Copyright grimsbytelegraph
A Grimsby snooker group is looking to expand as interest has "suddenly snowballed". Grimsby and District Junior Snooker Academy was formed nearly three years ago to give young people in Grimsby a place where they can play snooker, feel safe, and truly belong. Earlier this year, the group officially registered as a Community Interest Company (CIC) and is now proud to be the only fully safeguarded and DBS-checked junior snooker academy in the area. After its original home at Cue World closed, the academy was kindly offered the use of four tables at Ray Edmonds Snooker Centre. With a long-term vision that goes far beyond snooker, it is now working towards developing a space with 14 tables and facilities to host tournaments — including a dedicated chill-out room for the juniors. Chairperson Emmi Garside told the Grimsby Telegraph: "The group was formed three years ago at the old Cue World. A semi-pro player started it, but family commitments meant he couldn't carry it on. We had two dads, Leigh and Dan, who stepped up to carry it on because they are passionate about it. Essentially, it was a group of parents and around seven or eight children at that point. Myself and James (my son) joined in March, but Cue World closed in June. "The Ray Edmonds Snooker Centre then kindly offered us the use of four tables on Saturday mornings. We have more and more people joining us. The community is really nice here, with so many different walks of life in the centre. "I then found out there’s a whole floor upstairs, completely disused after it was shut down about 10 years ago. It had a leak in the roof which got progressively worse over time. "The owner has said to us that if we can sort it, we can have the space for the juniors, but it’s a big job. The space needs a repair to the roof and fully renovating. We are currently in the process of getting the lease finalised and looking for grants. "We've got safeguarding in place, DBS checks done, and are now trying to get Level 2 coaching for our coaches, Leigh and Dan. This will be really good and put some real standing to us. "We're all volunteers who give our time for the kids — nobody takes any money from this. We’ve started charging just £3 for the three-hour sessions, which enables us to take them to different places too. "They've been to an inter-club tournament in Leeds, where we played against Leeds and Walsall, and we next go to York to play. We've grown to 21 people and are still growing. With only four tables, it's difficult. "If we can get some funding for upstairs, we would have access to 14 tables and could take on even more juniors. It would predominantly be for the juniors to play in. "There would be no charge if they wanted to play during the week — we’d make sure they could access those tables for free. During the holidays, we currently have a deal with the club that allows registered juniors to play on Tuesdays and Thursdays for £2.50 for three hours." Describing the benefits for young people, Emmi said: "We’re trying to give kids somewhere to go that’s off the streets and off their Xboxes — a safe space. It’s a fantastic community. "My son James often plays a frame with some of the other players in the club; we’ve all got to know a few of them and they enjoy encouraging the juniors. "We have some experienced juniors who play in the adult league, and there’s talk of setting up a junior league for more opportunities. My son joined last March. He’d played snooker but preferred pool — now he loves snooker. He plays every day." Twelve-year-old James Garside plays in the league. He said: "I've been playing for over 19 months now. I played a lot of pool, and Mum saw this group on Facebook, so I came along. I enjoy it so much and look forward to the sessions. It’s something to do with friends, and we have a WhatsApp group where we arrange games." Coach, Dan Hornigold, added: "We were getting more and more juniors joining when Cue World shut down. It looked like it would fold, but Emmi spoke to Ray’s and they gave us some tables here. "Thirty years ago, I came to the junior sessions here when it was upstairs. Back then, snooker was huge — in the late 80s and early 90s we had about 30 or 40 kids playing. It’s on the rise again. "Nationally, a lot of academies are forming and it’s getting bigger for juniors. We brought it here and started with six or seven; now we have more than 20 in a short space of time, and that’s literally from word of mouth. The aim is to get upstairs up and running again. "We have so many members, and we don’t want to turn anyone away, but we’re near capacity. With upstairs, we’d be able to accommodate even more juniors. We are a family-orientated committee because we all have a vested interest in these kids." Thirteen-year-old Ethan Hornigold, who plays in the league and the Grimsby and District Under-18s Championship — and has also won the Harry Stone Trophy three years running — said: "I joined to improve at snooker. My dad’s a coach, so he encouraged me, and it’s been really good. A favourite part is socialising with people my age, because you wouldn’t realise how many people in this area play snooker. We enjoy it, and it gets people off computers because we want to be here." Fifteen-year-old Harry Newby added: "I've been with the academy for three years, since the start. It’s good fun and keeps me from staying at home on my PlayStation. I'd played pool and snooker on holiday, and it all went from there." Coach, Leigh Newby, said: "It’s developing and growing, and the interest in junior snooker is getting bigger. We've got so big — 21 here today and only four tables — so it’s challenging and we’re desperate to get upstairs done. "They have to wait their turn, whereas the more players we can have playing, the better. Snooker in Grimsby in the 80s was very strong, but other interests like computers and hobbies took over, and snooker dipped. "Grimsby has always been a hotbed for snooker though, and the interest has gradually built back up — it’s suddenly snowballed. It’s different to other sports and a more refined game. In football, you can be bullied off the ball — nobody can bully you off the table. While at the table, you take charge. "It’s an enjoyable game; it can get quite competitive, it’s a difficult game as well and takes years. It’s a disciplined, skilful game and something they can play forever. While we play frames they have to focus and concentrate, but outside the frames they socialise as well." Grimsby and District Junior Snooker Academy can be contacted via its Facebook page
