our Centenary, the Chesterfield & District Snooker League are host to 30 teams across 5 divisions with approximately 300 players in its ranks. Our clubs are spread out as far south as Alfreton and north up to Clowne.
Though numbers have dwindled since the peak of the 1980’s, we do however offer more team and single competitions than we’ve ever had before with player participation increasing year on year, proving that competitive snooker is still strong in the area.
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You can contact us via the contact us section on this site to register your interest in putting a team into he league.
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Usually the league will run from mid September to around April, though this can vary depending on how many teams with have.
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Each team comprises of 5 players each playing 1 frame each.
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Team: 3
Pairs: 2
singles: 10